EAGER: Plasmonics Resonance Enhanced Active Photothermal Effects of Metal Nanoenergetics for Lean Combustion Ignition

该项目的目标是获得用于稀薄燃烧的纳米能量增强点火的定量数据，并对学生进行燃烧、纳米科学、等离子体和与能源相关的新技术的教育。新型纳米含能材料在燃烧应用中具有各种吸引人的特性。纳米能量学的光热效应是由闪光灯启动和控制的。局域表面等离子体共振(LSPR)效应限制并增强了纳米能量粒子内的光能。颗粒的氧化反应随着局部温度的升高而被激活，并为火焰点火提供额外的能量以加速化学反应。然而，纳米能量学的光热点火的许多基本问题仍远未解决。在这里，先进的原位和非原位诊断工具将被开发和利用来定量地了解LSPR增强的纳米能量对稀薄燃烧点火的主动光热效应，包括各种燃料/纳米能量混合物的光热点火延迟和光热最小点火能量。这一结果可能会大大增加我们对纳米能量学作为一种新的燃料添加剂和/或固体燃料的理解。可以实现稀薄燃烧的可靠点火，减少NOx排放和燃烧系统中污染物的形成。该项目将招募和支持少数族裔和代表性不足群体的本科生。这位研究生将攻读博士学位。工学院将进一步发展研究生课程，使工程教育反映工程实践的最新水平。

The goal of this project is to obtain quantitative data of nanoenergetics-enhanced ignition for lean combustion and to educate students on the combustion, nanoscience, plasmonics, and novel energy-related technology. Novel nanoenergetic materials have various appealing properties for combustion applications. The photothermal effect of nanoenergetics is initiated and controlled by a flash lamp. Localized Surface Plasmonics Resonance (LSPR) effects confine and enhance the optical energy within the nanoenergetic particles. The oxidation reactions of the particles are activated by the local temperature increase and provide additional energy to accelerate the chemical reactions for flame ignition. However many fundamental questions of photothermal ignition of nanoenergetics are still far from being solved. Here advanced in situ and ex situ diagnostic tools will be developed and utilized to gain quantitative understanding of LSPR enhanced active photothermal effects of nanoenergetics for lean combustion ignition, including photothermal ignition delay and photothermal minimum ignition energy of various fuel/nanoenergetics mixtures. The results may significantly increase our understanding of the nanoenergetics as a new fuel additive and/or a solid fuel. Reliable ignition of lean combustion may be achieved, reducing NOx emissions and pollutant formation in combustion systems.Undergraduate students from minority and underrepresented groups will be recruited and supported in the project. The graduate student will work towards his Ph.D. degree. The PI will further develop graduate courses to make engineering education reflect the state-of-the-art in engineering practice.