CAREER: Deconstructing Proton Transport through Atomically Thin Membranes

膜技术有可能在解决能源短缺问题上发挥变革性的作用，能源短缺影响着数百万人的生活。原子薄二维(2D)材料代表了一种新型的膜材料。2D材料允许亚原子粒子(例如质子)选择性地穿过薄膜，同时甚至可以阻止氦等微小的气体原子。将质子与其他原子和分子分离的能力将使能源产生和转换、化学加工和分离、电子和环境保护方面的颠覆性创新成为可能。该项目旨在加深对质子通过2D材料的传输的基本了解。这些科学见解将被用于开发新的催化和分离工艺，以促进美国经济和国家安全。一项全面的教育和外展计划将通过a)加强公众对科学、工程和数学的积极看法，以及b)培训下一代科学家，来补充和帮助研究工作。石墨烯和六方氮化硼等原子薄的2D材料为探索和控制质量传输提供了根本上的新机会。纯净的单层石墨烯和六方氮化硼对氦原子是不渗透的，但允许质子传输。通过2D材料的选择性质子传输为燃料电池、同位素分离、氢净化、光电探测器和人工光合作用提供了变革性的机会。然而，对质子通过2D材料的传输机制的全面了解仍然是难以捉摸的。该项目的总体目标是对通过2D材料进行质子传输的机制有一个基本的了解。最先进的原位计量学将被用来研究质子在2D材料中的渗透。这些关于质子运输的基本见解将被用于开发符合美国经济和国家安全利益的新型催化和分离工艺。这项研究与一项全面的教育和推广计划相结合，重点是i)为代表不足和服务不足的群体提供本科生和高中生的研究实习机会，并与他们的高中教师接触；ii)与专业人士合作，为推广和通过社交媒体平台传播研究成果开发内容；以及iii)通过范德比尔特大学和纳什维尔地区的推广活动，社区参与实践科学实验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Membrane technologies have the potential to play a transformative role in addressing energy scarcity, which impacts the lives of millions of people. Atomically-thin two-dimensional (2D) materials represent a new kind of membrane material. 2D materials allow subatomic particles (e.g., protons) to selectively pass through the membrane while blocking even small gas atoms such as helium. The ability to separate protons from other atoms and molecules will enable disruptive innovations in energy generation and conversion, chemical processing and separations, electronics, and environmental protection. The project aims to develop fundamental understanding of proton transport through 2D materials. These scientific insights will be leveraged to develop novel catalytic and separation processes that serve to advance the U.S. economy and national security. A comprehensive education and outreach plan will complement and aid research efforts by a) reinforcing positive public perception towards science, engineering and mathematics and b) training the next-generation of scientists.Atomically-thin 2D materials such as graphene and hexagonal boron nitride offer fundamentally new opportunities to probe and control mass-transport. Pristine monolayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride are impermeable to helium atoms but allow for proton transport. Selective proton transport through 2D materials offers transformative opportunities for fuel cells, isotope separations, hydrogen purification, photo-detectors, and artificial photosynthesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of proton transport mechanisms through 2D materials remains elusive. The overall objective of project is to develop fundamental understanding of the mechanisms governing proton transport through 2D materials. State-of-the-art advances in in-situ metrology will be used to study proton permeation through 2D materials. These fundamental insights on proton transport will be used to develop novel catalytic and separation processes that are of interest to the U.S. economy and national security. The research is integrated with a comprehensive education and outreach plan that focuses on i) providing under-represented and under-served groups with research internships for undergraduate and high-school students and engaging with their high-school teachers; ii) collaboration with professionals to develop content for outreach and dissemination of research findings via social media platforms; and iii) community engagement with hands-on science experiments via outreach activities at Vanderbilt University and the Nashville area.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.