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厄巴纳-香槟分校 (UIUC) 物理系 Munir Nayfeh 博士发起，旨在促进美国研究人员与中东机构研究人员在开发可再生绿色能源的高效收获和存储技术以及研究其健康和环境影响方面的国际研究合作。来自美国伊利诺伊大学香槟分校、芝加哥大学和克利夫兰州立大学以及法提赫大学（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）、卡拉奇大学国际化学与生物科学中心（ICCBS）（巴基斯坦）以及耶尔穆克大学和约旦大学纳米小组（约旦）的研究人员将探讨在各机构之间发起和促进连贯、互补的伙伴关系的可行性，以开展联合研究纳米颗粒有机复合材料领域的研究，用于开发先进的可再生能源收集和存储设备。该项目将重点关注基于硅以及碳和导电聚合物等其他材料的纳米材料复合材料薄膜的电子和光学性质的合成和理解，以及使用薄膜开发新的原型设备。该倡议可以为解决当前能源危机做出重大贡献，并可以产生变革性能源技术，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。这些活动将包括规划访问和研讨会，以规划将在提案中提交给 NSF 的多教学研究项目。 智力优势：该提案的关键研究观点是进一步开发 USiN 作为可持续能源的方法，确定了三种应用：太阳能电池、超级电容器和燃料电池。 已确定的研究需求包括：纳米材料的合成、环境与安全、设备模拟和测试、教育和推广、知识产权和商业化。 美国 PI 已成功地促进了中东的科学与工程，这项工作很有可能产生合作资助的研究。 Nayfeh博士一直在硅基纳米技术及其商业应用（包括太阳能）方面进行广泛的研究，国外合作者来自对可再生能源有浓厚兴趣的国家。 NSF PIRE 计划被确定为未来潜在的资金来源之一。 涉及的非美国国家都有科技项目，这些项目也将是潜在的资金来源。 更广泛的影响：开发经济的可再生能源的需求是有据可查的。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。该项目可能会为国际工业合作开辟新的渠道。纳米研究和纳米工业最紧迫的问题之一是缺乏合格的劳动力。 该项目将为参与该项目的研究生和本科生提供培训以及宝贵的国际经验和视角。它还将在美国科学家和美国中东主要盟友的科学家之间建立重要的知识桥梁。访问和研讨会还将让学生（包括高中生）有机会接触国际规模的工作。

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.