This National Science Foundation (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Fellows award of $278,606 provides funding to the University of Delaware to develop efficient, selective, and stable catalysts for the electro-conversion of biomass-derived furanic compounds. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Colorado's Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute, the project aims to gain mechanistic insights into biomass conversion processes by employing advanced in situ techniques such as attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). The research will focus on understanding the effects of catalyst morphology and spectator ions in the electrolyte on activity and selectivity, with the goal of advancing the development of effective catalysts for renewable energy and chemical production applications. This fellowship also provides training opportunities for an early-career principal investigator and a graduate student in these specialized analytical techniques.
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