Fast oxygen ion migration in Cu–In–oxide bulk and its utilization for effective CO(2) conversion at lower temperature

Efficient activation of CO(2) at low temperature was achieved by reverse water–gas shift via chemical looping (RWGS-CL) by virtue of fast oxygen ion migration in a Cu–In structured oxide, even at lower temperatures. Results show that a novel Cu–In(2)O(3) structured oxide can show a remarkably higher CO(2) splitting rate than ever reported. Various analyses revealed that RWGS-CL on Cu–In(2)O(3) is derived from redox between Cu–In(2)O(3) and Cu–In alloy. Key factors for high CO(2) splitting rate were fast migration of oxide ions in the alloy and the preferential oxidation of the interface of alloy–In(2)O(3) in the bulk of the particles. The findings reported herein can open up new avenues to achieve effective CO(2) conversion at lower temperatures.