Mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) membranes for hydrogen production from water splitting

•Principle of hydrogen production from water splitting in MIEC membrane reactors.•Factors affecting hydrogen production rate and membrane stability.•Coupling water splitting reaction and catalytic oxidation reactions in membrane reactors.

Hydrogen as a clean energy carrier for power generation through fuel cells has attracted much attention. Water is a suitable source for hydrogen production by the splitting reaction. Significant amount of hydrogen can be produced at moderate temperature if a mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) membrane is used to remove the produced oxygen from water splitting reaction, although the equilibrium constant for water splitting is small. In this review, the principle of hydrogen production via water splitting in MIEC membrane reactor is illustrated, and the factors affecting the hydrogen production rate (such as membrane materials, thickness, modification of membrane surface) and the stabilities of membranes under high oxygen chemical potential gradient are discussed. Furthermore, following the concept of process intensification, the researches on water splitting coupling with other catalytic reactions in membrane reactors are summarized.