U.S. Sweden Cooperative Research: Long and Short Time Relaxation Processes and the Ion-Matrix Coupling Problem in Salt + Polymeric Solvent Systems

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Objectives and Relevance to Program Objectives: This recommended award would support collaborative research between Professor Charles A. Angell, Purdue University, and Professor L.M. Torell, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. They will continue their work on the elucidation of time-dependent processes in potentially important solid state electrochemical device media. Specifically, they plan to (a) make direct comparisons of experimental and computer simulation results of glass transitions on picosecond time scales, (b) test predictions from their former work about separate and distinguishable relaxations due to total structure and mobile cation substructure in certain ionic liquid systems, and (c) produce the first complete non-cryogenic picosecond relaxation process observed in a glassy solid. Additionally, they will compare short-time mechanical and electrical relaxation processes in salt + polymeric solvent systems, and they will try to extend their work to certain liquid and glassy oxide systems, such as P2O5, using light-scattering methods, and to certain geochemical glasses for which high temperature glassy state compressibility data are needed. Professors Angell and Torell have successfully worked together in the past. Their two laboratories emphasize opposite ends of the relaxation time spectrum, so their research is strengthened by the different expertise and equipment of each setting. Their joint work has permitted research on single relaxation processes over a large range of times. The project thus contributes to an important objective of NSF's cooperative science programs with Western Europe, which is to stimulate scientific progress by bringing together scientists from the U.S. and Europe who have similar research interests and who wish to engage in mutually beneficial research cooperation. Funds from this award would support partial transportation and subsistence expenses for the U.S. principal investigator and members of his research group, as well as other minor costs directly related to the collaboration. Merit of Proposal: The cooperating U.S. and foreign investigators are respected for their previous research accomplishments, and there is a very good prospect that this proposed research will lead to a significant contribution to scientific knowledge. The proposed cooperation presents the U.S. investigators with the opportunity to work with a leading foreign research group and to use highly specialized facilities abroad that are complementary to their own. The work plan is sound and the budget is reasonable. Previous collaboration between Professors Angell and Torell has been productive, and the likelihood of additional mutual benefit from a continuation of the joint effort is high. Funding: This award will not duplicate other funding. The principal investigator receives project support from NSF's Division of Materials Research, Solid State Chemistry Program, Grant No. DMR-8304887. This recommended INT award would fund the addition of an important international dimension to that research project. The principal investigator receives other support for the domestic aspects of his research from the Department of Energy.