Penn State University
Energy and Mineral Engineering
Penn State University Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering

EME Faculty

Professor Angela Lueking

Angela Lueking

Associate Professor of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering
 
office:     120 Hosler Building
phone:     814-863-6256
email:     lueking@psu.edu
fax:     814-865-3248

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Bio


Biographical Sketch

Angela Lueking is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University's University Park campus. Her research pursuits are selected based on the opportunity to creatively address sustainable energy solutions, while addressing underlying scientific phenomena. Angela obtained her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan by developing materials that utilize hydrogen spillover as the mechanism for hydrogen uptake. Her formal academic training focuses on adsorption, surface science, environmental separations, and gas storage. She has continued work in hydrogen storage, hydrogen spillover, and novel adsorbents at Penn State. Her research pursuits have evolved to include development and advanced characterization of new carbon materials, new synthesis routes to existing carbon materials, low temperature H2 evolution from processed coal, catalytic gasification, and fundamental studies/simulations of hydrogen spillover. Recent collaborative work includes application of novel carbon materials as chemical sensors and electrochemical capacitors, and theoretical consideration, derivations, and simulations of adsorption. Notable research discoveries include diamond formation from processed coal, fingerprints of unique carbon-hydrogen interactions, and unexpected low-temperature hydrogen evolution that led the group to explore new routes for distributed hydrogen production. Angela teaches courses in the interdisciplinary Energy Engineering, Fuel Science, and Environmental Systems Engineering disciplines at Penn State, including (most recently) general thermodynamics and engineering design, as well as several general education courses and electives. Prior to her academic career, Angela worked in industry as an Environmental Engineer, where she led several environmental initiatives including chemical management, air-permitting, and environmental training.


Educational Background

Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering), University of Michigan, 2003

M.S.E. (Chemical Engineering), University of Michigan, 1998

M.S.E. (Environmental Engineering), University of Michigan, 1998

B.S. (Chemical Engineering), University of Nebraska, 1996



Active Research Projects


"Hydrogen Trapping through Designer Hydrogen Spillover Molecules with Reversible Temperature and Pressure-Induced Switching" (PI: A. Lueking; co-PIs Prof. Jing Li of Rutgers, Prof. Milton Cole of PSU Physics); Department of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)

The overarching objective of the proposed work is to synthesize designer catalyzed nanoporous materials that have superior hydrogen uptake between 300K and 400K and moderate pressures. To this end, we will enable moderate temperature adsorption through optimization of the hydrogen spillover process utilizing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), guided by systematic studies with tightly controlled surface chemistry, porosity, and structure. We are exploring the incorporation of active hydrogen dissociation centers directly into the MOF framework to provide atomic level dispersion while maintaining catalytic activity. Secondly, we are designing inherent temperature switches into the material to control desorption rate and surface-associated hydrogen. Thirdly, we are looking to capitalize and design for hysteretic adsorption utilizing known recoverable and reversible structural and chemical changes in MOFs to incorporate a pressure-induced switch that enables a significant systems pressure savings. Hydrogen trapping via these pressure and temperature switches will lead to a significant pressure savings relative to simple adsorption isotherms, thereby reducing overall system weight of hydrogen delivery.


"Development of Doped NanoPorous Carbons for Hydrogen Storage" (PI: A. Lueking; co-PI Prof. John Badding of Chemistry); Department of Energy (University Coal Research Program)

The objective of this project is to understand the active adsorption sites in carbon materials that have been activated with nanocatalysts, and use this knowledge to enhance synergistic effects that create new adsorption sites and activate the carbon nanomaterials for adsorption in the DOE target temperature and pressure range. In collaboration with Prof. John Badding of the Penn State Chemistry department, we are looking to understand, identify, and optimize specific adsorption sites, with in situ high-pressure analytical techniques to fully characterize these sites at the pressures of interest. We are combining multi-wavelength resonance Raman, infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction, and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) techniques with 100 bar measurements of overall adsorption uptake and energetics. Delineation of surface sites by factors such as their hybridization state, potential to (reversibly) rehybridize upon application of pressure, attached chemical functional groups, local bonding environment, and the nature of their binding to hydrogen, combined with adsorption measurements are leading to site specific structure composition relationships and optimization of material design based on this site specific knowledge.


"Using Fuel and Combustion Conditions to Alter the Nanostructure and Reactivity of Diesel Soot" (PI: Boehman, co-PI: Lueking) National Science Foundation

In collaboration with Professor Boehman, we are looking to improve the ease of regeneration of diesel particulate traps to reduce the complexity of their implementation on diesel vehicles and to increase the reliability of their use on diesel vehicles. While particulate traps can provide substantial reduction in diesel particulate emissions, their implementation typically requires either complex control systems to force the regeneration of the trap, use of a fuel borne catalyst or ultra-low sulfur fuel. The present work uses engine control and/or fuel formulation to reduce the operational burden of using a PM trap on a diesel engine. This is accomplished by understanding of the impact of fuel and combustion conditions on the structure and reactivity of diesel soot. This understanding is achieved through combustion and emissions testing with a highly instrumented engine with an accessible control system to permit well controlled experiments on the effects on PM reactivity. The objective is to demonstrate means of generating more reactive particulates which will oxidize more readily in the PM trap and to understand the means by which this improvement in oxidative reactivity is achieved. Overall, the benefits to the nation from the proposed research are that by making it possible to have low emissions diesel vehicles, the efficiency of the transportation sector (particularly for light trucks and SUVs) will be improved while minimizing the impact on air quality.


