CAREER: Synthesis and Investigation of Novel Condensed Matter Compounds and Development of a High-Resolution Capacitive Dilatometer

这个职业项目的重点是过渡金属氧化物和相关材料。样品合成、磁学和电学测量以及高压(压力为1.5 Gpa)下的实验将在这些材料的化学和物理方面架起桥梁。对层状镍氧化物的研究，如单层NiO2-La2NiO4化合物，有望澄清镍氧化物与超导铜酸盐之间的关系。这项工作将产生对高压下这些系统的第一次研究。设计了合成和相关实验来模拟铜酸盐的磁性。其他目标化学体系包括钼氧化物和铜镍矿。将建造一种创新的高分辨率石英膨胀仪，这是美国唯一的此类设备，用于测量亚毫米尺寸单晶的热膨胀，从而能够研究相变。该项目的教育部分将让研究生和本科生参与研究，还将涉及物理入门课程的新课堂教学方法。入门物理的教学方法将通过演示和单一概念问题将活跃的过程整合到课堂中，旨在提高对概念的理解和创造更热情的学习体验。%这项职业奖将促进一个涉及过渡金属氧化物的研究项目的发展，以及导致新的入门物理课堂教学方法的教育部分。这项研究的重点是过渡金属氧化物的研究，这些氧化物具有不同寻常的电学和磁性。这些材料最终可能会在技术上得到重要的应用。样品合成、磁性和电学测量以及高压实验在这项横跨化学和物理领域的研究中发挥着重要作用。与其他机构的研究人员的一些合作扩大了可以在材料上进行的实验的范围。将建造一种创新的高分辨率石英膨胀计，这是美国唯一的此类设备，用于测量微小样品在温度变化时的长度变化。这将允许检测材料中发生的重要相变。研究生和本科生将接受有价值的培训，为未来在高科技市场的职业生涯做准备。物理入门的教学方法将通过演示和单一概念问题将积极的过程融入课堂，旨在提高概念理解和创造更热情的学习体验。

This CAREER project is focused on transition metal oxides and related materials. Specimen synthesis, magnetic and electrical measurements, and experiments under high pressure (pressures to 1.5 GPa) will bridge aspects of the chemistry and physics of these materials. Investigations of layered nickel oxides, such as the single-NiO2-layer La2NiO4 compound, are expected to clarify relations between the nickel oxides and the superconducting cuprates. This work will yield the first studies of these systems under high pressure. Syntheses and related experiments are designed to simulate the magnetism of the cuprates. Other targeted chemical systems include molybdenum oxides and the copper pnictides. An innovative high-resolution quartz dilatometer, the only device of its kind in the USA, will be constructed to measure the thermal expansion of sub-millimeter sized single crystals, thus enabling the investigation of phase transitions. The education component of the project will involving graduate and undergraduate students in the research, and will also involve new classroom teaching methods for introductory physics. The teaching method for introductory physics will integrate active processes into lectures through demonstrations and single-concept problems aimed at improving conceptual understanding and creating a more enthusiastic learning experience.%%%This CAREER award will enable the development of a research project involving transition metal oxides, and an educational component leading to new classroom teaching methods for introductory physics. The research focuses on the study of transition metal oxides which are known to exhibit unusual electrical and magnetic properties. These materials may ultimately find important technological applications. Specimen synthesis, magnetic and electrical measurements, and experiments at high pressure play major roles in the research, which spans areas of chemistry and physics. A number collaborations with researchers at other institutions extend the range of experiments that can be performed on the materials. An innovative high-resolution quartz dilatometer, the only device of its kind in the USA, will be constructed to measure the length change of tiny specimens as the temperature is varied. This will allow the detection of important phase transitions occurring in the materials. Graduate and undergraduate students will receive valuable training for future careers in the high-technology marketplace. The teaching method for introductory physics will integrate active processes into lectures through demonstrations and single-concept problems aimed at improving conceptual understanding and creating a more enthusiastic learning experience.