Article
Physics, Applied
Ziyao Jie, Cheng Liu, Shiyang Huang, Guixin Zhang
Summary: This experiment analyzed the gas temperature of atmospheric air microwave plasma core using molecular emission spectrometry, showing the effects of absorbed microwave power levels, gas flow rates, gas humidities, and volume fractions of CO2 in air. The results demonstrated that the plasma gas temperature mainly ranged from 4000 to 7000 K and varied with different factors such as microwave power and CO2 content.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
N. Yu Babaeva, G. Naidis, D. Tereshonok, T. Chernyshev, L. S. Volkov, M. M. Vasiliev, O. F. Petrov
Summary: In this study, we computationally investigated the process of CO2 splitting to carbon monoxide and oxygen in an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma torch. We used 2D and 1D models to demonstrate different stages of CO2 conversion. Contrary to our expectation, the gas temperature and plasma species behavior in the 1D model were found to be quite different from those obtained with the 2D code. We identified that the reverse gas flow near the central electrode was responsible for the observed discrepancies and achieved reasonable agreement between the two models by adjusting the flow rate in the 1D model.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Olugbenga Akande, BongJu Lee
Summary: This study investigates a microwave plasma torch-based method called plasma steam methane reforming (PSMR) as a solution to the shortage of hydrogen pipeline infrastructure. The experimental results demonstrate that PSMR has high energy yield, small carbon footprint, and real-time fueling capabilities, making it a promising option for commercial-scale hydrogen production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
L. Vialetto, A. W. van de Steeg, P. Viegas, S. Longo, G. J. van Rooij, M. C. M. van de Sanden, J. van Dijk, P. Diomede
Summary: This work investigates the kinetics and transport of CO2 microwave plasmas through simulation results and experiments. The simulation results are validated against experimental measurements and the study reveals the effects of gas heating and charged species variation at different pressures.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Miroslav Snirer, Vit Kudrle, Jozef Toman, Ondrej Jasek, Jana Jurmanova
Summary: Graphene nanosheets were synthesized from ethanol using a microwave plasma torch, allowing direct observation and analysis of plasma and assembly zones. Important plasma parameters and insights into chemical processes were obtained using optical emission spectroscopy and digital imaging under varying experimental conditions. Plasma diagnostics were subsequently correlated with material properties determined through electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
S. Soldatov, E. Carbone, A. Kuhn, G. Link, J. Jelonnek, R. Dittmeyer, A. Navarrete
Summary: Using ultrafast pulsation of microwave power in plasmas can improve the efficiency of CO2 conversion. However, further understanding of the underlying mechanisms is needed to design optimal plasma-based devices. Detailed parameter scans and plasma diagnostics are used to investigate the performance of plasma torches and uncover the factors limiting CO yield. Short power pulses result in low CO2 conversion due to the energy required to generate the plasma. Efficiency is optimized with power pulses lasting a few microseconds, with gas temperatures of around 3000 K measured at the beginning of the pulse. Power modulation and appropriate gas flow residence times help dissociate CO2 even during the power-off phase, optimizing the process efficiency. 2D cylindrical simulations provide insights into gas flow dynamics and estimate the gas residence time in the plasma volume. Under-processing of CO2 occurs when the OFF times are close to or longer than the residence time, indicating that gas flow destabilizes the plasma depending on the pulsed regime. The combination of capacitive coupling for ignition and inductive power absorption leads to complex plasma dynamics.
JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sean Kelly, Elizabeth Mercer, Robin De Meyer, Radu-George Ciocarlan, Sara Bals, Annemie Bogaerts
Summary: We investigated the conversion of CO2 and CH4 in atmospheric pressure microwave plasma, focusing on reaction performance and carbon formation. The energy costs were promising, with the best performance to date for plasma-based dry reforming of methane. The conversion rates for CO2 and CH4 were in the range of 46-49% and 55-67% respectively, producing primarily syngas with H2/CO ratios of 0.6-1.
JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ian Reddick, Omar Mohamed, Justin Pommerenck, Matthew Coblyn, Alexandre Yokochi, Annette Von Jouanne, Goran N. Jovanovic, Nick AuYeung
Summary: Hydrocarbon processing using plasmas has great potential, but there are uncertainties regarding practical operation. Previous studies have shown that a nonthermal plasma can convert methane into C2 species in a microreactor. This study investigated the longevity of the microreactor system with a feed mixture of simulated biogas and air, and successful operation without significant deterioration was demonstrated over a 50-hour period.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Alif Aiman Zamri, Mei Yin Ong, Saifuddin Nomanbhay, Pau Loke Show
Summary: This paper discusses the increasing global carbon dioxide emissions and energy demand, as well as the method of reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere through microwave plasma technology. The importance of syngas as a significant energy source is also emphasized.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aditya Prajapati, Rohan Sartape, Miguel T. Galante, Jiahan Xie, Samuel L. Leung, Ivan Bessa, Marcio H. S. Andrade, Robert T. Somich, Marcio Reboucas, Gus T. Hutras, Nathalia Diniz, Meenesh R. Singh
Summary: To reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, it is important to develop and integrate electrochemical CO2 capture and reduction technologies. This study presents a systematic protocol and successfully integrates the CO2 capture and reduction processes to produce value-added products.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Yue Wu, Shou-Zhe Li, Yu-Long Niu, Hui-Jie Yan, Dezheng Yang, Jialiang Zhang
Summary: An atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma torch (APMPT) was used to drive the Boudouard reaction to convert CO2 into CO with storable chemical energy. The conversion and energy efficiency were determined by analyzing the gas composition using a Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer and gas chromatograph. The effects of plasma state, microwave power, gas flow rate, Ar-CO2 mixture ratio, and carbon material on the conversion and energy efficiency were investigated. Use of herbaceous biomass and increased microwave power led to higher conversion efficiency, while high CO2 percentage and increased gas flow rate had a negative influence on CO2 conversion.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Miroslav Snirer, Jozef Toman, Vit Kudrle, Ondrej Jasek
Summary: This paper experimentally investigates the processes governing single- and multi-filament regimes in an atmospheric pressure microwave (MW) torch operated in argon. The main parameter controlling the number of filaments is found to be MW power. The single-filament regime exhibits typical properties of surface wave discharges and the length or thickness of the filament(s) varies almost linearly with input MW power.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mengyu Xia, Wanyan Ding, Chenyang Shen, Zhitao Zhang, Chang -jun Liu
Summary: In this study, the decomposition of CO2 was achieved using a frosted dielectric barrier discharge (FDBD) with CeO2 enhancement, resulting in increased conversion and energy efficiency. The CeO2-enhanced FDBD showed improved microdischarge performance compared to traditional DBD with CeO2 fine particles, and it was also easier to load and remove.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Kranthi Kumar Maniam, Shiladitya Paul
Summary: This review explores the potential uses of ionic liquids in renewable energy, focusing on CO2 electroreduction and organic molecule electrosynthesis via CO2 transformation. Recent advances and future prospects in the field are briefly summarized, along with discussions on the application of deep eutectic solvents in CO2 electroreduction. The critical techno-commercial issues related to the use of ILs and DESs in various processes are also reviewed.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valentino Romano, Giovanna D'Angelo, Siglinda Perathoner, Gabriele Centi
Summary: The review article focuses on the analysis of solar-to-fuel direct conversion devices using current density as a fundamental figure of merit. It compares different device configurations and types of solar fuels produced from small molecules, while discussing the relevance of physico-chemical mechanisms involved in device operation and the need to operate these cells in conjunction with sun concentration for large-scale applications.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Nuno Bimbo, Joseph P. Smith, Himanshu Aggarwal, Andrew J. Physick, Adam Pugsley, Leonard J. Barbour, Valeska P. Ting, Timothy J. Mays
