Microwave-Driven Reduction Accelerates Oxygen Exchange in Perovskite Oxides.

Microwave-assisted oxide reduction has emerged as a promising method to electrify chemical looping processes for renewable hydrogen production. Moreover, these thermochemical cycles can be used for thermochemical air separation, electrifying the O generation by applying microwaves in the reduction step. This approach offers an alternative to conventional cryogenic air separation, producing pure streams of O and N.

Microwave-Driven Exsolution of Ni Nanoparticles in A-Site Deficient Perovskites.

Exsolution has emerged as a promising method for generating metallic nanoparticles, whose robustness and stability outperform those of more conventional deposition methods, such as impregnation. In general, exsolution involves the migration of transition metal cations, typically perovskites, under reducing conditions, leading to the nucleation of well-anchored metallic nanoparticles on the oxide surface with particular properties. There is growing interest in exploring alternative methods for exsolution that do not rely on high-temperature reduction via hydrogen.

Modulating redox properties of solid-state ion-conducting materials using microwave irradiation.

The industrial adoption of low-carbon technologies and renewable electricity requires novel tools for electrifying unitary steps and efficient energy storage, such as the catalytic synthesis of valuable chemical carriers. The recently-discovered use of microwaves as an effective reducing agent of solid materials provides a novel framework to improve this chemical-conversion route, thanks to promoting oxygen-vacancy formation and O-surface exchange at low temperatures. However, many efforts are still required to boost the redox properties and process efficiency.

Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization.

Many efforts are being made to find innovative ways of recycling rubber from end-of-life tires (ELTs), also called ground tire Rubber (GTR). Recycling through devulcanization allows the reintroduction of rubber back into the manufacturing industry. Such a process requires providing enough energy to break the sulfur links, while preventing damage to the polymeric chain.

High-Resolution Detection of Rock-Forming Minerals by Permittivity Measurements with a Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscope.

The identification of the minerals composing rocks and their dielectric characterization is essential for the utilization of microwave energy in the rock industry. This paper describes the use of a near-field scanning microwave microscope with enhanced sensitivity for non-invasive measurements of permittivity maps of rock specimens at the micrometer scale in non-contact mode. The microwave system comprises a near-field probe, an in-house single-port vectorial reflectometer, and all circuitry and software needed to make a stand-alone, portable instrument.