Highly effective CO₂ splitting in a plasma-assisted membrane reactor

Membrane reactors offer a promising approach to converting CO₂ into chemicals, fuels, and value-added products. However, challenges remain in its high energy input and deactivation of the catalyst. Here, we report a breakthrough strategy that uses dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to enhance the CO₂ splitting in a perovskite-based La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3-δ (LSCF) membrane reactor where a traditional catalyst is not required however instead relies on the highly reactive species generated by the CO₂ plasma. The CO₂ conversion, physical and chemical evolution of membranes at different temperatures, CO₂ plasma power, and purging gas were systematically investigated. The maximum CO₂ conversion was achieved at 800 °C and 25 W while reaching 10.6%, 20.0%, and 28.0% via helium, complete oxidation of methane, and partial oxidation of methane purging on the permeate side, respectively. The experimental results obtained under low plasma power consumption suggest that the plasma-assisted membrane reactor strategy has the potential to be energy-efficient and sustainable, particularly when combined with renewable energy sources.