CBCI: Fueling the Future - Fabricating New Molecules and Materials for Renewable Energy

马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校的Sankaran Thayumanavan、Scott Auerbach、Jeanne Hardy和Dhandapani Venkataraman以及耶鲁大学的Mark Johnson获得了化学键合中心（CBC）第一阶段项目的奖励，他们开展了质子传输的几个基本方面的研究，这一分子水平的过程是许多重要生物现象的基础，也是燃料电池中一个核心组件的功能。质子转移是一系列化学问题的一个关键方面，包括酸碱反应、能量储存和利用以及催化。该中心的研究重点是通过位点间跳跃和明确的支架来研究质子传导的化学过程。主要目标是(i)确定最佳官能团和质子快速转移的潜在动力学；（ii）制造理想的支架，产生稳定和快速的质子传导。本研究的一个重要应用领域是为燃料电池设计更好的膜。为了实现这一目标，CBC将创建一个基于网络的实体，即国家化学能源研究网络（NCERN），它将(i)充当能源研究人员和研究中心之间的动态接口；（ii）促进从事能源相关研究的化学家与公众之间更好的沟通。NCERN将促进维基页面的创建，并将对这些主题进行互动聊天。该中心通过NCERN的活动以及作为研究生和博士后跨学科培训中心的功能产生了广泛的影响。

Sankaran Thayumanavan, Scott Auerbach, Jeanne Hardy and Dhandapani Venkataraman of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Mark Johnson of Yale University are supported by an award from the Chemical Bonding Centers (CBC) Phase I program to carry out research addressing several fundamental aspects of proton transport, the molecular level process which underlies a number of important biological phenomena as well as the functioning of a central component in fuel cells. Proton transfer is a key aspect of a broad array of chemical problems, including acid-base reactions, energy storage and utilization, and catalysis. The center is focusing its investigation of the chemistry of proton conduction via site-to-site jumps and well-defined scaffolds. The main objectives are to (i) identify optimal functional groups and the underlying dynamics of facile proton transfer; and (ii) fabricate ideal scaffolds that produce stable and rapid proton conduction. An important application area of this research is the design of better membranes for fuel cells. In keeping with this goal, the CBC will create a web-based entity, the National Chemical Energy Research Network, NCERN, that will (i) act as a dynamic interface among energy researchers and research centers; and (ii) foster better communication between chemists working on energy-related research and the general public. NCERN will facilitate the creation of wiki pages and will moderate interactive chats on these subjects. The center is having a broad impact both through the activities of NCERN as well as through its function as an interdisciplinary training center for graduate students and postdoctorals.