Summary: This study examines the adsorption kinetics and enthalpies of methane in various materials, analyzing diffusion coefficients and activation energies. Additionally, comparisons are made between different calculation methods for enthalpies under varying conditions, highlighting the need for precise measurement and calculation techniques.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Risako Tanii, Ryota Ogawa, Hisayoshi Matsushima, Mikito Ueda, Richard Dawson
Summary: This study investigates deuterium separation using two types of AFCs with different catalysts and finds a mass transportation limitation at Ru catalyst leading to a decrease in voltage. The slow reaction rate of D-2 gas on Ru catalyst is supported by AC impedance measurements. Experimental results show that deuterium is diluted with Pt catalyst but concentrated with Ru catalyst, possibly due to differences in adsorption energy on the catalyst surface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Philip A. Maughan, Stefanie Arnold, Yuan Zhang, Volker Presser, Nuria Tapia-Ruiz, Nuno Bimbo
Summary: The pillared Ti3C2Tz MXene with large interlayer spacing shows promising performance for high-power Li-ion batteries, demonstrating superior capacities, rate capability, and cycling stability compared to nonpillared material. In particular, the SiO2-pillared MXene exhibits a capacity over 4.2 times that of the nonpillared material at a high rate of 1 A g(-1). Additionally, both MXenes show nearly reversible thickness changes after 10 cycles, explaining the stable long-term electrochemical performance.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nuno Bimbo, Kang Zhang, Himanshu Aggarwal, Timothy J. Mays, Jianwen Jiang, Leonard J. Barbour, Valeska P. Ting
Summary: This paper investigates hydrogen adsorption in metal-organic framework MIL-101(Cr) through a combination of experiments and simulations. The results show that increasing pressure leads to an increase in adsorbate volume without changing adsorbed density, and higher densities require pore sizes smaller than 0.7 nm.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Simon Vecten, Michael Wilkinson, Nuno Bimbo, Richard Dawson, Ben M. J. Herbert
Summary: The study effectively converted biomass into combustible gas using pure steam in a microwave-induced plasma reactor, achieving a carbon conversion efficiency of over 98% and producing syngas with high calorific value and rich hydrogen content.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Donglai Mao, John M. Griffin, Richard Dawson, Alasdair Fairhurst, Gaurav Gupta, Nuno Bimbo
Summary: This review compares the performance of commonly-studied porous materials used for adsorption at low temperatures, considering test conditions and identifying high performing materials for future research directions.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
D. F. Alves-Lima, X. Li, B. Coulson, E. Nesling, G. A. H. Ludlam, R. Degl'Innocenti, R. Dawson, M. Peruffo, H. Lin
Summary: Perfluorinated sulfonic-acid ionomers are commonly used proton exchange membrane materials, and understanding their structure is crucial for optimizing membrane performance. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy can analyze water states and retention properties in membranes, and can be applied to thin ionomers. This technique enables rapid parameter space investigation for membrane optimization.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Yifu Wang, Nigel Williamson, Richard Dawson, Nuno Bimbo
Summary: Significant research has been done on nickel-iron-based electrocatalytic coatings on stainless-steel substrates for commercial alkaline water electrolysis. Coating stainless steel with low-cost electrocatalysts can reduce the overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction, leading to lower energy consumption in water electrolysis. The experiment shows that NiFe-deposited substrates have a low overpotential and excellent stability under strong alkaline conditions. The electrolyzer with NiFe-coated anode generates nearly six times higher current density compared to the bare stainless-steel substrate.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Xiaoran Li, Decio F. Alves-Lima, Riccardo Degl'Innocenti, Richard Dawson, Hungyen Lin
Summary: THz-TDS has been proven to quantify the water uptake and retention properties of Nafion proton exchange membranes. As interest in thinner membranes grows, analyzing thin membranes can reveal their water uptake and retention properties.
