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

纳米颗粒的胶体悬浮液在水等流体（也称为纳米流体）中越来越多地用于各种能源应用，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将其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，重点是技能培养活动，如小组报告和科学写作。另一个重要目标是加强本科生在课堂上使用化学模拟工具的科学训练，重点是如何绕过阻碍他们进入的传统障碍。这些活动将重点放在诸如电池、燃料电池、太阳能电池和电解槽等电化学技术上，这些技术对扩大使用可再生能源正变得越来越重要。大多数对纳米流体系统的基本理解来自于含有氧化还原活性物质（如二氧化硅和氧化铝）的悬浮液，并得到了基于Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek （DLVO）理论的建模工作的支持和指导。然而，对于含有氧化还原活性材料的纳米流体中电子转移的理解存在很大的知识缺口。目的包括利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。接枝的电荷、空间和化学吸附功能的变化将用于了解对流变学和氧化还原中介的影响，以建立结构-性能关系和运输机制。开发的纳米流体还将优化与二氧化碳的相互作用，以最大限度地催化转化和探索吸收能力。与这些相结合的是教育目标，重点是为本科生开发使用基于图形用户界面（GUI）的计算方法的模块。跨学科的方法在材料科学，电化学，计算机辅助设计工具和现代制造方法将被用来实现这些目标。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。

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.