High speed manufacturing of laser-textured surfaces for visible-light plasmon-enhanced CO2 conversion

我们对化石燃料的依赖及其对气候的影响是不可持续的，需要立即采取行动。我的研究计划建议通过在激光纹理表面催化二氧化碳还原反应来解决这些问题，以生产有用的燃料并减少二氧化碳排放。该研究方案由四个相互关联的部分组成：*i)我们首次提出使用激光表面毛化来控制铜和银表面的微纳米级的形貌和化学组成。激光波长、重复频率和脉冲长度以及加工环境等参数将被优化，以通过可见光激活表面等离子体光催化还原二氧化碳。表面等离子体是电子的集体振荡，导致纳米结构上增强的光吸收，可以催化化学反应。*ii)一套最先进的技术将被用来表征表面形态、化学和表面等离子体共振，以及它们随时间的演变。拉曼显微镜、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、分光光度、电子和原子力显微镜等技术将描绘出表面形态和化学的完整图景。*iii)一旦表面纹理得到充分表征，将评估可见光激活表面等离子体减少二氧化碳的作用。我们将集中研究以激光纳米结构铜和银为催化剂的电催化二氧化碳还原反应。铜和银是高效的催化剂，具有很强的可见光局域表面等离子体共振，可以降低反应势垒，推动化学反应。催化效率和选择性将使用电催化电池和质谱仪，以及在人造太阳照射下的液体和气相色谱仪进行评估。*iv)虽然超快激光可以在合理的时间内对大表面进行纹理处理，但冲压和冷轧等高速制造技术将花费更多的时间和成本效益。因此，冲压和冷轧将被用来将激光微米和纳米级的纹理从模具转移到零件。将研究微尺度和纳米尺度特征的催化性能、芯片寿命和弹性。*用于二氧化碳转化的激光微加工和高速转移过程的组合从未被完成，有望有助于缓解全球变暖和气候变化的危险影响，同时提供一种绿色燃料来源。除了新的科学发现、工业应用和环境效益外，拟议的研究计划还将为学生提供激光表面纹理处理、表面表征、高速制造和太阳等离子增强型光化学领域的最先进设备、方法和解决问题的技能的培训。

Our reliance on fossil fuels and impact on the climate is not sustainable and requires immediate action. My research program proposes to tackle these issues by catalyzing the CO2 reduction reaction on laser-textured surfaces for the production of useful fuels and to decrease CO2 emissions. The research proposal consists of four interconnected parts:***i) We first propose to use laser surface texturing to control both micro- and nano-scale morphology and chemistry on the surface of copper and silver. Parameters such as laser wavelength, repetition rate, and pulse length, as well as machining environment will be optimized for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 via visible light activated surface plasmons. Surface plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons that result in enhanced light absorption on nanostructures that can catalyze chemical reactions.***ii) A suite of state-of-the-art techniques will be used to characterize the surface morphology, chemistry and surface plasmon resonance, and their evolution over time. Techniques such as Raman microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), spectrophotometry, and electron and atomic force microscopy will paint a complete picture of the surface morphology and chemistry.***iii) Once the surface texture is fully characterized, the reduction of CO2 via visible-light activated surface plasmons will be evaluated. We will concentrate on the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction using laser nanotextured copper and silver as the catalysts. Copper and silver are efficient catalysts and have strong visible-region localized surface plasmon resonances that can lower reaction barriers and drive chemical reactions. Catalytic efficiency and selectivity will be assessed using an electrocatalytic cell coupled with a mass spectrometer, and liquid and gas chromatographs under artificial sun illumination. ***iv) While ultrafast lasers could texture large surfaces in a reasonable time, high speed manufacturing techniques such as stamping and cold rolling would be much more time and cost effective. Stamping and cold rolling will therefore be used to transfer laser micro and nanoscale textures from die to parts. Catalytic properties, die life-time, and resilience of micro and nanoscale features will be investigated.***The combination of laser micromachining and high-speed transfer processes for CO2 conversion has never been done, and promises to contribute to mitigate global warming and the dangerous effects of climate change while at the same time providing a green source of fuels. In addition to new scientific discoveries, industrial applications, and environmental benefits, the proposed research program will provide training to students on state-of-the art equipment, methodologies, and problem-solving skills in the areas of laser surface texturing, surface characterization, high speed manufacturing, and solar plasmon-enhanced photochemistry.**