QLC: EAGER: Study of the hydrocarbon quantum formation process with carbon 12 and carbon 13 and optical control

在这个由化学学部化学结构、动态和机制B项目资助的项目中，马萨诸塞大学洛厄尔分校（UML）的沈梦燕教授正在测试一个假设，即链式碳氢化合物是在钴/钴氧化物表面由二氧化碳、水和光量子力学合成的。这个反应模拟光合作用，对减少二氧化碳和增加能源供应很重要。这项研究的目的是利用一种不同寻常的同位素分布特征，这种特征与传统的预期完全不同。该项目为培训学生提供了很好的机会，包括那些在科学领域代表性不足的学生。它还有助于培养量子计算方面的人才。涉及K-12学生的外展活动也将是资助项目的一部分。沈教授在UML的实验室发现了一种氧化钴光催化剂，它可以被阳光物理激活，并被证明可以直接将二氧化碳和水转化为长链碳氢化合物（C5到C15）。当使用碳-12和碳-13二氧化碳同位素的混合物时，观察到一种极不寻常的同位素分布。本课题的具体目标是：(1)证实纯C-12烃和纯C-13烃在某些催化剂表面容易形成的现象，这是目前化学理论无法解释的；(2)基于同位素二氧化碳和同位素水的实验结果，了解并建立链烃形成机理的预测模型。(3)寻找光波长、温度、压力等控制参数，研究催化剂表面结构对碳氢化合物量子形成的影响。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamic & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Mengyan Shen at University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) is testing the hypothesis that chain hydrocarbons are quantum mechanically synthesized on a cobalt/cobalt oxide surface from carbon dioxide, water, and light. This reaction mimics photosynthesis and is important in reducing carbon dioxide and increasing the energy supply. The goals of this research are to exploit the characteristics of an unusual isotope distribution that is completely different from conventional expectation. The project provides great opportunities for training students including those underrepresented in sciences. It also helps to develop a workforce on quantum computing. Outreach activities involving K-12 students will also be part of the funded project. A cobalt oxide photo-catalyst, discovered in Professor Shen's lab at UML, is physically activated by sunlight and has been proven to directly convert carbon dioxide and water to long-chain hydrocarbons (C5 to C15). When a mixture of isotopic C-12 and C-13 carbon dioxide was used, a highly unusual isotope distribution was observed. Particular objectives of this proposal are (1) To confirm the observation that pure C-12 hydrocarbons and pure C-13 hydrocarbons tend to form easily on some catalysts' surfaces, which cannot be explained with the current chemical theories, (2) To understand and create a predictive model for the mechanism of the formation of chain hydrocarbons based on experimental results using isotopic carbon dioxide and isotopic water. It is hoped that this would explain the observation of pure C-13 and pure C-12 having the tendency to group together in forming chain hydrocarbons, and (3) To find controlling parameters with light wavelength, temperature, and pressures as well as study the influence of the catalyst surface structures on the quantum formation of hydrocarbons.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.