"Carbon-based Energy Storage Devices" (PI: A. Lueking); Pennsylvania State University, Deike Research Grant

The objective of this proposal is to explore the development of Angstrom (Å) sized pores in carbon-based materials, specifically to explore the synthesis and transformation of graphite nanofibers via exfoliation. The use of fibers with a high aspect ratio of length to width maximizes access to the introduced pores, while the use of a graphite fiber utilizes a low mass material with delocalized electrons. Variation of the thermal preparation conditions leads to variations in the width of the slit pore. This work is systematically inducing expansion of the materials to tune the molecular sized pores, characterizing the resulting expanded slit pores and the accessibility of the pores to various probe gas molecules. The work is fundamental in nature, as it explores basic interactions of a material with electrons and various size gaseous adsorbates. The work is probing the fundamental interactions in the development and characterization of the new materials, with an eye towards potential applications in energy storage.



Selected Publications


  1. Adu, K.W.; Desai, S.C.S.; Sidorov, A.N.; Sumanasekera, G.U., Lueking, A.D. (2) "Morphological, Structural, and Chemical Effects in Novel Carbide Derived Carbon Sensor Response to NH3, N2O, and air," Langmuir, 25 (1), 582-588, 2009.
  2. Sakti, A.; Wonderling, N.M.; Burgess-Clifford, C.E.; Badding, J.V. Lueking, A.D. (2). "Role of Carbon Order on Structural Transformations and Hydrogen Evolution Induced by Reactive Ball Milling in Cyclohexene," Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 112 (44), 17427-17435, 2008.
  3. Kim, H.-Y.; Lueking, A.D. (3); Gatica, S.M.; Johnson, J.K.; Cole, M.W. "Corresponding states behavior, with quantum deviations, and sieving of gases in pores," Molecular Physics, 106 (12-13), 1579-1585, 2008.
  4. Fonseca, D.A.; Gutierrez, H.R.; Lueking, A.D. (2) "Morphology and porosity enhancement on graphite nanofibers through chemical etching," Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 113 (1-3), 178-186, 2008.
  5. Lueking, A.D. (1); Cole, M.W. "Novel commensurate phases of gases adsorbed on carbon nanotubes", Phys. Rev. B 75, 195425, 1-8, (2007).
  6. Jain, P.; Fonseca, D.A. Schaible, E.; Lueking, A.D. (2) "Hydrogen Uptake of Platinum Doped Graphite Nanofibers and Stochastic Analysis of Hydrogen Spillover," J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 1788-1800, (2007).
  7. Narayanan, D.; Lueking A.D. (2) "Mechanically Milled Coal and Magnesium Composites for Hydrogen Storage", Carbon 45, 805-820, (2007).
  8. Lueking, A.D. (1); Gutierrez, H.R.; Fonseca, D.A.; Dickey, E. "Structural Characterization of Exfoliated Graphite Nanofibers," Carbon 45, 751-759, (2007).
  9. Lueking, A.D. (1); Gutierrez, H. R.; Fonseca, D. A.; Narayanan, D.; Van Essendelft, D.T.; Jain, P.; Burgess-Clifford, C.E. "Combined Hydrogen Production and Storage with Subsequent Carbon Crystallization," Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128, 7758-7760, (2006).
  10. Lueking, A.D. (1); Pan, L.; Narayanan, D.; Burgess-Clifford, C. "Effect of Expanded Graphite Lattice in Exfoliated Graphite Nanofibers on Hydrogen Storage," Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 109, 12710-12717, (2005).


Recent Activities and Awards


Activities


Awards/Honors/Recognitions



Other Interests


Angela's career in academia is driven by her ongoing interest in expanding graduate education to include other aspects of professional development, including communication, teamwork, networking, and project management. There is an increasing body of literature that indicates that the traditional focus on discipline-specific research skills is not sufficient to meet the expectations of an increasingly diverse graduate student body and the evolving expectations of the employers of graduate students. The ability to manage one's own project, manage subordinate employees, and clearly communicate technical ideas to both peers and non-technical audiences are key determinants in future career effectiveness, across employment sectors. However, in most graduate programs, there is little formalized mechanism for graduate students to develop these skills. Women and minorities, in particular, often feel a lack of collaboration, teamwork, and peer mentoring in academia, and this may explain lack of advancement of underrepresented groups despite efforts to enhance diversity. As affirmative action programs across the nation are being scrutinized, it is important to focus on retention as well as recruitment of underrepresented groups. Coupling research with education and outreach has been a goal of hers since she was a graduate student, when she worked to supplement her discipline-specific research by proposing and developing various leadership activities.


Outside of her academic pursuits, Angela spends the majority of her time with her (almost) two-year old son, Graham, and is expecting her second child in September 2009. When she and her husband, Erik, are not struggling to keep pace with Graham's adventures, they are remodeling their house from the inside out, including a complete redesign and rebuild of their kitchen and bathrooms. In the near future, they hope to move to the outside, adding on a deck and landscaping the undeveloped forest at the back of their property.

Research Interests


Teaching


EGEE 101 - Energy and the Environment (3)


EGEE 464W - Energy Design Project (3)


EGEE 510 - Engineering Chemistry of Energy and Geo-Environmental Systems (3)


EME 301 - Thermodynamics in Energy and Mineral Engineering (3)


EME 580 - Integrative Design of EME Systems (5)


GEOEE 480 - Geo-Environmental Engineering Process Design (3)