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Power on the Dark Side: Stimulus-Responsive Adsorbents for Low-Energy Controlled Storage and Delivery of Low Boiling Fuels to Mobile Assets in Permanently Shaded Regions

Power on the Dark Side: Stimulus-Responsive Adsorbents for Low-Energy Controlled Storage and Delivery of Low Boiling Fuels to Mobile Assets in Permanently Shaded Regions

  • Researchers are developing stimulus-responsive adsorbents to store low-boiling fuels for mobile assets in permanently shaded regions.
  • The project focuses on Metal Oxide Frameworks (MOFs) that can store methane and oxygen, which can be reacted in a solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity.
  • The use of MOFs could result in significant mass and cost savings compared to traditional storage tanks, which require active pressure and thermal regulation.
  • The team will utilize computational and experimental tools to develop a suitable MOF structure for this application.
  • The goal is to improve storage methods for fuels needed to generate electrical power in areas without sunlight, enabling more efficient and sustainable energy solutions.

1 min read

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)

ECF 2024 Quadchart McGuirk.pdf

Christopher McGuirk

Colorado School of Mines

This project will investigate and develop improved storage methods for the fuels needed to generate electrical power in places where sunlight is not available. The effort will focus on particularly tailored materials called Metal Oxide Frameworks, or MOFs, that can be used to store methane and oxygen. The methane and oxygen can be reacted in a solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity, and storing them in a MOF could potentially result in significant mass and cost savings over traditional storage tanks which also require active pressure and thermal regulation. The team will use a number of computational and experimental tools to develop a MOF structure suitable for this application.

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Last Updated

Apr 18, 2025

Editor
Loura Hall

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Q. What is the main focus of this project?
A. The project will investigate and develop improved storage methods for fuels needed to generate electrical power in places where sunlight is not available.

Q. What type of materials will be used to store methane and oxygen?
A. Metal Oxide Frameworks (MOFs) that can be used to store methane and oxygen.

Q. How do the stored methane and oxygen react?
A. They can be reacted in a solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity.

Q. What are the potential benefits of using MOFs for fuel storage?
A. Significant mass and cost savings over traditional storage tanks, which require active pressure and thermal regulation.

Q. What tools will be used to develop a suitable MOF structure?
A. A combination of computational and experimental tools.

Q. Who is behind this project?
A. The team at the Colorado School of Mines.

Q. What is the goal of this project?
A. To improve storage methods for fuels needed to generate electrical power in places where sunlight is not available.

Q. Why are MOFs being used for fuel storage?
A. Because they can store methane and oxygen efficiently, potentially resulting in significant mass and cost savings.

Q. What type of regions will the fuels be delivered to?
A. Permanently shaded regions.

Q. What is the purpose of the project’s simulations?
A. To prepare for next moonwalk simulations, both on land and underwater.