Thermodynamic assessment of nonstoichiometric oxides for solar thermochemical fuel production

•A rapid assessment model for screening nonstoichiometric oxides in two-step solar thermochemical cycling is developed.•Taking material thermodynamic properties as inputs, the solar-to-fuel efficiency is optimized with respect to cycling control parameters.•Material thermodynamic properties are found to have an enormous impact on optimal cycling conditions.•The solar-to-fuel efficiency of ceria can reach 12.9% at the reduction temperature of 1500 °C, which is the highest among the candidate oxides.•Ceria outperforms selected perovskite oxides in terms of efficiency for reduction temperature as low as 1350 °C.