GOALI/Collaborative Research: Additive Manufacturing for a Highly Efficient Artificial Photosynthesis Device with Multi-Layer Interconnected Channels and Micro-Porous Structures

该奖项的研究目标是制造一种人工光合作用装置，该装置能够接收阳光、二氧化碳和水，然后将其转化为糖/葡萄糖，用于生产生物燃料。将研究高分辨率非均质材料打印技术和多功能喷嘴阵列增强的增材制造（AM）技术，设计和构建具有多层互联通道和微孔结构的创新器件。在通道中，一种不溶于水的水凝胶嵌入光合作用所需的暗反应化合物，用于二氧化碳固定。在该装置的顶部，将形成一层三嵌段聚合物薄膜，作为光反应叶肉层，类似于真正的叶子。这项研究将使大规模太阳能转换系统的制造和部署成为可能，不仅可以模拟生产生物燃料的光合作用的自然过程，而且还可以使这些反应独立于自然植物的生命。如果成功，这项研究的结果将导致设计和制造人工光合作用装置的新技术，这将有助于实现可负担的生物能源制造的愿景。经济上可行的生物燃料制造将极大地有利于美国经济和能源安全，以及整个社会和环境。在该项目中，与nScrypt公司的长期合作关系将扩展到新技术的开发和转让。将培训两名博士生和最多六个高级设计团队。将创建三个基于项目的学习模块，以加强设计、制造和能源工程的本科工程课程。该项目还将利用专门为当地高中和社区大学学生设计的外展研讨会，包括宾夕法尼亚州费城和北卡罗来纳州罗利地区的许多未被充分代表的少数民族学生，展示AM技术，光合作用过程和绿色能源。研究发现和结果将通过研讨会、会议、期刊出版物和各种通讯渠道传播。

The research objective of this award is to fabricate an artificial photosynthesis device that is capable of receiving and then converting sunlight, CO2 and water into sugars/glucose for the production of biofuels. Additive manufacturing (AM) enhanced by high-resolution heterogeneous material printing technology and multi-function nozzle array will be investigated to design and build the innovative device with multi-layer interconnected channels and micro-porous structures. In the channels, a water-insoluble hydrogel embedded with photosynthesis dark-reaction required compounds will be printed for CO2 fixation. On the top of the device, a layer of triblock polymer film will be created and function as the light reaction mesophyll layer similar to a real leaf. This research will enable manufacturing and deployment of large-scale solar conversion systems that not only mimic the natural process of photosynthesis for the production of biofuels, but also make these reactions independent of the life of nature plants.If successful, the results of this research will lead to a new technology for designing and manufacturing an artificial photosynthesis device, which will help realize the vision of affordable bio-based energy manufacturing. Economically viable manufacturing of biofuels will greatly benefit the U.S. economy and energy security, as well as the society and environment in general. In the project, a long-term relationship with nScrypt, Inc. will be extended to encompass development and transfer of new technologies. Two doctoral students and up to six senior design teams will be trained. Three project-based learning modules will be created to strengthen the undergraduate engineering curricula in design, manufacturing and energy engineering. The project will also leverage specially designed outreach workshops for local high school and community college students, including many underrepresented minority students in Philadelphia, PA and Raleigh, NC areas, to showcase AM technology, photosynthesis process and green energy. The research finding and results will be disseminated through seminars, conferences, journal publications and various communication channels.