Epscor research fellows: NSF: investigating energetics of noble gas separation using silica nanocages

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded The Trustees of Grinnell College $300,000 on January 1, 2027, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) to fund research investigating the energetics of noble gas separation using silica nanocages.

The research employs materials science and engineering approaches to capture and isolate noble gases inside size-selective silica nanocages at room temperature, addressing applications in by-product mitigation for nuclear energy production, nuclear non-proliferation detection, and separation of costly noble gases for medical, scientific, and industrial use. The project will establish the energies associated with capture and release of noble gases, with monitoring conducted using temperature-programmed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

The award provides a fellowship to an associate professor at Grinnell College, a primarily undergraduate institution in Iowa, and includes training for a postbaccalaureate scholar. Work is conducted in collaboration with researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. The project strengthens the principal investigator's skills in surface science research and supports hands-on training for undergraduate students in materials science aligned with workforce development needs. The collaboration establishes new research infrastructure at Grinnell College to support end-to-end noble-gas studies.

Period of performance runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2028. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Abstract

This research infrastructure improvement (RII) epscor research fellows project provides a fellowship to an associate professor and training for a postbaccalaureate scholar at grinnell college. This work is conducted in collaboration with researchers at brookhaven national laboratory. Through the fellowship, the PI will explore a novel room-temperature approach for separating and isolating noble gases. The project will employ materials science and engineering approaches to capture noble gases inside tiny cages that select gases based on their sizes. The research addresses national priorities with applications for by-product mitigation in nuclear energy production, noble gas detection for nuclear non-proliferation, and separation of costly noble gases for use in medical, scientific, and industrial settings. This fellowship will support hands-on training for an early-career scientist and strengthen undergraduate education to prepare the future scientific workforce. The work will establish the energies associated with capture and release of noble gases inside of silica nanocages. The project addresses the role of confinement as a technique for mitigation and separation of gaseous species. The capture and release will be monitored using temperature-programmed x-RAY photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. By leveraging the host?s expertise in spectroscopy and vacuum-system development, the project will strengthen the PI?s skills in surface science research. The institution and jurisdiction will benefit from an enduring collaboration between grinnell college ? A primarily undergraduate institution in iowa -- and a department of energy national laboratory. New research infrastructure will support end-to-end noble-gas studies at grinnell, providing hands-on research training for undergraduate students aligned with workforce development needs in materials and nuclear engineering. This project is supported by the epscor research infrastructure improvement program: epscor research fellows (ERF), which supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation?s private, government or academic research institutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.