Hydrothermal Synthesis of New Solids for Optics Applications

该项目将利用克莱姆森大学PI最近开发的技术，对高温热液溶液（高达600摄氏度和3千巴）中的新固体进行高效、高通量的研究。这些反应通常会产生高质量的新化合物单晶，否则很难或不可能通过任何其他技术制备。这些材料中的许多具有非常有趣的光电特性。特别强调的是在非中心或极性空间群中结晶的化合物。我们将研究几种有趣的含氧阴离子结构单元的金属络合物的化学，包括硼酸盐、锗酸盐和钒酸盐。新的金属氟化物也将被研究，以及几个新的氟化物为基础的积木，如BeF 42-显示特殊的承诺，作为新的宽带隙偏心固体试剂。这项工作对培养学生特别是晶体生长专业的学生具有重大影响。器件质量晶体的增长促使学生参与众多合作者，特别是在工业实验室，在真实的应用中使用他们的新材料。这使学生能够面对他们在职业生涯中将面临的许多问题。这项工作已经导致了几个短期课程和教程的开发，如NSF固态化学本科生暑期项目。许多这些新化合物的高质量晶体具有非常有趣的光学特性，可用于下一代激光器，高密度数据存储和高速光通信。这项技术模仿了自然界种植红宝石和祖母绿等宝石的方法。这项工作具有实质性的影响，特别是在专业晶体生长，这是一个问题，几乎被忽视，在美国大学化学课程的学生的培训。它还诱导学生参与众多的合作者，特别是在工业实验室，使用他们的新材料在真实的世界的应用。这种对真实的世界工业应用的亲密接触迫使学生发展他们在职业生涯中将面临的各种团队导向的问题解决。一些短期课程和教程的开发，如NSF固态本科暑期课程的开发，通过提供新的课程，在满足教育需求方面产生了重大影响。该项目由化学部和材料研究部共同支持。

This project will exploit techniques recently developed by the PI at Clemson University for the efficient, high throughput investigation of new solids from high temperature hydrothermal solutions (up to 600 degrees C, and 3 kbar). These reactions often lead to high quality single crystals of new compounds that are otherwise difficult or impossible to prepare by any other technique. Many of these materials have very interesting optoelectronic properties. Specific emphasis will be placed in compounds crystallizing in acentric or polar space groups. The chemistry of metal complexes of several interesting oxyanion building blocks will be investigated, including borates, germanates and vanadates. New metal fluoride will also be investigated as well as several new fluoride-based building blocks such as BeF42- that show exceptional promise as reagents for new wide bandgap acentric solids. This work has substantial impact in terms of training of students particularly in specialty crystal growth. The growth of device quality crystals induces students to become involved with numerous collaborators, especially in industrial labs, using their new materials in real applications. This allows students to confront many of the issues they will face in their professional careers. This work has already led to the development of several short courses and tutorials, such as one for the NSF Solid State Chemistry Undergraduate Summer Program. %%%Many of these high quality crystals of new compounds have very interesting optical properties and can be used in next generation lasers, high-density data storage and high-speed optical communication. The technique mimics the methods used by nature to grow gems such as rubies and emeralds. This work has substantial impact in terms of training of students particularly in specialty crystal growth, a subject that is almost ignored in US university chemical curricula. It also induces students to become involved with numerous collaborators, especially in industrial labs, using their new materials in real world applications. This intimate exposure to real world industrial applications forces the students to develop the kinds of team oriented problem solving they will confront in their professional life. The development of several short courses and tutorials, such as one for the NSF Solid State Undergraduate Summer Program is having significant impact in meeting educational needs by providing new curricula. This project is jointly supported by the Chemistry Division and the Division of Materials Research.***