Metal Oxides in Energy Technologies || Solar-driven fuel production by metal-oxide thermochemical cycles

摘要： Nowadays, the need to reduce anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases due to combustion of fossil fuels causing the increase of global average surface air temperatures and the need to meet an expanding global energy demand are the most pressing challenges faced by mankind [1, 2]. Solar energy, which is clean, renewable, plentiful, and distributed, offers an intelligent solution to both challenges [1]. One promising approach to harvest and store solar energy is the production of synthetic fuels, that is, solar-driven fuel, via high-temperature thermochemical processes. Solar-driven fuel has significant advantages for long-time storage and/or long-distance transportation of energy [3, 4]. It not only is an appealing supplement or alternative to fossil fuels, but also has the potential to alleviate concerns environment, security, and price volatility, which are associated with the production, transportation, and consumption of fossil fuels, especially imported petroleum [5].