AVS 71 Session EM-ThM: Advances in Material Deposition Techniques

Rising carbon dioxide emissions have driven research into sustainable methods for converting carbon rich waste gases from industry into value-added materials. One such method is the CO_x Thermal Oxidation Process (CO-OP), in which CO or CO₂ reacts with magnesium silicide (Mg₂Si) to produce crystalline silicon encapsulated in both graphitic and amorphous carbon. The resulting composite shows potential as a lithium-ion battery anode, while the process itself offers a method for CO₂ removal. However, industrial gas streams are rarely pure and the influence of feed composition on CO-OP remains unexplored. While CO-OP with CO₂ has been studied, implementation in industrial processes would be impractical if it required purified CO₂. This study investigates how feed compositions common in methane steam reforming (CO₂, CO, CO+H₂, and CO₂+H₂) affect the morphology of the produced composite and how these morphology changes influence battery performance. Preliminary results indicate that CO increases the carbon content of the composite as compared to CO₂ and creates a core/shell structure, increasing mechanical stability. Morphology, surface area, and carbon distribution vary significantly with gas composition which in turn affects the battery performance significantly. X-ray diffraction confirms high purity across all samples after leaching. These insights guide future improvement of CO-OP for integration with industrial emission streams, creating a new method of carbon capture and improving battery technology.