CAREER: CAS: Ultrafast Electron and Molecular Dynamics Investigations on 2D Nanostructured Photocatalytic Materials for the Generation of Fuels from Renewable Sources

职业：CAS：用于利用可再生能源生产燃料的二维纳米结构光催化材料的超快电子和分子动力学研究

基本信息

批准号：
1943697
负责人：
Mihai Vaida
金额：
$ 54.47万
依托单位：
The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2020-07-01 至 2025-06-30
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1943697&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
CAREER CAS Ultrafast Electron Molecular

项目摘要

The need to produce fuels from sunlight, similar to photosynthesis used by green plants, is the result of increasing global energy demand. The decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen and the generation of fuels from carbon dioxide (CO2) using visible light are important goals. Although a great deal of research has been performed to produce fuels from sunlight, currently there are no effective methods to produce solar fuels at large scale. Using a novel experimental technique, Dr. Mihai Vaida of the University of Central Florida is monitoring the ultrafast reactions of molecules at surfaces, producing real-time movies of atoms and molecules during light-driven reactions. This research is providing unique insights into photocatalytic processes and helping the development of new, highly efficient photocatalysts to speed up solar fuel generation. The research is integrated with an educational program to communicate the importance of clean fuels from renewable sources at the K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. This program is recruiting and mentoring women and underrepresented minority students in STEM (science/technology/engineering/mathematics) disciplines. With funding from the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Dr. Vaida of the University of Central Florida is developing the experimental and educational tools required to investigate, understand, and disseminate results of 2D nanostructured photocatalytic materials and reaction mechanisms that lead to the generation of solar fuels from renewable sources. Employing pump probe photoemission spectroscopy in conjunction with extreme ultraviolet (XUV) laser pulses, this project investigates the charge carrier dynamics at the photocatalyst surface with femtosecond resolution, surface sensitivity, and element specificity. Moreover, pump-probe femtosecond-laser mass spectrometry in conjunction with XUV soft ionization at the surface is employed to decipher the reaction mechanisms through the detection of intermediate species and final products with time-, mass-, and energy resolution. The water-splitting reaction as well as reactions that lead to the formation of fuel molecules via CO2 reduction are studied on 2D transition metal dichalcogenides decorated with metal particles. To support the broader impacts of the project, Dr. Vaida is actively engaged in outreach activities and is working with high school teachers to develop teaching modules focused on renewable energy. In addition, workshops are organized to train undergraduate and graduate students in the field of nanomaterials for renewable energy production and storage.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.

与绿色植物利用光合作用类似，利用阳光生产燃料的需求是全球能源需求不断增长的结果。将水分解为氢气和氧气以及利用可见光从二氧化碳 (CO2) 生成燃料是重要的目标。尽管已经进行了大量的研究来利用阳光生产燃料，但目前还没有大规模生产太阳能燃料的有效方法。中佛罗里达大学的 Mihai Vaida 博士使用一种新颖的实验技术来监测表面分子的超快反应，在光驱动反应过程中生成原子和分子的实时视频。这项研究为光催化过程提供了独特的见解，并帮助开发新型高效光催化剂以加速太阳能燃料的产生。该研究与一项教育计划相结合，旨在向 K-12、本科生和研究生层面宣传可再生能源清洁燃料的重要性。该计划正在招募和指导 STEM（科学/技术/工程/数学）学科的女性和代表性不足的少数族裔学生。在化学系化学催化项目的资助下，中佛罗里达大学的 Vaida 博士正在开发研究、理解和传播 2D 纳米结构光催化材料的结果以及导致生成的反应机制所需的实验和教育工具。来自可再生能源的太阳能燃料。该项目采用泵浦探针光电子能谱与极紫外 (XUV) 激光脉冲相结合，以飞秒分辨率、表面灵敏度和元素特异性研究光催化剂表面的载流子动力学。此外，泵浦探针飞秒激光质谱与表面的 XUV 软电离相结合，通过检测中间物质和最终产物的时间、质量和能量分辨率来破译反应机制。研究了金属颗粒修饰的二维过渡金属二硫属化物的水分解反应以及通过二氧化碳还原形成燃料分子的反应。为了支持该项目产生更广泛的影响，瓦伊达博士积极参与外展活动，并与高中教师合作开发专注于可再生能源的教学模块。此外，还组织研讨会，培训可再生能源生产和储存纳米材料领域的本科生和研究生。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，认为值得支持。