CAREER: Deconstructing Proton Transport through Atomically Thin Membranes

膜技术有潜力在解决影响数百万人生活的能源短缺问题方面发挥变革性作用。原子级薄的二维（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）以选择性地穿过膜，同时阻挡甚至小的气体原子如氦。从其他原子和分子中分离质子的能力将使能源生产和转换，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。该项目旨在通过2D材料开发质子传输的基本理解。这些科学见解将被用来开发新的催化和分离工艺，以促进美国经济和国家安全。一个全面的教育和推广计划将通过以下方式补充和帮助研究工作：a）加强公众对科学、工程和数学的积极看法; B）培训下一代科学家。原子厚度的2D材料，如石墨烯和六方氮化硼，为探测和控制质量传输提供了全新的机会。原始单层石墨烯和六方氮化硼对氦原子是不可渗透的，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、氢纯化、光探测器和人工光合作用提供了变革性的机会。然而，通过2D材料的质子传输机制的全面理解仍然是难以捉摸的。该项目的总体目标是发展通过2D材料的质子传输机制的基本理解。原位计量学的最新进展将用于研究质子通过2D材料的渗透。这些关于质子传输的基本见解将用于开发对美国经济和国家安全感兴趣的新型催化和分离过程。该研究与一个全面的教育和推广计划相结合，重点是i）为代表性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合作; ii）与专业人士合作，通过社交媒体平台开发研究成果的推广和传播内容;以及iii）通过在范德比尔特大学和纳什维尔地区的外展活动，社区参与动手科学实验。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。

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.