Layered reactive elements in a thermo-electrochemical reactor for hydrogen and carbon monoxide production and method for using the same

A thermo-electrochemical reactor, comprising:

• at least one layered reactive element, each layered reactive element comprising:
• a metal oxide core that is redox-active and is a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC),
• an outer layer that is also an MIEC,
• an ion conductor layer between the metal oxide core and the outer layer,
• a TEC reduction mode, and
• a TEC oxidation mode;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the metal oxide core and the outer layer of each of the at least one layered reactive element;
• a heat source;
• wherein, for each layered reactive element, the TEC reduction mode comprises the metal oxide core having an increased chemical potential of oxygen relative to a gas phase that drives O2− ions out of the metal oxide core, through the ion conductor layer and the outer layer and into the gas phase as O2, with the chemical potential of oxygen in the metal oxide core being increased relative to the gas phase through applying a first bias voltage between the metal oxide core and the outer layer;
• wherein, for each layered reactive element, the TEC oxidation mode comprises the metal oxide core having a decreased chemical potential of oxygen relative to the gas phase that drives one of oxygen from steam and oxygen from carbon dioxide back into the metal oxide core, through the ion conductor layer and the outer layer, leaving a gas product that is one of H2 in the gas phase and CO in the gas phase, with the chemical potential of oxygen in the metal oxide core being decreased relative to the gas phase through applying a second bias voltage between the metal oxide core and the outer layer;
• wherein the controller is configured to drive the thermo-electrochemical reactor to carry out a TEC cycle by alternating between applying the first bias voltage and applying the second bias voltage to at least one layered reactive element while the at least one layered reactive element is being heated by the heat source, cycling the at least one layered reactive element between the TEC reduction mode and the TEC oxidation mode;
• wherein the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage have opposite polarity.