Water splitting reaction on Ce0.15Zr0.85O2 driven by surface heterogeneity

Ce0.15Zr0.85O2 was investigated in the two-step water splitting reaction. High-temperature treatment in N-2 induced compositional and structural heterogeneities which contributed to a six-fold increase of H-2 yield after the first cycle. Ceria surface enrichment and the formation of a ceria-zirconia oxynitride phase positively affected the reduction and oxidation steps.