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，从高温水热溶液（高达600摄氏度，3kbar）中高效、高通量地研究新固体。这些反应通常会产生高质量的新化合物单晶，否则用任何其他技术都很难或不可能制备。这些材料中有许多具有非常有趣的光电特性。特别强调将放在化合物结晶在偏心或极性空间基团。将研究几种有趣的氧阴离子构建块的金属配合物的化学性质，包括硼酸盐、锗酸盐和钒酸盐。还将研究新的金属氟化物以及几种新的氟基构建块，如BeF42，它们作为新型宽带隙无中心固体的试剂显示出非凡的前景。这项工作对培养学生特别是在特殊晶体生长方面有重大影响。器件质量晶体的生长诱导学生与众多合作者合作，特别是在工业实验室中，将他们的新材料应用于实际应用。这使学生能够面对他们在职业生涯中会遇到的许多问题。这项工作已经导致了一些短期课程和教程的发展，例如NSF固态化学本科暑期项目。这些高质量的新化合物晶体中有许多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。这种技术模仿了自然界种植红宝石和祖母绿等宝石的方法。这项工作在培养学生方面具有重大影响，特别是在专业晶体生长方面，这是一个在美国大学化学课程中几乎被忽视的主题。它还促使学生与众多合作者合作，特别是在工业实验室，将他们的新材料应用于现实世界。这种与现实世界工业应用的亲密接触迫使学生培养他们在职业生涯中会遇到的以团队为导向的解决问题的能力。一些短期课程和教程的开发，如NSF固态本科暑期项目的开发，通过提供新的课程，在满足教育需求方面产生了重大影响。本项目由化学部和材料研究部联合支持

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.***