CAREER: Fundamentals and Applications of Electrochemically Active Nanofluids for Energy Storage and Conversion

纳米尺寸的颗粒在诸如水的流体中的胶体悬浮液（也称为纳米流体）越来越多地发现在各种能量应用中的用途，特别是能量存储和转换系统。该项目将解决在理解如何开发含有电化学活性材料的纳米流体并用于各种应用方面存在的知识差距。该项目将促进知识共享活动，如指导本科生研究，将研究活动纳入课程，重点是技能建设活动，如小组演讲和科学写作。另一个重要的目标是在课堂上使用化学模拟工具加强对本科生的科学培训，重点是规避传统入学障碍的方法。这些演习将侧重于电池、燃料电池、太阳能电池和电解槽等电化学技术，这些技术对扩大可再生能源的使用越来越重要。对纳米流体系统的大部分基本理解来自含有氧化还原惰性材料（如二氧化硅和氧化铝）的悬浮液，基于Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek（DLVO）理论的建模工作得到了很好的支持和指导。然而，一个很大的知识差距存在于理解的电子转移的纳米流体含有氧化还原活性材料。目标包括使用接枝分子修饰氧化还原活性纳米颗粒的表面，并通过各种原位测量评估其对胶体稳定性和电子转移的影响。接枝物的电荷、空间位阻和化学吸附功能的变化将用于理解流变学和氧化还原介导的影响，以建立结构-性质关系和运输机制。开发的纳米流体还将优化与二氧化碳的相互作用，以最大限度地提高催化转化率并探索吸收能力。与这些相结合的是教育目标，集中在开发模块，为本科生使用图形用户界面（GUI）为基础的计算方法。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。

Colloidal suspensions of nano-sized particles in fluids such as water (also known as nanofluids) are increasingly finding use in a variety of energy applications, especially energy storage and conversion systems. This project will address the knowledge gap that exists in the understanding how nanofluids containing electrochemically active materials can be developed and used for various applications. The project will promote knowledge-sharing activities such as mentored undergraduate research, inclusion of research activities into the curriculum with a focus on skill-building activities such as group presentations, and scientific writing. Another significant goal is the enhancement of scientific training of undergraduate students in the classroom using chemical simulation tools with emphasis on methods to circumvent the traditional barriers to their entry. These exercises will be developed with a focus on electrochemical technologies such as batteries, fuel cells, solar cells and electrolyzers, which are becoming increasingly important to expand the use of renewable energy. A majority of the fundamental understanding of nanofluid systems comes from suspensions containing redox-inactive materials such as silica and alumina, well supported and guided by modeling efforts based on Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. However, a large knowledge gap exists in the understanding of electron transfer in nanofluids containing redox-active materials. Objectives include the use of graft molecules for modifying the surface of redox active nanoparticle and assessing its effect on both colloidal stability and electron transfer through a variety of in-situ measurements. Variations in charge, steric and chemisorption functionality of the grafts will be used to understand the effects on rheology and redox mediation to establish structure-property relations and transport mechanisms. The developed nanofluids will also be optimized for interaction with carbon dioxide to maximize catalytic conversion and explore absorption capacity. Integrated with these are educational objectives, centered on developing modules for undergraduate students to use graphical user interface (GUI)-based computational methods. Inter-disciplinary methods in materials science, electrochemistry, computer-aided design tools and modern manufacturing methods will be used to accomplish these goals.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.