Dr. Scott Simpson, associate professor of chemistry, has been awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER grant of $544,892 for his research proposal titled "Investigating the Molecular Corking Effect for Potential Hydrogen Storage." 

 

This award is presented by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research and education, and the integration of these endeavors in the context of their organizations' missions.

 

Hydrogen is a versatile, energy-dense gas that can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels in many applications, including transportation and power generation. However, widespread adoption of hydrogen fuels is limited, in part, by the inability to safely store and transport hydrogen gas outside of carefully controlled industrial environments. 

 

This project will study an intriguing chemical phenomenon called the "molecular corking effect," which may prove useful as a hydrogen gas storage mechanism. The project also includes an education plan focused on preparing students to integrate computational chemistry and experimental research in their pursuit of chemical and physical knowledge.