Development of characterization methods for multicomponent mixed phase materials for application in energy and environmental technologies

开发用于能源和环境技术的多组分混合相材料的表征方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-04306
• 负责人: Hazendonk, Paul
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748464
• 关键词: Development; characterization; methods; multicomponent; mixed

The environmental, energy and agricultural sciences all struggle with the structural complexity of naturally occurring mixed-phase materials such as soil, oil and charcoal; furthermore, such materials are encountered in manufacturing as in the polymer, alternative energy and biofuel sectors. Multicomponent mixed-phase materials are typically difficult to characterize without resorting to some degree of separation. It is essential to study these systems as they are, as the interaction between the components is ultimately of fundamental and practical interest. As both bulk and interfacial phenomena are of interest, characterization methods need to be robust to phase heterogeneity while maintaining high sensitivity, quantitative accuracy and ideally permits observation of dynamic phenomena. Frequently chemical probes need to be developed within this context to achieve these goals. A deep understanding into the origin of material properties will ultimately lead to design principles to make materials of with desired properties. The emerging crises of climate change, energy scarcity and food insecurity faced by our society has laid before the material sciences some important tasks, where such understanding will be paramount. Durable materials will need to be produced on a large scale, with the lowest energy cost and the smallest possible environmental impact. Also, solutions will be required to mediate the impact of the legacy environmental damage done to date. Adapting the polymer industry to sustainable, biologically derived, feedstocks, restoring soil fertility with biochar, and reducing GHG and energy intensity of the oil industry would factor highly into such an equation. The main goal of my NSERC DG program is to develop NMR protocols that are quantitative and suited to characterize structure and dynamics in multicomponent mixed-phase materials. Such methods will be essential in the development of new materials and processing technologies that seek: i) to reduce the environmental impact of the fossil fuel industry, ii) to minimize pollution associated with conventional plastics; and iii) to achieve maximal scale carbon sequestration with biochar with the added benefit of restoring soil fertility. I have established collaborations in: (a) the oil services sector (Schlumberger and Petrobras) aiming to improve bitumen stability and transport properties; (b) the plastics sector (Flexahopper Plastics) to develop processable biodegradable polymers establishing the Green Polymer and Technology Centre; and (c) agricultural researchers biochar soil amendment strategies to increase soil carbon and nutrient retention. My role in these endeavours is to develop the NMR characterization methodologies to study these materials.

环境、能源和农业科学都在与土壤、石油和木炭等自然存在的混合相材料的结构复杂性作斗争；此外，在聚合物、替代能源和生物燃料等制造业中也会遇到此类材料。如果不采取某种程度的分离，多组分混合相材料通常很难表征。有必要按原样研究这些系统，因为组件之间的相互作用最终具有基础和实际意义。由于体相和界面现象都令人感兴趣，因此表征方法需要对相异质性具有鲁棒性，同时保持高灵敏度、定量准确性，并且理想情况下允许观察动态现象。通常需要在这种背景下开发化学探针才能实现这些目标。 对材料特性起源的深入理解最终将导致设计原则，使材料具有所需的特性。我们社会面临的气候变化、能源短缺和粮食不安全等新出现的危机给材料科学提出了一些重要的任务，其中这种理解至关重要。耐用材料需要以最低的能源成本和最小的环境影响进行大规模生产。此外，还需要解决方案来调解迄今为止造成的遗留环境破坏的影响。使聚合物工业适应可持续的、生物衍生的原料，用生物炭恢复土壤肥力，以及减少石油工业的温室气体和能源强度，将在这个等式中发挥重要作用。我的 NSERC DG 项目的主要目标是开发定量的 NMR 协议，适合表征多组分混合相材料的结构和动力学。这些方法对于新材料和加工技术的开发至关重要，这些新材料和加工技术旨在：i）减少化石燃料工业对环境的影响，ii）最大限度地减少与传统塑料相关的污染； iii) 利用生物炭实现最大规模的碳封存，并具有恢复土壤肥力的额外好处。我在以下领域建立了合作：(a) 石油服务行业（斯伦贝谢和巴西国家石油公司），旨在提高沥青稳定性和运输性能； (b) 塑料行业（Flexahopper Plastics）开发可加工的可生物降解聚合物，建立绿色聚合物和技术中心； (c) 农业研究人员采用生物炭土壤改良策略来增加土壤碳和养分保留。我在这些努力中的作用是开发核磁共振表征方法来研究这些材料。