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在激光纹理表面上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。本研究计划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来控制铜和银表面的微观和纳米尺度的形态和化学。优化激光波长、重复频率和脉冲长度等参数以及加工环境，以通过可见光激活表面等离子体光催化还原CO2。表面等离子体是电子的集体振荡，导致纳米结构上的光吸收增强，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。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、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)一旦充分表征了表面纹理，将评估通过可见光激活的表面等离子体减少二氧化碳的效果。我们将重点研究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，具有很强的可见区域局部表面等离子体共振，可以降低反应障碍并驱动化学反应。催化效率和选择性将在人工太阳照明下使用电催化电池与质谱联用、液相和气相色谱仪进行评估。虽然超快激光可以在合理的时间内对大型表面进行纹理处理，但冲压和冷轧等高速制造技术将更加节省时间和成本效益。因此，冲压和冷轧将用于将激光微纳米级纹理从模具转移到零件。催化性能，模具寿命和弹性的微观和纳米尺度的特征将进行研究。激光微加工和二氧化碳转换的高速传输过程的结合从未完成过，并承诺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，拟议的研究计划还将为学生提供有关激光表面纹理、表面表征、高速制造和太阳等离子体增强光化学领域的最先进设备、方法和解决问题技能的培训。

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.