2021 46TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFRARED, MILLIMETER AND TERAHERTZ WAVES (IRMMW-THZ)
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Donglai Mao, John M. Griffin, Richard Dawson, Alasdair Fairhurst, Nuno Bimbo
Summary: High purity hydrogen is crucial for the lifetime of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, but current industrial processes for producing hydrogen are costly and inefficient. Adsorption and membrane technologies, particularly using MOFs, are promising for hydrogen purification. This review summarizes the performance of MOFs in hydrogen purification and discusses the challenges in commercial application.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Philip A. Maughan, Luc Bouscarrat, Valerie R. Seymour, Shouqi Shao, Sarah J. Haigh, Richard Dawson, Nuria Tapia-Ruiz, Nuno Bimbo
Summary: In this study, a porous Mo2TiC2 MXene with nanoengineered interlayer distances was successfully created using an amine-assisted silica pillaring method. The pillared MXene exhibited significantly enhanced cycling performance for Li-ion storage and fast-charging properties, showing superior capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability compared to the non-pillared analogue. Spectroscopic techniques were used to demonstrate the charge storage mechanism and the conversion reaction occurring in this MXene, which increases the capacity beyond intercalation. The study also investigated the sodium storage properties of pillared and non-pillared Mo2TiC2 for the first time.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2021)
Correction
Chemistry, Applied
Jia Liu, Juntong Dong, Xiaodan Li, Teng Xu, Zhenguo Li, Jeffrey Dankwa Ampah, Mubasher Ikram, Shihai Zhang, Chao Jin, Zhenlong Geng, Tianyun Sun, Haifeng Liu
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Seba Alareeqi, Daniel Bahamon, Kyriaki Polychronopoulou, Lourdes F. Vega
Summary: This study explores the potential application of single-atom-alloy (SAA) catalysts in bio-oils hydrodeoxygenation refining using density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling. It establishes the relationships between stability, adsorptive properties, and activity structures for bio-oil derivatives, providing guidance for the synthesis of cost-effective SAA combinations.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Bin Hu, Wen -Ming Zhang, Xue-Wen Guo, Ji Liu, Xiao Yang, Qiang Lu
Summary: This study explored the pyrolysis behaviors and mechanisms of different monosaccharides, including arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid. The roles of structural differences in these monosaccharides were analyzed, and it was found that glucuronic acid undergoes a special C-C bond breaking reaction during pyrolysis. The findings provide a deep understanding of the pyrolysis chemistry of hemicellulose and the role of different branches.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Youwei Zhi, Donghai Xu, Guanyu Jiang, Wanpeng Yang, Zhilin Chen, Peigao Duan, Jie Zhang
Summary: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an effective method for the harmless disposal of municipal sludge (MS) and offers potential applications for the obtained products. Optimizing reaction conditions, coupling with other waste materials, and combining different processes can improve the performance of HTC. Furthermore, HTC contributes to energy recovery and enhances the quality of life cycle assessment.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jia Wang, Jianchun Jiang, Dongxian Li, Xianzhi Meng, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: This study presents a scalable process for converting holocellulose and cellulosic wastes into advanced oxygen-containing biofuels with high furan, cyclic ketone, and ethanol content. By combining hydropyrolysis and vapor-phase hydrodeoxygenation using Pd/Al2O3 as a catalyst, the researchers achieved high yields and conversions. The integrated process holds great promise for biomass waste conversion into advanced biofuels.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Florian Held, Jannis Reusch, Steffen Salenbauch, Christian Hasse
Summary: The accurate prediction and assessment of soot emissions in internal combustion engines are crucial for the development of sustainable powertrains. This study presents a detailed quadrature-based method of moments (QMOM) soot model coupled with a state-of-the-art flow solver for the simulation of gasoline engines. The model accurately describes the entire cause-and-effect chain of soot formation, growth and oxidation. Experimental validation and engine cycle simulations are used to identify the root cause of observed soot formation hotspots.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)