CAREER:Understanding Sponteneous Combustion of Hydrogen and Oxygen in Nanobubbles

摘要1254648乔，李所提出的研究集中在由电解产生的水纳米气泡形成的纳米尺寸限制中的氢和氧的点火和燃烧。 假设点火和燃烧的结果来自（1）限制缩短有效平均自由程，导致更高的分子碰撞、反应和放热速率，以克服通常在小型燃烧装置中遇到的显著的热损失，或（2）水泡破裂期间压力增加，类似于快速压缩机中的情况，导致着火和燃烧反应物混合物。 实验的努力集中在测量气泡的大小，生长动力学，和气泡内的温度。 扫描激光多普勒测振仪用于确定气泡的大小和演变，而微制造技术用于生产纳米级温度计，适用于相关的小时间和空间长度尺度。 这项研究旨在弥合纳米科学和传统燃烧科学之间的差距，传统燃烧科学通常与发动机等更大规模的系统有关。 潜在的好处包括了解真正纳米级的点火和燃烧，并应用于小型能源系统、机械和消防安全。 采用分子动力学方法确定纳米气泡内H2/O2混合物的压力和化学反应，以帮助减轻所提出的小规模实验的困难。 该教育方案要求对公众进行教育，通过一个受欢迎的纳米科学网站传播研究成果，为本科生提供研究机会，并招募和指导女工程研究生。

Abstract1254648Qiao, LiThe proposed study is focused on ignition and combustion of hydrogen and oxygen in nano-sized confinements formed by water nano-bubbles, which are generated by electrolysis. It is hypothesized that ignition and combustion results from either (1) the confinement shortening the effective mean free path resulting in higher rates of molecular collision, reaction, and heat release to overcome the significant heat loss commonly encountered in small combustion devices, or (2) the pressure increase during the collapse of the water bubble resembling that in a rapid compression machine that leads to ignition and combustion of the reactant mixture. Experimental efforts concentrate on measurements of bubble size, growth dynamics, and temperature within the bubble. Scanning laser-Doppler vibrometry is used for determining bubble size and evolution, while micro fabrication techniques are used to produce nano-scale thermometer suitable for the associated small time and spatial length scales. The study is aimed at bridging the gap between nano-science and traditional combustion science that are usually associated with systems of much larger scales such as engines. Potential benefits include understanding ignition and combustion at truly nano-scales, with applications in small energy systems and machinery and fire safety. A Molecular Dynamics approach is adopted for determining the pressure and chemical reactions of the H2/O2 mixture within the nano-bubble To help alleviate the difficulties in the proposed small-scale experiments. The educational program calls for education of the public, dissemination of research through a popular nano-science website, research opportunities for undergraduate students, and recruitment and mentoring of woman engineering graduate students.