RET: Engineering a More Sustainable Energy Future
Sample Project Descriptions
The following paragraphs provide sample descriptions of research projects for RET participating teachers in summer 2012. A complete project list and descriptions will be presented at the beginning of the session.
Efficient carbon capture utilizing framework materials constructed from tunable N-heterocyclic struts
The development and improvement of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) technologies has become a pressing necessity due to increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Numerous technical challenges come to the forefront when looking at application of CCS technologies for post-combustion flue gases. Specifically, the relatively low concentration of carbon dioxide (~15 %) in complex mixtures makes the separation difficult and energy intensive. The proposed research will examine the use of a novel class of highly porous solid materials to enable the selective capture of carbon dioxide. Specifically, this work will build upon recent intriguing results by synthesizing and testing framework materials containing N-heterocyclic units which have been found to react selectively with carbon dioxide. The project will involve the synthesis and characterization of new materials, and their subsequent testing for the selective separation of small molecules.
Evaluation of Ionic Liquids for CO2 Separation
This project involves evaluating new compounds for the separation of CO2 from power plant flue gas exhausts. Conventional technologies use aqueous amine solutions for CO2 capture, but they require significant energy input for regeneration, making their wide-spread use undesirable. Ionic liquids show high affinity for CO2 capture with lower energy requirements for regeneration. Participating teachers would study new ionic liquids for their ability to remove CO2 from flue gas.
High performance solar cell fabrication
This project will focus on exploring processing techniques for the fabrication of compound-semiconductor based multi-junction high-performance solar cells. To improve efficiency in high-concentration ratio compound-semiconductor cells, novel processing approaches are needed so that all of the contacts and interconnections can be made on the back side of the wafer. This requires well-controlled etching-based fabrication processes for forming vias through the active semiconductor materials to provide the required electrical interconnections. Primary emphasis will be on development and demonstration of fine-pitch contact via formation using inductively-coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE). Activities within this project will include performing studies of the impact of process parameters on etch rate, profile, and selectivity. This includes operation of the ICP-RIE process tool (in the NDNF cleanroom) and evaluation of the resulting etch profiles (using SEM and laser confocal microscopy).
Bridging the Gap between Molecular Level and Macroscopic Observations
The objective of this project is to experience the scientific research in Dr. Luo’s MEMT (Molecular Level Energy and Mass Transport) Lab that bridges the gap between observations from molecular level simulations and lab scale water desalination processes using directional solvent extraction (DSE). Specific tasks include visualizing diffusion of molecules at the molecular level and basic measurements of solubility. The teacher will be trained to use common molecular visualization software such as VMD to monitor the movements of water molecules and other substances in a molecular dynamics simulation. The teacher will also be trained to use simple techniques such as incremental dissolving to measure the solubility of substances in water. These activities will lead to understanding of the mechanism of the DSE process from both molecular and macroscopic levels.
Nanostructure Assemblies for Next generation Solar Cells
The goal of this research project is to organize light harvesting nano-assemblies on electrode surfaces and evaluate their performance in photochemical solar cells. The teacher will gain an understanding of the photoinduced processes in semiconductor nanostructures and develop skills to evaluate performance of solar cells. The proposed research will involve the use of semiconductor particles, carbon nanostructures, and organic dyes to construct solar cells using simple bench top chemistry. Careful assembly of different size semiconductor quantum dots (e.g., CdSe and CdSe) is desirable for optimization of the visible light absorption and efficient capture of photogenerated electrons. The teacher will engage in the synthesis and characterization of semiconductor particles and their assembly on conducting electrode surfaces. The excited state processes will be probed by means of time-resolved emission and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy techniques. The performance of solar cells will be evaluated using current-voltage characteristics, external quantum efficiency and power conversion efficiency parameters.
Efficient and User-responsive Electric Grid
It is quite clear that the current electric grid needs to be updated as energy demands continue to increase and issues such as finite amount of fossil fuel availability, climate change, and renewable source integration are tackled. This project will focus on one of the earliest issues that will arise as the so-called 'Smart Grid' evolves - integration of increasing number of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. While such vehicles pose a challenge in requiring energy for charging with associated deadlines and overloading problems, they also provide new opportunities to be used for energy storage that the users can sell back to the grid at times when the utility companies require extra energy to meet the demand. This project will study fundamental problems and interactions in this exciting environment. The project will familiarize the participant with hardware in the shape of charging requirements for various batteries, standards in the form of EV charging rates mandated for the utility companies, algorithms through design and analysis of centralized and distributed scheduling algorithms for the EVs, and software through implementation of large scale EV charging in the existing electric grid simulations.
