This National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Grant under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) provides $175,000 in funding to the Regents of the University of Minnesota to conduct research on plasma-catalytic pyrolysis of methane for producing carbon-free hydrogen. The project aims to leverage plasma reactions and catalytic processes to enable efficient methane conversion into hydrogen and valuable carbon fibers, without carbon dioxide emissions. The research will integrate in-situ diagnostics, catalyst science, and computational modeling to understand the physical phenomena at reaction and transport scales governing plasma-catalyst interactions for methane pyrolysis. Key insights gained from this work are expected to support the development of electricity-driven plasma-catalytic processes using microwave excitation, with potential efficiencies exceeding electrolysis for clean hydrogen production. The project involves interdisciplinary education and training of postdoctoral, doctoral, and undergraduate students, as well as outreach activities to promote STEM careers to underrepresented minorities.
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