Hydrogen production by using manganese ferrite: Evidences and benefits of a multi-step reaction mechanism

Hydrogen production by water splitting with _MnFe2O4/_Na2CO3${\mathrm{MnFe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_4/{\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3$ system was studied at 973 K. An intermediate phase, resulting from decarbonatation of _MnFe2O4/_Na2CO3${\mathrm{MnFe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_4/{\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3$ mixture in inert atmosphere, proved to be effective in hydrogen reduction from water with stoichiometric yield. The presence of a highly reactive intermediate phase suggests the feasibility of a high efficiency, three-step, thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production. In fact, the possibility of obtaining _CO2${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ separately from the gases mixture dramatically enhances process efficiency.