Project description
Modelling adsorption of quantum fluids on nanostructured surfaces
The EU-funded QFluidsNano project plans to develop advanced computational tools to perform accurate quantum mechanical calculations of the structure and thermophysical properties of atomic and molecular fluids adsorbed on nanostructured surfaces. The project will employ the liquid density functional theory to model the nuclear motion of particles and assess the potential of certain nanomaterials (metal– and covalent–organic frameworks) for use in hydrogen storage and isotope separation via quantum sieving. The proposed density functional simulations will help researchers synthesise, optimise and test nanocomponents at a relatively low computational cost.
Objective
The general aim of this project is the development of advanced computational models that enable affordable yet accurate quantum mechanical calculations of the structure and thermophysical properties of atomic and molecular fluids adsorbed on nanostructured surfaces.The proposed method is based on the liquid density functional theory (to treat the nuclear quantum dynamics) with the first principle evaluation of the interaction forces employing state-of-the-art electronic structure methods. These models will be subsequently applied to the computational investigation of macroscopic quantum effects on the adsorption isotherms, the isotopic selectivity on adsorption, particle diffusion, etc, of helium and hydrogen fluids adsorbed in nanoporous materials. We will focus on the characterization (via computational screening) of the influence of the structural and electronic properties (e.g. the size and geometry of the pores, the specific surface area, the topology of the electronic states) on the capacities of nanomaterials for hydrogen storage and isotope separation via quantum sieving.
The density functional simulations will provide a realistic representation of the nuclear motion underlying storage and sieving phenomena in the target nanomaterials (e.g. metal- and covalent-organic frameworks), and accurate estimations of strutural and thermodynamics properties of the adsorbed fluid, in situations where the computational cost of the standard numerical schemes becomes prohibitive. The insight provided by these calculations can be used to guide the experimental efforts on the investigation of the target systems, and on their applicability in the design of more efficient nanodevices. Consequently, they may lead to significant savings of energy and of natural resources, associated to the design, synthesis, optimization and testing of nanocomponents.
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Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
31062 Toulouse Cedex 9
France