NRL is developing and demonstrating novel technologies for the recovery of CO2 and hydrogen (H2) production and storage from seawater.  These feedstocks are combined in an NRL innovative GTL (gas to liquids) process to produce value added hydrocarbons.  It is envisioned that these hydrocarbons will one day be used to augment industrial chemical processes and produce designer fuel (LNG, CNG, F-76, and JP-5) stocks for the Navy.  The potential longer term payoff for the Navy is the ability to produce fuel at or near the point of use when it is needed, thereby reducing the logistics tail on fuel delivery, enhancing combat capabilities, and providing greater energy security by fixing fuel cost and its availability. From an environmental perspective, such a combination of integrated technologies could be considered CO2 neutral.  The CO2, produced from combustion of the synthetic fuel, is returned to the atmosphere where it re-equilibrates with the ocean to complete the natural carbon cycle.  These next-generation carbon conversion technologies offer a unique solution to meet Navy Climate Action 2030, “net zero” carbon emission goals.  However, current carbon capture and utilization processes do not have the modularity, scalability, size, weight, footprint, field ability, and energy or mechanical efficiencies to be deployed for energy and material production near the point of use for the Navy.  In efforts to facilitate technology transfer, systems must be scaled, integrated, prototyped, and demonstrated in relevant marine environments.  To support these research objectives, this research opportunity is seeking candidates that have the skills to support at least one or some of the following program elements provided:

a) The design and evaluation of chemical systems (systems include, but not limited to: electrochemical, thermochemical, and plasma) for hydrogenation of CO2 to syngas 

b) The design and evaluation of stable catalyst materials capable of catalyzing CO2 derived intermediates to aromatics products

c) Perform catalyst synthesis, analytical characterization of catalyst, and catalyst efficiency

d) Direct air capture of CO2 and or Direct ocean capture of CO2

e) Computational modeling of catalyst environments to elucidate mechanistic pathways and guide experimental design

f) Computational modeling that includes fluid dynmics, transport of ionic species, and reaction intermediates to guide   experimental design and electrochemical systems

g) Experience in engineering design, fabrication, and evaluation of systems and utilization of CAD programs

h) Experience with scaling, integration, and autommation of complex system components

1) Catal. Sci. Technol. 2023, 13, 2685