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

该项目由伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校（UIUC）物理系Munir Nayfeh博士主持，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能源、绿色能源的有效收获和储存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UIUC、芝加哥大学和克利夫兰州立大学（美国）、Fatih大学（土耳其）、Masdar科技学院（阿联酋）、国家研究中心（埃及）、卡拉奇大学国际化学和生物科学中心（ICCBS）（巴基斯坦）、Yarmouk大学和约旦大学纳米小组（约旦）的研究人员将研究启动和催化一种连贯的、在纳米颗粒-有机复合材料领域开展联合研究，以开发先进的可再生能源收集和储存设备。该项目将专注于合成和理解基于硅以及其他材料（如碳）和导电聚合物的纳米材料复合材料薄膜的电子和光学性质，以及使用薄膜开发新的原型设备。这项倡议可以为解决目前的能源危机作出重大贡献，并可以产生变革性的能源技术，这将使可再生能源在经济上与现有技术具有竞争力。活动将包括计划访问和研讨会，以计划向国家科学基金会提交的提案中的多个教学研究项目。知识价值：本提案的关键研究视角是进一步发展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。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PI在中东地区成功地推广了标准与电子商务，并且这项工作很有可能导致合作资助的研究。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，外国合作者来自对可再生能源有浓厚兴趣的国家。NSF PIRE项目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标普计划，这些计划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稽的。纳米材料的项目研究将超越能源，解决健康、安全、对环境的影响以及纳米伦理等重要问题。该项目很可能为与工业界的国际合作开辟新的渠道。纳米研究和纳米工业中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视角。它还将在美国科学家和美国在中东的主要盟友的科学家之间建立重要的知识桥梁。访问和研讨会也将为学生（包括高中生）提供有用的国际规模的努力。

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.