IRES Track I: US Student Research Experience in Design and Synthesis of Advanced Materials for High-efficiency Energy Storage and Conversion

拟议的IRES项目旨在为美国本科生提供在温室气体重整（二氧化碳和甲烷）和高效锂离子电池制备中制备先进储能和转换材料的国际研究经验。每年有四名来自地区/国家代表性不足群体的美国学生（12名学生）将在中国山东山东科技大学青岛校区接受对等教师和具有正在进行的项目专业知识的研究生的指导，为期三年。这些学生将参与具有前沿知识和方法论的研究项目。IRES的学生将发展和磨练宝贵的技术技能，学习应对全球温室气体挑战的可再生、可持续解决方案，并生活在一个由参与该计划的教师和学生组成的双文化社区中。它有利于美国二氧化碳干重整CH4（温室气体重整）和锂离子电池设计和制备的进步。德克萨斯大学二叠纪盆地（UTPB）是一所西班牙裔服务机构（HSI），位于德克萨斯州西部农村，为37%的佩尔合格学生和49%的第一代学生提供服务，这些学生的家庭通常在油田或服务行业工作。IRES的参与者将从西德克萨斯州的代表性不足的群体（即妇女和少数民族）和佩尔资助的STEM全国合格申请人中招募。建议的项目将进一步发展他们对STEM的兴趣，并提高他们在STEM学科中攻读研究生和职业的热情。通过与全球导师和同行的互动以及在国际研究环境中工作，该IRES项目为学生提供了在解决能源问题和气候变化方面的全球能力和合作做好准备的机会。温室气体（碳排放）引起的气候变化给人类带来了巨大的威胁。该IRES研究项目旨在开发新方法或改进现有方法，设计和制备用于减少碳排放的储能/转换先进材料，以减轻气候变化的损害。学生将使用计算模型来研究反应机制。该计划的学生将进行独立的研究项目，旨在实现高效的能源利用，增强能源储存和转换。研究方向为CO2干式重整CH4及锂离子电池设计：1)生物质碳基催化剂的制备及其微波等离子体放电CO2干式重整CH4的应用；2)研究碳结构的热应力演化过程，并评估其对生物质基碳催化剂的潜在损伤；3)结合量子力学计算结果，对拟实验数据进行分析，揭示反应机理；4)制备用于锂离子电池高性能测试的sb基阳极；5)组装锂电池并评估其性能。该项目取得的突破将对锂离子电池效率的提高和温室改造以及美国相应地区产生重大影响。拟议的研究项目将通过实现高效的能源储存和转换，为减少碳排放做出贡献。从大量低成本的天然气储量中再利用温室气体二氧化碳和甲烷，可以制造新的化学原料，以碳中和或碳负的方式生产耐用的化学品。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。

The proposed IRES program aims to provide U.S. undergraduate students with international research experience in preparing advanced energy storage and conversion materials in greenhouse gas reforming (carbon dioxide and methane) and high-efficient lithium-ion battery preparation. Four U.S. students per year for three years (12 students) from regional/national underrepresented groups will be mentored by counterpart faculties and graduate students with expertise in ongoing projects at the Qingdao campus of Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST), Shandong, China. These students will participate in research projects with the frontiers of knowledge and methodological approaches. IRES students will develop and polish valuable technical skills, learn about renewable, sustainable solutions to global greenhouse gas challenges, and live in a bicultural community of faculty and students participating in the program. It benefits the advancement of CO2 dry reforming CH4 (greenhouse gas reforming) and lithium-ion battery design and preparation in the U.S. The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) located in rural West Texas, serving 37% of Pell-eligible and 49% of first-generation students whose families often work in the oil fields or service industries. The IRES participants will be recruited from underrepresented groups (i.e., women and minorities) in West Texas and Pell grant-qualified applicants in STEM nationally. The proposed project will further develop their interest in STEM and enhance their enthusiasm to pursue graduate studies and careers in STEM disciplines. This IRES project, through interactions with global mentors and peers and working in international research environments, provides the students with opportunities to be prepared for worldwide competence and cooperation in addressing energy issues and climate change. Climate change due to greenhouse gas (carbon emission) brings with it a tremendous threat to humans. This IRES research project aims to develop new methodologies or improve existing ones to design and prepare energy storage/conversion advanced materials for carbon emission reduction to mitigate climate change damage. A computational model will be used for students to study reaction mechanisms. Students in the program will perform independent research projects that aim to achieve high-efficient energy utilization and enhance energy storage and conversion. They will engage in the following topics of CO2 dry reforming CH4 and lithium-ion batteries design: 1) preparation of bio-mass carbon-based catalyst and using it for CO2 dry reforming of CH4 with microwave plasma discharge; 2) investigation of the evolution of thermal stress process of the carbon structure and evaluating any potential damage to biomass-based carbon catalyst; 3) analysis of the data from the proposed experiments to disclose the reaction mechanism in combination with the results from quantum mechanics calculations; 4) prepare the Sb-based anode for high-performance testing in lithium-ion batteries; and 5) assemble lithium batteries and evaluate their performance. The breakthroughs made from the project can significantly impact the improvements of lithium-ion battery efficiency and greenhouse reforming, as well as in the U.S. corresponding areas. The proposed research projects will contribute to carbon emission reduction by achieving high-efficiency energy storage and conversion. Reutilization of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide plus methane from abundant, low-cost natural gas reserves can manufacture new chemical feedstocks to produce durable chemicals in a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative route.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.