Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy System for the in situ Measurement of Plasma-Catalyst Interactions for Enhanced Reaction Control
Abstract
As a large consumer of fossil fuels, the DoD requires new approaches to clean fuels & energy efficiency to maintain sustained strategic advantage. Gas reforming of hydrocarbons & nitrogen fixation can both produce clean-burning fuels & other useful chemicals as well as reduce carbon footprint. However, current processes are inefficient & have poor selectivity over the products. Plasmas offer an alternative approach to excite the gas & promote favorable interactions with catalysts; enhancing gas reforming above & beyond what plasma or thermal catalysis achieve alone. However promising, there is little fundamental understanding available to optimize plasma catalysis design for specific selectivity, efficiency or scalability.The ultimate aim of our work is to direct reaction paths using controlled plasma-catalyst interactions in order to develop technologies for chemical synthesis & processing relevant to the AF and DoD. To reach this aim, the goal of our research is to reveal molecular-level chemistry that occurs at the plasma-catalyst interface. The purpose of this DURIP is to purchase & upgrade a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instrument to enable in situ plasma-catalyst studies across a range of temperatures (20-600°C), pressures (10^6- 10^4 torr), & gas compositions. With this upgraded instrumentation, we will precisely probe the plasma-catalyst interface under realistic operational conditions. We will observe & quantify various surface intermediates based on their structure or their surface interaction/configuration. With a plasma-enabled FTIR system, we will focus on measuring and understanding reactions relevant to hydrocarbon reforming (with & without CO2) & nitrogen fixation. With these measurements, we will be able to understand the plasma-catalyst interaction leading to the design of plasma-enhanced catalytic systems for high-efficiency methane reforming, dehydrogenation of light hydrocarbons for olefin production, and/or nitrogen fixation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501710376
Entities
People
- David B Go
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Notre Dame