2023-08-28 カリフォルニア大学リバーサイド校(UCR)
◆この燃料はイオン液体をベースにしており、電圧を適用することで点火し、電圧を切ることで燃焼を停止できます。さらに、電圧を増加させることで燃焼の大きさとエネルギー出力を調節でき、エンジン内での使用に適しています。
◆将来的にはあらゆる種類の車両に使用できる可能性がありますが、商業化にはさらなる研究が必要です。この燃料は安全性が高く、偶発的な火災のリスクを軽減するため、特に重要な応用分野が考えられます。ただし、現段階では製造コストが高いため、コスト削減策も検討されています。
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2023/09/28/scientists-unveil-fire-safe-fuel
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.3c04820
イオン液体燃料の燃焼性を電気化学的に制御 Electrochemical Modulation of the Flammability of Ionic Liquid Fuels
Prithwish Biswas, Yujie Wang, Erik Hagen, and Michael R. Zachariah
Journal of the American Chemical Society Published:July 24, 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c04820
Abstract
Flammability and combustion of high energy density liquid propellants are controlled by their volatility. We demonstrate a new concept through which the volatility of a high energy density ionic liquid propellant can be dynamically manipulated enabling one to (a) store a thermally insensitive oxidation resistant nonflammable fuel, (b) generate flammable vapor phase species electrochemically by applying a direct-current voltage bias, and (c) extinguish its flame by removing the voltage bias, which stops its volatilization. We show that a thermally stable imidazolium-based energy dense ionic liquid can be made flammable or nonflammable simply by application or withdrawal of a direct-current bias. This cycle can be repeated as often as desired. The estimated energy penalty of the electrochemical activation process is only ∼4% of the total energy release. This approach presents a paradigm shift, offering the potential to make a “safe fuel” or alternatively a simple electrochemically driven fuel metering scheme.