Development of Solid Electrolytes for Rechargeable Li Batteries
Typically lithium batteries have a liquid electrolyte separating the two electrodes. Solid electrolytes offer a number of advantages for batteries including increased safety, simpler cell designs, greater electrochemical stability, and less sensitivity to environmental conditions compared to their liquid counterparts. This project will involve determination of temperature-structure relationships between phases related to the solid electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12. The project will involve performing X-ray diffraction studies to determine phase stability as a function of temperature. The researcher will synthesize powder samples and perform crystallographic studies.
Catalysts for Biofuels Production
A critical need facing society is replacing fossil fuels with more sustainable resources for the efficient and economical production of chemicals and fuels. One attractive sustainable energy resource is lignocellulosic biomass, but creating stable, usable biofuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass hinges on the development of highly active and selective heterogeneous catalysts that are robust toward the many components and types of biomass. The development of new heterogeneous catalysts designed with capabilities for upgrading complex feedstocks is paramount if 2nd generation (lignocellulosic) biomass utilization is to succeed. This project focuses on many classes of novel heterogeneous catalysts: bimetallic catalysts, shape-selective zeolite catalysts, mesoporous catalysts, etc. Many variations of these new catalytic materials can be envisioned by altering initial conditions and compositions which will allow determination of structure-property relationships. The teacher will work on synthesizing and/or using these materials to selectively convert biomass into value-added chemicals or fuels.
Uranyl Peroxide Nanoclusters
Uranyl peroxide nanoclusters (discovered in 2005) self-assemble in basic solutions in the presence of peroxide. To date, over 80 uranyl peroxide nanoclusters have been discovered. Published clusters contain up to 60 uranyl peroxide polyhedra and can have peroxide, oxalate, and pyrophosphate linkers between the uranyl peroxide polyhedra. This project focuses on exploring the properties of the nanoclusters by characterizing them with Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Electro-Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Uranyl peroxide nanoclusters have potential to serve as new fuel for nuclear reactors or as a new separation technique to recycle used nuclear fuel. The teacher will work on the synthesis of uranyl peroxide nanoclusters and the characterization of these materials. Radiation training will be required for accepted teachers and is provided by the university.
Nonproliferation
This project focuses on involvement with nuclear nonproliferation work which is related to basic physics measurements. It is believed that diversion of nuclear reactor produced plutonium could be detected by deviations in the neutrino spectrum produced by the reactor while in operation. Fission of plutonium gives a measurably different neutrino spectrum than fission of uranium. Plutonium produced and left in a nuclear reactor can be observed and measured via modifications to the neutrino spectrum. If the plutonium is diverted and not burned, the observed spectrum will be different. The teacher will assist with experiments which are underway at a number of reactors to measure the spectrum for well monitored sources. These studies may determine if this method can be used as a noninvasive nuclear nonproliferation monitor.
Autonomous vehicles: control algorithms and challenges
Automobiles now contain a large number of automatic control systems, with sensors, microprocessors, actuators, and communication systems ever-increasing in expense, complexity, and sophistication. A typical hybrid car, for instance, would have about 60-65 microprocessors. However, the design and integration of such devices remains largely ad hoc. This leads to incidents such as the Toyota recall where the car may accelerate due to an entirely different control loop interacting with the accelerator control loop. This project will study the interactions that may arise in such systems and suggest ways to mitigate such unintended interactions. We have access to software similar to the software used by GM to design their cars. The project requires work using this software to map the control loops and to design algorithms to study which control loops can interact. The participant will learn about a practical industrial system using realistic tools and gain exposure to issues that will only become increasingly common in our lives.
Energy usage in building heating and cooling systems
This project focuses on energy conservation in building heating and cooling systems. The University of Notre Dame collects time-dependent data across campus from sensors located in the buildings. Most of the recently-built teaching, administrative and student residence buildings are fully monitored with sensors in every room. Temperatures, humidity and carbon dioxide levels are among the quantities measured and recorded. The participant will be fully involved in the collection of data and their analysis. Energy balances, cross correlations and other analytical and statistical tools will be used to interpret the data. The participant will become conversant with the basics of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and data analysis applied to building energy engineering. The specific objective of the research is to analyze current energy usage in buildings and to suggest control practices that can reduce the cost of heating and cooling. The knowledge gained can then be applied to their own places of work with the participation of their students.
