Progress 03/01/16 to 02/28/21
Outputs
Target Audience: Researchers who are interested in cellulose and renewable energy. Industry in renewable and green energy. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project provided opportunities for us to train graduate students (four) and postdoctoral research associate (one). The project also provided opportunities for PDs to train next generation engineers and to work with stockholders. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The research results and achievements are disseminated through journal publications, presentations at technical conferences (both international and national), and seminars at farmer association annual meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final report of the project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: It is our vision that agriculture and forestry are not only the sources for foods, but also the sources for energy and engineering materials. This project is designed to develop a nanocellulose-gasoline mixture as a hybrid fuel to be directly used in internal combustion engines - a new method to utilize the biomass as renewable energy source. If it is successfully developed and adopted by the industry, this would revolutionize clean and green energy by providing a direct and efficient way to use the energy from biomass. Of all energy consumption, about 36% is currently harvested from petroleum, which is non-renewable and mainly consumed by automobiles (i.e., internal-combustion engine). Currently, the utilizing market of renewable energy is growing, for instance, most of the current liquid fuels for automobiles are an ethanol blended gasoline. The ethanol used here is produced from biomass such as wheat, corn, and sugar cane. It is well known that the biomass in solid state has been directly used as energy source in history such as burning for heat, but they are rarely used in the modern time as a direct energy source due to their forms are suitable for modern devices and systems, such as internal-combustion engine. However, the development of nanotechnology may change the situation. Nanosized cellulose (NC) owns high possibility to be dispersed into gasoline as an additive, due to its unique properties as a nanoscale material, for instance, nano-scaled size, high specific surface area, high surface free energy, etc. This project is aimed to develop a nanocellulose/gasoline hybrid fuel to be used in automobiles. Through this project, we successfully developed the methodologies/technologies to prepare stable gasoline-NC suspension as a new type of liquid fuel and characterized the performance of the gasoline-NC hybrid fuel. These technologies have many other applications. For example, the technologies can be used to improve the energy storage performance of composites. It was also found that the crystallinity and crystal structure of the NC change with the surface modification, which opens a new method to prepare the NC for different applications. Most importantly, it was experimentally found that the gasoline-NC mixture has a high heating value (HHV) that is not smaller than the HHV of gasoline. Therefore, the gasoline-NC mixture can be a promising fuel that uses renewable biomass.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
L. Zhang, X. Lu, X. Zhang, L. Jin, Z. Xu, Z.-Y. Cheng, All-organic dielectric nanocomposites using conducting polypyrrole nanoclips as filler, Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 167, 285-293 (2018).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
X. Lu, L. Zhang, Y. Tong, Z.-Y. Cheng, BST-P (VDF-CTFE) nanocomposite films with high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and high energy-storage density, Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol. 168, 34-43 (2019).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
X. Lu, X.W. Zou, J.L. Shen, L. Zhang, L. Jin, and Z.-Y. Cheng, High energy density with ultrahigh discharging efficiency obtained in ceramic-polymer nanocomposites using a non-ferroelectric polar polymer as matrix, Nano Energy Vol. 70, 104551 (2020).
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Progress 03/01/19 to 02/29/20
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:To commercialize the products. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Train graduate students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publications What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We completed all objectives by experiments.
Publications
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Progress 03/01/18 to 02/28/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Reserachers, Engineers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Both graduate students and postdoctorials were trained uisng this project in experimental design, data analysisi, and preparing publications.. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publications and private communications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Publish more results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our research is centered on the chemical modification of CNCs and then dispersing modified CNCs into gasoline as a hybrid fuel. The preliminary evaluation of the newly developed hybrid fuel was carried out from three aspects of the concern, i.e. fluidity, solid residue after burning, and heating value changing of the hybrid fuel. In this study, the CNC was chemically grafted with hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride (HSA) to yield a lipophilic surface. As a result, the dispersion stability of the HSA-grafted CNCs in gasoline was significantly improved, the grafted CNCs could be burned completely without residues from thermogravimetric analysis, and the higher heating value of the hybrid fuel was slightly increased compared with gasoline.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
J. Yang, M.B. Tu, C. Xia, B. Keller, Y. Huang, F.F. Suo, Effect of fenton pretreatment on C1 and C6 oxidation of cellulose and its enzymatic hydrolyzability, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
P.S. Bass, L. Zhang, M.B. Tu and Z.-Y. Cheng, Enhancement of biodegradable poly(ethylene oxide) ionic-polymer metallic composite actuators with nanocrystalline cellulose fillers, Actuators, Vol. 7, 72 (13 pages) (2018)
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Fabrication and characterization of free-standing, flexible and translucent BaTiO3-P(VDF-CTFE) nanocomposite films, Journal of Alloys and Composites, Vol. 770, 327-334 (2019)
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
X. Lu, J. Shen, L. Zhang, S. Xu and Z.-Y. Cheng, Dielectric property and ac conductivity of P(VDF-CTFE)-PLZST polymer-ceramic composite films, Ceramics International, Vol. 4, 8979-8987 (2019)
