CAREER: Fundamental Investigation of Supported Materials: ZIFs and Nanoclusters

技术概述：在固态和材料化学计划的支持下，这项拟议的工作是对负载材料的基础研究，重点是氧化物负载的金属/金属氧化物纳米簇和负载的沸石咪唑骨架。这类材料在气体捕获和储存方面有很好的应用前景，并具有潜在的新颖的、未被探索的反应性能。利用程序升温反应谱(TPRS)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)研究了能量相关分子与这些载体材料的相互作用。这些技术将阐明关于结合部位、相对结合强度和反应性的一些关键的基本问题。它们还将使对所支持的薄膜的化学和热稳定性的关键研究成为可能。这项工作有望在材料组成与气体结合和反应性之间建立联系，从而能够预测支撑材料的结构和化学变化，从而提高气体结合的反应性和选择性。此外，这项工作的大部分将在圣地亚哥大学进行，这是一所以本科为主的机构，提供将材料化学融入本科课程的机会。最后，一部分资金将用于发展圣地亚哥地区STEM女性教员网络(“FemstEM”网络)，以促进STEM女性在学术界的留住和晋升，并指导从博士后和研究生职位过渡到学术界的女性。例如，碳氢燃料燃烧产生的二氧化碳继续加剧全球变暖。一个可能缓解这一问题的解决方案是使用高表面积材料(如多孔金属-有机骨架)过滤和储存二氧化碳。这项拟议的工作得到了固态和材料化学计划的支持，是对这种与能源相关的气体存储和反应性的支撑材料的基础研究。感兴趣的材料包括沸石咪唑骨架和负载型金属和金属氧化物纳米簇。其目标是利用表面科学技术建立材料结构/组成与气体吸附以及与能源相关的反应性之间的关系。这项工作将大量涉及本科生研究人员，并将导致材料化学融入圣地亚哥大学的本科课程。这项工作的第二个重要方面涉及在更广泛的圣地亚哥地区发展女性STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)教员网络(“FemsSTEM”网络)。这个小组的目的将是促进学术界STEM领域的女性教师的过渡、发展和晋升。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The proposed work, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program, is a fundamental investigation of supported materials which focuses on oxide-supported metal/metal oxide nanoclusters, and supported zeolitic imidazolate frameworks. Such materials are promising candidates for applications in gas capture and storage, and hold potentially novel, unexplored reactive properties. The interaction of energy-relevant molecules with these supported materials will be probed using temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These techniques will shed light on some key fundamental questions regarding binding sites, relative binding strengths, and reactivity. They will also enable critical investigation of the chemical and thermal stability of the supported films. This work is expected to establish connections between material composition and gas binding and reactivity, enabling the prediction of structural and chemical changes in supported materials which will lead to enhanced reactivity and selectivity in gas binding. Furthermore, the bulk of this work will take place at the University of San Diego, a primarily undergraduate institution, affording an integration of materials chemistry into the undergraduate curriculum. Finally, a portion of the funds will be used to develop a network of female STEM faculty in the San Diego region (the "femSTEM" network) which fosters the retention and promotion of STEM women in academia, and mentors women transitioning to academia from postdoctoral and graduate positions.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:A number of challenges exist currently in the areas of energy production and gas storage. For example, carbon dioxide produced from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels continues to contribute to global warming. One potential mitigating solution to this problem is the filtration and storage of carbon dioxide using high surface area materials, such as porous metal-organic frameworks. The proposed work, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program, is a fundamental investigation of such supported materials for energy-relevant gas storage and reactivity. Materials of interest include zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and supported metal and metal oxide nanoclusters. The goal is to establish relationships between material structure/composition and gas adsorption, as well as energy-relevant reactivity using surface science techniques. This work will heavily involve undergraduate researchers, and will also lead to the integration of materials chemistry into the undergraduate curriculum at the University of San Diego. A second important aspect of this work involves the development a network of female STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) faculty in the broader San Diego region ("femSTEM" network). The purpose of this group will be to foster the transition, development, and promotion of women faculty in the STEM fields of academia.