Ian McCrum, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and his research group have been awarded an American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) Doctoral New Investigator grant for $110,000, to fund research on designing catalysts for the electrochemical conversion of methane in natural gas into valuable fuels/chemicals.
“In this project, we will use density functional theory computational modeling, which allows us to model the behavior of atoms and molecules at the atomic-scale, to predictively design more active and selective catalysts for electrochemical methane activation. Specifically, we will examine how the structure and composition of a novel type of surface alloy and how near-by electrolyte affects the rate of methane activation and the selectivity towards various products. Identifying more active, selective, and low-cost catalysts for this reaction will enable renewable electricity to be used to upgrade methane, including that found in natural gas, into more valuable fuels and chemicals such as methanol or ethylene for plastics production. This fundamental work will also provide insight into the mechanism of this difficult reaction, long considered the ‘holy grail’ of catalysis,” McCrum said.
ABOUT THE ACS PRF
The Petroleum Research Fund is an endowed fund, managed by the American Chemical Society that supports fundamental research directly related to petroleum or fossil fuels at nonprofit institutions (generally colleges and universities) in the United States and other countries. Since the first ACS PRF grants were approved in 1953, several grant programs have evolved to serve segments of the scientific community, including “new investigator” grants and grants to support researchers in departments that do not award doctoral degrees.
The goals of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund are: To support fundamental research in the petroleum field and to develop the next generation of engineers and scientists through support of advanced scientific education. The Doctoral New Investigator grants program aims to promote the careers of young faculty by supporting research of high scientific caliber and to enhance the career opportunities of their undergraduate/graduate students, and postdoctoral associates through the research experience.
