NSF-Europe Materials Collaboration: Self-Organized Nanostructured Thin Films for Catalysis in Perovskite Related Membrane Reactors

非技术描述：北卡罗来纳A&T州立大学(NC A&A；T Su)、德雷克塞尔大学和葡萄牙阿维罗大学之间的合作研究项目专注于开发用于高纯度氧气分离和合成合成气(CO+H2)的膜反应器中的纳米结构薄膜材料。合成气是生产氢气和将甲烷转化为一系列烷烃、烯烃和醇的重要中间体。主要目标是实现膜的比表面积扩大和催化活性增强，这项研究将导致甲烷部分重整的成本更低、性能更好的技术。高中生、本科生和研究生将参与这项研究，并将在技术会议上展示他们的结果。预计这项研究将导致在知名会议上发表高知名度的出版物和演讲。将尽一切努力吸引代表性不足的学生投身材料科学和工程领域。来自NC A&T Su和德雷克塞尔大学的两名研究生将在阿维罗大学工作一段时间。本科生将在暑期参加政府实验室(ORNL)的研究。参与该项目的研究生和本科生将有独特的机会通过参加项目会议和实习计划与欧洲的研究人员和学生合作，从而提供全球化的学习体验。这项工作得到了材料研究部、创新伙伴计划和国际科学与工程办公室的支持。技术细节：这项研究有望产生基础知识，并了解脉冲激光沉积技术在致密的锶(Fe，Al)O钙钛矿薄膜上沉积的La-Sr-Cr-Fe(Al，Ni)-O基薄膜的工艺、结构和催化活性之间的相互关系。预计这些新开发的薄膜将具有优异的催化性能，在提高甲烷转化率的同时，提供所需的H2/CO比接近2的合成气。这项研究将开发出具有催化活性的致密钙钛矿膜，用于甲烷部分氧化，其比表面积和结构稳定性都超过了目前使用的La-Sr-Fe-O陶瓷。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The collaborative research project between North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T SU), Drexel University, and the University of Aveiro in Portugal is focused on the development of nanostructured thin film materials in membrane reactors for the high purity oxygen separation and for synthesis of the syngas (CO+H2). Syngas is an important intermediate in the production of hydrogen and in the conversion of methane to a range of paraffins, olefins and alcohols. The primary goal is to achieve the enlarged surface area and enhanced catalytic activity of the membranes and this research will lead to less expensive and robust technology for partial methane reforming. High school, undergraduate, and graduate students will be involved in the research and will present their results at technical meetings. It is expected that this research will result in high-profile publications and presentations on prestigious conferences. All efforts will be made to attract underrepresented students to careers in materials science and engineering. Two graduate students from NC A&T SU and Drexel University will spend time working at the University of Aveiro. Undergraduate students will participate in research at a government laboratory (ORNL) during the summer months. Graduate and undergraduate students involved in this project will have unique opportunity to collaborate with European researchers and students by participating in the project meetings and internship programs thereby providing a globalized learning experience.This work is support by the Division of Materials Research, the Partnerships for Innovation Program and the Office of International Science and Engineering.TECHNICAL DETAILS: This research is expected to produce fundamental knowledge and understanding of the interrelationships between processing, structure, and catalytic activity of La-Sr-Cr-Fe(Al, Ni)-O based thin films deposited on the dense Sr(Fe, Al)O3 perovskite membranes by pulsed laser deposition technique. It is expected that these newly developed thin films will have excellent catalytic properties to increase the rate of methane conversion at the same time providing the syngas with a required H2/CO ratio close to two. This research will lead to the development of catalytically-active dense perovskite membranes for partial oxidation of methane with an enhanced surface area and excellent structural stability exceeding that of currently used La-Sr-Fe-O ceramics.