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Progress 03/01/17 to 02/28/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The reserach community. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provides unique opportunity for us to train graduate students and postdoc reserachers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Conference presentation, journal articles. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Publish the results and further imporve the performance.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been fabricated by employing different technologies, including H2SO4 hydrolysis, HCl hydrolysis, and ultrasonic treatment. The modification of CNC and dispersing in gasoline have been performed, including physical and chemical methods. Hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride (HSA) was chemically grafed to CNC to yield a lipophilic surface. As a result, the dispersion stability of the HSA-grafted CNCs in gasoline was significantly improved, the grafted CNCs could be burned completely without residues from thermogravimetric analysis. More importantly, a higher heating value (slightly higher than gasoline) was obtained in the hybrid fuel.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Time-dependence of the electromechanical bending actuation observed in
ionic-electroactive polymers, Journal of Advanced Dielectrics, Vol. 7(2), 172002.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
A novel vision of hybrid fuel composed by modified cellulose nanocrystal and gasoline.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Z.-Y. Cheng, Development of Nanocellulose-Based Hybrid Fuel, 4th China-United States Symposium on Energy, Shanghai, June 25 to 27 (2017) (Invited Talk).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Changlei Xia, Maobing Tu, Zhongyang Cheng Functionalized cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as fuel additive Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society (CINTACS) Oesper Symposium, Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, Date: November 17, 2017. (Abstract & Poster)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Changlei Xia, Maobing Tu* Functionalized cellulose as fuel additive 254th National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS) on Chemistry's Impact on the Global Economy, Location: Washington, DC, Date: AUG 20-24, 2017. (Abstract & Oral presentation)
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Progress 03/01/16 to 02/28/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The project has four tasks. There are: Task-1: Producing nanocellulose with different size and surface area Task-2: Functionalizing surface of nanocellulose to well disperse the nanocellulose in gasoline Task-3: Determining the combustion characteristics and products of nanocellulose Task-4: Determine the combustion characteristics of nanocellulose-gasoline hybrid fuel and additive effect of nanocellulose. In this project year (i.e. 1st project year), following experiments have been conducted. These experiments cover all four tasks. First of all, nanocellulose with different sizes and surface areas has been prepared. The surface of these nanocellulose samples has been chemically modified. These modified nanocellulose samples have been used for following studies: 1) preparing the nanocellulose suspension; 2) determining the characteristics of these nanocellulose samples; 3) determining combustion behavior of these nanocellulose samples. By using bomb calorimetry, it was experimentally determined that all nanocellulose has the almost same heat value: 16.7 MJ/kg (i.e. 16.7 kJ/g) to 17.0 MJ/kg (i.e. 17.0 kJ/g). The decomposition temperature of these nanocellulose samples was determined in both nitrogen and air. These nanocellulose samples exhibit a decomposing process over a temperature range up to 100 oC, from 300 oC to 400 oC. However, the peak temperature changes with the nanocellulose, which means that the size/shape and surface modification of the nanocellulose do have clear influence on the decomposition behavior. Additionally, it is also found that the decomposition process itself changes with the size/shape and surface modification. Some have a single decomposition process, while some have two decomposition processes. The detailed influence of the size/shape and surface modification is under studied. Regarding the final products, the composition products can be completely gases, which is desirable for the proposed application, while some generate solid products that is not desirable. The solid products were analyzed. For the nanocellulose samples that its decomposition generates solid products, it is experimentally found that the products are mainly carbon. Some is completely carbon, while some have a small amount sulfur and potassium. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three students have been trained through this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?An invited talk will be delivered in 2017 summer. A paper under preparing. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?contnue the research as planned.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In this project year (i.e. 1st project year), following experiments have been conducted. These experiments cover all four tasks. First of all, nanocellulose with different sizes and surface areas has been prepared. The surface of these nanocellulose samples has been chemically modified. These modified nanocellulose samples have been used for following studies: 1) preparing the nanocellulose suspension; 2) determining the characteristics of these nanocellulose samples; 3) determining combustion behavior of these nanocellulose samples. By using bomb calorimetry, it was experimentally determined that all nanocellulose has the almost same heat value: 16.7 MJ/kg (i.e. 16.7 kJ/g) to 17.0 MJ/kg (i.e. 17.0 kJ/g). The decomposition temperature of these nanocellulose samples was determined in both nitrogen and air. These nanocellulose samples exhibit a decomposing process over a temperature range up to 100 oC, from 300 oC to 400 oC. However, the peak temperature changes with the nanocellulose, which means that the size/shape and surface modification of the nanocellulose do have clear influence on the decomposition behavior. Additionally, it is also found that the decomposition process itself changes with the size/shape and surface modification. Some have a single decomposition process, while some have two decomposition processes. The detailed influence of the size/shape and surface modification is under studied. Regarding the final products, the composition products can be completely gases, which is desirable for the proposed application, while some generate solid products that is not desirable. The solid products were analyzed. For the nanocellulose samples that its decomposition generates solid products, it is experimentally found that the products are mainly carbon. Some is completely carbon, while some have a small amount sulfur and potassium.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Invited talk on Biomass-based nanocellulose as a new fuel for combustion engines at 2017 United States-China Symposium on Energy
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