The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Studying soot thermo-optical properties (Suggested Thesis Project)

Left is an orange circle around gray image with dark spots on and a colorbar indicating temperature. Right is an object that is black with a golden bottom and a green light going straight through it.
Observing soot oxidation during thermal treatment by a LINKAM heating stage.

Soot is a light-absorbing material that is formed when hydrocarbons are not completely burned during combustion processes. Soot has significant impacts on climate, glacial regions, agriculture, and human health due to its strong light-absorbing ability, small size and complex structure. Various soot types have different properties, for example biomass soot has lower absorption efficiency than diesel soot. Our recent studies have shown that potassium additives can reduce soot absorption efficiency, which suggests a potential way to reduce the greenhouse effect caused by emitted soot.

This master project is a continuation of our research, where we aim to study the thermo-optical properties of soot with potassium addition to the soot formation process, using two different methods: a LINKAM heating stage and OC/EC analysis. Raman spectroscopy (RS) will also be applied to characterize structural modifications in soot. By observing how soot particles evaporate, pyrolyze and oxidize while ramping the temperature in an inert and oxidizing environment, we can study refractory and non-refractory components in the samples.

The master thesis work includes experiments in the lab and data analysis. The student will learn and use Raman spectroscopy and thermo-optical analysis in studying soot. After the thesis, the student is expected to have a deep understanding of RS, OC/EC analysis, and be able to apply them in characterizing various samples, including soot. The student is required to have a basic background in laser, optics, and programming knowledge.

Contact

Kim-Cuong Le, Associate senior lecturer
Combustion Physics, room E430
Email: thi_kim [dot] cuong_le [at] forbrf [dot] lth [dot] se (thi_kim[dot]cuong_le[at]forbrf[dot]lth[dot]se)

Saga Bergqvist, Ph.D. student
Combustion Physics, room E333
Email: thi_kim [dot] cuong_le [at] forbrf [dot] lth [dot] se (saga[dot]bergqvist[at]forbrf[dot]lth[dot]se)