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

我们对化石燃料的依赖和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催化激光纹理表面上的CO2还原反应来解决这些问题，以生产有用的燃料并减少CO2排放。该研究提案由四个相互关联的部分组成：i）我们首先提出使用激光表面纹理化来控制铜和银表面上的微米和纳米尺度形态和化学。参数，如激光波长，重复率和脉冲长度，以及加工环境将被优化的CO2通过可见光激活的表面等离子体的光催化还原。表面等离子体激元是电子的集体振荡，其导致纳米结构上增强的光吸收，从而可以催化化学反应。ii）一套最先进的技术将用于表征表面形态，化学和表面等离子体共振，以及它们随时间的演变。诸如拉曼显微镜、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、分光光度法以及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画面。iii）一旦表面纹理被完全表征，将评估通过可见光激活的表面等离子体的CO2还原。我们将专注于使用激光纳米织构铜和银作为催化剂的电催化CO2还原反应。铜和银是有效的催化剂，并且具有强的可见区域局部表面等离子体共振，其可以降低反应势垒并驱动化学反应。催化效率和选择性将使用电催化电池与质谱仪以及液相色谱仪和气相色谱仪在人工阳光照射下进行评估。 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，但高速制造技术，如冲压和冷轧，将更具时间和成本效益。因此，冲压和冷轧将用于将激光微纳米纹理从模具转移到零件。催化性能，模具寿命，和弹性的微米和纳米级的功能将被调查。将激光微加工和高速转移工艺结合起来进行CO2转化是前所未有的，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，拟议的研究计划将为学生提供激光表面纹理，表面表征，高速制造和太阳能等离子体增强光化学领域的最先进设备，方法和解决问题的技能培训。

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.