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We have an opening for a postdoc with expertise in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering, with a particular focus on catalysis and thermochemical reactor design. 

 

The Project: Cost-effective decarbonization of heat, which is the dominant source of energy for the industrial and building sector worldwide, is a grand scientific and technological challenge. Currently natural gas is the dominant source of heat in these sectors. Although CO₂-free hydrogen is being considered as a potential alternative, infrastructure challenges related to transport and storage of hydrogen are enormous (e.g., Majumdar et al., Joule 5 (8), 1905-1908). Natural gas infrastructure and storage are already in place. Therefore, cost-effective synthetic natural gas derived from CO₂ captured from either point source or direct air capture combined with CO₂ free hydrogen is a very lucrative option.

 

In this project we propose to use the Sabatier reaction to create synthetic natural gas. Since the Sabatier reaction is highly exothermic, the released heat can then be used to offset the energy requirement for either carbon capture or hydrogen production, making this overall process and system cost-effective. As the Sabatier reaction is highly temperature sensitive, the major associated challenge is related to temperature control. The higher temperature results in poisoning and sintering of catalysts making them inactive, thus lowering the yield.

This Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to catalyst and overall reactor development to improve the reaction rate at lower temperatures, while preserving high activity and stability in an operating window up to 400 ^oC. 

For more information or to apply, please contact Dr. Suman Kaur at skaur@lbl.gov.

Using our new infrared pyrometer, we set a new Thermal Energy Group record this week, measuring temperatures above 2000° C for the first time! The high temperature chamber is used to study hydrogen production by methane pyrolysis and to investigate high-temperature thermal energy storage materials. The record was set by Nate Weger, Lin Yang, and Clement Messeri using a C-type thermocouple, breaking the record of 1700° C set by Nate Weger and Mahmoud Elzouka. 

Youngsup received his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Yonsei University, where he developed nanomaterial-integrated MEMS devices. He received his PhD from MIT, where he focused on mechanistic understanding and enhancing pool boiling heat transfer, via surface property and structure design, at the Device Research Lab (DRL). Prior to his PhD study, he also worked at Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) in the Electrochemistry Department. 

Outside of the lab, you might find him taking a walk with his family around the campus, playing soccer, or working out in the gym. Welcome, Youngsup!

We congratulate Nate Weger, 4th year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, on being awarded a 2021 H2H8 Research Grant! This grant will be used to continue his research in methane pyrolysis for hydrogen production. He is part of the first ever cohort of H2H8 Explorers. Congratulations, Nate!

This fall we welcome two new interns to our group. UC Berkeley undergraduates Rushabh Shah and Clément Messeri will be working on a project to develop high temperature materials (1,000 C to 2,000 C) that can store thermal energy for tens to thousands of hours, enabling the integration of intermittent renewable sources of energy into industrial manufacturing and the power grid. This work will help to decarbonize the nation’s energy economy.

Welcome Clément and Rushabh!

We recently received funding to work with other UC Berkeley and LBL researchers to develop novel materials for the extraction of carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. The Lab received one of nine awards given by the Department of Energy to develop ways to help to reduce and ultimately reverse climate change and its negative impacts. Read about this award here.