Combustion, Chemistry, and Carbon Neutrality

Abstract

Combustion is a reactive oxidation process that releases energy bound in chemical compounds used as fuels�energy that is needed for power generation, transportation, heating, and industrial purposes. Because of greenhouse gas and local pollutant emissions associated with fossil fuels, combustion science and applications are challenged to abandon conventional pathways and to adapt toward the demand of future carbon neutrality. For the design of efficient, low-emission processes, understanding the details of the relevant chemical transformations is essential. Comprehensive knowledge gained from decades of fossil-fuel combustion research includes general principles for establishing and validating reaction mechanisms and process models, relying on both theory and experiments with a suite of analytic monitoring and sensing techniques. Such knowledge can be advantageously applied and extended to configure, analyze, and control new systems using different, nonfossil, potentially zero-carbon fuels. Understanding the impact of combustion and its links with chemistry needs some background. The introduction therefore combines information on exemplary cultural and technological achievements using combustion and on nature and effects of combustion emissions. Subsequently, the methodology of combustion chemistry research is described. A major part is devoted to fuels, followed by a discussion of selected combustion applications, illustrating the chemical information needed for the future.

A Perspective on Sustainable Computational Chemistry Software Development and Integration

“…It is also essential in the separation of materials that are critical for our technological society, such as the rare earth elements. − Heavy Element Chemistry: The f -elements that appear at the bottom of the periodic table (lanthanides and actinides) are relevant for technologies related to energy and national security. f -electron systems are characterized by the simultaneous presence of itinerant (delocalized) and highly localized states and interactions between them. ,− While lanthanide chemistry can be mostly understood by studying the impact of changing the size of the metal atom to tune the properties of a molecular complex, actinides do not exhibit the same periodic trends, a fact that requires the use of advanced electronic structure methods beyond mean-field approaches and accurate treatments of relativistic and correlation effects. , Gas Phase Chemistry: − Most energy production processes involve combustion, a gas-phase chemical process even with liquid and solid fuels; those fuels may be either renewable (e.g., biofuels) or nonrenewable (e.g., fossil fuels). In addition to energy production, the characterizations of soot formation, nitrogen oxides, and other reaction products are also important to a broad range of scientific challenges. Strong Field Physics: Strong field interactions between ultrafast intense fields (attosecond pulses) and matter has led to a plethora of new physical phenomena, such as multiphoton ionization, above-threshold ionization, nonsequential double ionization, high harmonic generation, attosecond pulse generation, coherent X-ray generation, etc.…”

“…Gas Phase Chemistry: − Most energy production processes involve combustion, a gas-phase chemical process even with liquid and solid fuels; those fuels may be either renewable (e.g., biofuels) or nonrenewable (e.g., fossil fuels). In addition to energy production, the characterizations of soot formation, nitrogen oxides, and other reaction products are also important to a broad range of scientific challenges.…”

Photoenzymatic CO2 Reduction Dominated by Collaborative Matching of Linkage and Linker in Covalent Organic Frameworks

“…The increasing greenhouse effect has made carbon neutrality a global concern. , Although using solar energy to convert CO 2 into carbon-based fuels holds significant potential for sustainable development, it is fraught with great challenges. − Formic acid (HCOOH) is one of the most highly productive base chemicals compared with C 2+ fuels and is considered more readily and widely applicable for industrial implementation. , Over the past decades, various electrochemical, , photochemical, , and photoelectrochemical , strategies have been extensively explored for converting CO 2 to HCOOH. However, these strategies have certain disadvantages owing to their low selectivity and inefficiency .…”

Proton/Mg2+ Co‐Insertion Chemistry in Aqueous Mg‐Ion Batteries: From the Interface to the Inner

“…The intensifying global concerns regarding global warming and energy scarcity have prompted a vigorous surge in carbon neutrality initiatives. [1] However, the current lithiumion batteries, due to limitations such as the scarcity of lithium resources and the flammability of organic electrolytes, are unsuitable for cost-effective and large-scale green energy harvesting. [2] In contrast, rechargeable mild aqueous batteries (RMABs) have garnered increasing attention for their exceptional traits of high safety, affordability, and environmental friendliness.…”