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计划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方面制备先进储能和转换材料的国际研究经验。来自地区/国家代表性不足群体的每年四名美国学生（12名学生）将在中国山东省山东科技大学（SDUST）青岛校区接受具有正在进行的项目专业知识的对口学院和研究生的指导。这些学生将参与研究项目的知识和方法的前沿。IRES学生将开发和抛光宝贵的技术技能，了解可再生的，可持续的解决方案，以应对全球温室气体的挑战，并生活在教师和学生参与该计划的双文化社区。它有利于美国二氧化碳干重整CH 4（温室气体重整）和锂离子电池设计和制备的进步德克萨斯二叠纪盆地大学（UTPB）是一所位于德克萨斯州西部农村的西班牙裔服务机构（HSI），为37%的佩尔合格学生和49%的第一代学生提供服务，他们的家庭经常在油田或服务行业工作。IRES参与者将从代表性不足的群体中招募（即，妇女和少数民族）在西德克萨斯州和佩尔赠款合格的申请人在全国干。建议的项目将进一步培养他们对STEM的兴趣，并提高他们在STEM学科攻读研究生课程和职业生涯的热情。 这个IRES项目，通过与全球导师和同行的互动，并在国际研究环境中工作，为学生提供了机会，为解决能源问题和气候变化的全球能力和合作做好准备。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的方法或改进现有的方法，以设计和制备用于减少碳排放的能量存储/转换先进材料，以减轻气候变化造成的损害。一个计算模型将用于学生研究反应机制。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，提高能源储存和转换。他们将从事以下CO2干重整CH 4和锂离子电池设计的主题：1）制备生物质碳基催化剂并将其用于微波等离子体放电CO2干重整CH 4; 2）研究碳结构的热应力过程的演变并评估生物质碳基催化剂的任何潜在损害; 3）结合量子力学计算结果，分析拟定实验数据，揭示反应机理; 4）制备用于锂离子电池高性能测试的Sb基负极; 5）组装锂电池并评估其性能。该项目所取得的突破将对锂离子电池效率和温室改造以及美国相应领域的改善产生重大影响。拟议的研究项目将通过实现高效率的能源储存和转换，为减少碳排放做出贡献。从丰富、低成本的天然气储备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，以碳中和或碳负的路线生产耐用的化学品。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。

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.