A University of Arkansas chemical engineering professor has received a $750,000 grant to study the chemical and electronic structure of iron and oxygen atoms.
Lauren Greenlee, associate professor of chemical engineering, received the grant. Greenlee primarily researches water chemistry, nanomaterials and electrochemistry.
The U.S. Department of Energy provided the grant for the project, which is aimed at furthering alkaline electrocatalysis research. According to a U of A news release, the project could lead to the “design and development of catalysts to improve battery materials, polymer conversion and recycling, and water treatment.”
During this research project, Greenlee and co-investigator Clemens Heske will utilize X-ray spectroscopyto study the electronic and chemical structure of iron oxygen atoms, allowing them to ascertain the electronic and chemical structure for iron, oxygen and nickel as an electrocatalyst material. Following this research, the investigators will formulate a computational framework for these chemical structures.
In total, the U.S. Department of Energy has distributed $21 million for 31 research projects as part of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
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Image courtesy of University of Arkansas