Energy Materials

Efforts are also underway to discover/invent robust active materials for redox reactions to split water and carbon dioxide, producing H2 and CO.  Materials of interest include spinels and perovskites with reduction reaction targeted for less than 1400°C and where O-vacancy reaction mechanisms allow for robust cycling while avoiding liquid phase sintering.  Computational research complements experimental validation using stagnation flow reactors and high temperature thermogravimetric analyzers.  Novel surface science characterization of low-cycle (less than 6 ALD cycles) ALD film deposition on Li-ion battery cathode materials is being used to elucidate that the true mechanism for improved battery lifetime and cycling stability is through preferential growth that stabilizes the transition metal oxides in the presence of electrolyte without blocking lithium intercalation pathways.  Efforts are also being directed towards novel CVD processing to synthesize carbon nanotubes/nanofibers and hydrogen from methane at low cost using a scalable process.  Additional efforts are directed towards using a sacrificial substrate to synthesize extended surface catalysts for PEM fuel cells and to capture CO2 from the atmosphere or flue gas stacks using a novel and low cost scavenging material.  Lightweight magnesium (Mg) metal is being produced through novel low-pressure carbothermal reduction with Mg vapor capture.   Big Blue Technologies was spun out of the lab in 2016. 

Other news

CU Boulder Spinoff Modernized Magnesium Production - July 2017