Catalyzing New International Collaborations: US-MENA countries Research and Education in nano-organics for renewable energy harvest and storage

1156516 Nayfeh描述：该项目由伊利诺伊大学香槟分校(UIUC)物理系Munir Nayfeh博士完成，旨在促进美国研究人员和中东机构的研究人员在可再生、绿色能源的高效收获和储存技术及其对健康和环境影响的研究领域开展国际研究合作。来自UIUC、美国芝加哥大学和克利夫兰州立大学以及来自法提赫大学(土耳其)、马斯达尔科学技术研究所(阿联酋)、国家研究中心(埃及)和卡拉奇大学国际化学和生物科学中心(ICCBS)(巴基斯坦)以及耶尔穆克大学和约旦大学纳米小组(约旦)的研究人员将研究在各机构之间启动和促进协调一致的互补伙伴关系的可行性，以便在纳米颗粒-有机化合物领域开展联合研究，以开发先进的可再生能源收获和储存装置。该项目将专注于合成和了解以硅以及碳和导电聚合物等其他材料为基础的纳米材料复合材料薄膜的电子和光学性质，以及开发使用这些薄膜的新原型器件。该倡议可以为当前能源危机的解决方案做出重大贡献，并可以产生变革性的能源技术，使可再生能源达到与现有技术在经济上具有竞争力的程度。这些活动将包括计划访问和一个研讨会，以计划将在提交给国家科学基金会的提案中提交的多个教学研究项目。智力优点：该提案中的关键研究前景是进一步发展UIN作为一种可持续能源的方法，并确定了三种应用：太阳能电池、超级电容器和燃料电池。已确定的研究需求是：纳米材料的合成、环境和安全、设备模拟和测试、教育和推广、知识产权和商业化。美国和平研究所在中东地区成功地推动了S与安永的合作，这项工作很有可能导致合作资助的研究。奈菲博士一直在硅基纳米技术及其商业应用(包括太阳能)方面进行广泛研究，外国合作者来自对可再生能源有浓厚兴趣的国家。NSF帝国计划被确定为未来潜在的资金来源之一。参与的非美国国家都有S与电信项目，这些项目也将成为潜在的资金来源。更广泛的影响：发展经济的可再生能源的必要性是有据可查的。纳米材料的项目研究将超越能源，并将解决健康、安全、对环境的影响以及纳米伦理等重要问题。该项目可能会为与工业界的国际合作开辟新的渠道。纳米研究和纳米产业最紧迫的问题之一是缺乏合格的劳动力。该项目将为从事该项目的研究生和本科生提供培训和宝贵的国际经验和观点。它还将在美国科学家和美国在中东的关键盟友的科学家之间建立重要的知识桥梁。访问和研讨会还将使学生(包括高中生)接触到国际范围的努力。

1156516 NayfehDescription: This project by the Dr. Munir Nayfeh, Department of Physics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is to catalyze international research collaboration between US researchers and researchers in Middle East institutions in the area of development of efficient harvest and storage technologies of renewable, green energy and the study of their health and environmental impact. Researchers from the UIUC, University of Chicago and Cleveland State University on the US side and from Fatih University (Turkey), Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (UAE), National Research Center (Egypt), and University of Karachi International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) (Pakistan), and Yarmouk University and University of Jordan Nano Groups (Jordan) will examine the feasibility of initiating and catalyzing a coherent, complimentary partnership among the institutions to conduct joint studies in the area of nano particle-organics composites for development of advanced renewable energy harvest and storage devices. The project will focus on the synthesis and understanding of the electronic and optical nature of thin films of nanomaterial composites based on silicon as well as other materials, such as carbon, and conducting polymer as well as developing new prototype devices using the thin films. The initiative can make significant contribution to the solutions of the present energy crisis, and can yield transformational energy technologies, which will get renewable energy to a point where it is economically competitive with current technology. The activities will include planning visits and a workshop to plan multi instructional research projects to be submitted in proposals to the NSF.Intellectual Merit: The key research perspective in this proposal is the further development of USiN as an approach to sustainable energy with three applications identified: solar cell, supercapacitor and fuel cell. The identified research needs are: synthesis of nanomaterial, environment and safety, device simulation and testing, education and outreach, intellectual property and commercialization. The US PI has been successful in promoting S&E in the Middle East, and there is a strong likelihood for this work to result in collaborative funded research. Dr. Nayfeh has been doing extensive research in silicon based nanotechnology and its commercial applications, including solar energy, and the foreign collaborators are from countries with strong interest in renewal energy. The NSF PIRE program is identified as one of the potential future funding sources. The non-US countries involved all have S&T programs that will also be potential funding sources. Broader Impacts: The need for developing economical renewable energy is well-documented. The project research in nanomaterial will transcends energy, and will address important question of health, safety, effect on the environment, as well as nano ethics. The project is likely to open up new channels for international collaborations with industry. One of the most pressing issues in nano research and nano industry is the shortage of qualified workforce. The project will provide training and valuable international experience and perspectives for the graduate and undergraduate students working on the project. It will also build important intellectual bridges between U.S. scientists and scientists of key U.S. allies in the Middle East. The visits and workshop will also provide useful exposure of students (including high school) to international scale efforts.