QLC: EAGER: Study of the hydrocarbon quantum formation process with carbon 12 and carbon 13 and optical control

在该项目中，由化学部化学结构，动力学机制B计划资助，马萨诸塞州洛厄尔大学（UML）的沈梦燕教授正在测试一种假设，即链烃是在钴/钴氧化物表面上由二氧化碳，水和光量子机械合成的。 这种反应模拟光合作用，在减少二氧化碳和增加能源供应方面很重要。 这项研究的目的是利用一个不寻常的同位素分布的特点，这是完全不同于传统的预期。 该项目为培训学生，包括理科学生人数不足的学生提供了很好的机会。 它还有助于培养量子计算方面的劳动力。 涉及K-12学生的外联活动也将是资助项目的一部分。 在沈教授的UML实验室中发现的一种钴氧化物光催化剂，可以通过阳光进行物理活化，并已被证明可以直接将二氧化碳和水转化为长链烃（C5至C15）。当使用同位素C-12和C-13二氧化碳的混合物时，观察到非常不寻常的同位素分布。 本提案的具体目的是（1）确认纯C-12烃和纯C-13烃倾向于在某些催化剂表面上容易形成的观察结果，这是目前的化学理论无法解释的，（2）基于使用同位素二氧化碳和同位素水的实验结果，理解并创建链烃形成机理的预测模型。 希望这将解释纯C-13和纯C-12在形成链烃时具有聚集在一起的倾向的观察，以及（3）为了找到与光波长、温度、该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得支持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。

In this project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamic & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Mengyan Shen at University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) is testing the hypothesis that chain hydrocarbons are quantum mechanically synthesized on a cobalt/cobalt oxide surface from carbon dioxide, water, and light. This reaction mimics photosynthesis and is important in reducing carbon dioxide and increasing the energy supply. The goals of this research are to exploit the characteristics of an unusual isotope distribution that is completely different from conventional expectation. The project provides great opportunities for training students including those underrepresented in sciences. It also helps to develop a workforce on quantum computing. Outreach activities involving K-12 students will also be part of the funded project. A cobalt oxide photo-catalyst, discovered in Professor Shen's lab at UML, is physically activated by sunlight and has been proven to directly convert carbon dioxide and water to long-chain hydrocarbons (C5 to C15). When a mixture of isotopic C-12 and C-13 carbon dioxide was used, a highly unusual isotope distribution was observed. Particular objectives of this proposal are (1) To confirm the observation that pure C-12 hydrocarbons and pure C-13 hydrocarbons tend to form easily on some catalysts' surfaces, which cannot be explained with the current chemical theories, (2) To understand and create a predictive model for the mechanism of the formation of chain hydrocarbons based on experimental results using isotopic carbon dioxide and isotopic water. It is hoped that this would explain the observation of pure C-13 and pure C-12 having the tendency to group together in forming chain hydrocarbons, and (3) To find controlling parameters with light wavelength, temperature, and pressures as well as study the influence of the catalyst surface structures on the quantum formation of hydrocarbons.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.