NSF IRES Track 1: Nanomaterials for Next-Generation Functional Molecular Electronics Program at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Karlsruhe, Germany and the University

来自多恩大学和中西部学校联盟的美国本科生将在卡尔斯鲁厄的卡尔斯鲁厄理工学院（KIT）和拜罗伊特的拜罗伊特大学（UBT）进行研究。拟议的研究旨在设计，合成和研究下一代功能分子电子学的无机，有机和生物有机材料。有机和生物有机材料为探索电子学，自旋电子学和相关技术的新概念提供了一个多功能和独特的机会。该研究与太阳能发电，存储，有机场效应晶体管，甚至生物医学应用有关。学生将获得增强的专业培训和接触世界一流的研究人员和设施，除了体验国际级的团队合作和研究后活动，包括网络机会。该项目还将通过Doane的有针对性的招聘以及NSF资助的Iowa-Illinois-Nebraska STEM研究和教育创新合作伙伴关系（IINSPIRE）Louis Stokes少数民族参与联盟（LSAMP），增加代表性不足的少数民族学生参与本科研究。联盟学生的加入将加强现有的联系，为联盟学生和校园之间的进一步合作建立网络，并可成为未来项目的典范。来自物理科学代表性不足的群体的学生参与研究经验增加了他们坚持STEM学习并攻读高级STEM学位的可能性。该项目通过以下方式服务于国家利益：（1）促进能源独立和计算和设备电子材料等关键领域的科学进步，以及（2）通过提供高质量的培训和专业发展，增加进入STEM劳动力的学生的未来繁荣和福利。特别是对于代表性不足的个人和来自没有先进研究能力的小型学院和大学的学生。UBT将为15名美国本科生提供在德国KIT和UBT为期八周的研究经验。该项目将有助于加速分子定义的低维材料的开发，这些材料可以实现新的有机，无机和生物有机电子器件，有机逻辑器件，单分子晶体管，偶极逻辑和其他电子特性取决于单分子行为和极化的器件。开发一种可访问的技术，如用于能源创造材料的喷墨打印，可以进一步推动能源独立和弹性的未来。IRES KIT-UBT学生将（1）接受严格的培训，为研究做准备;（2）在分子电子材料方面进行可持续的研究;（3）提高个人文化能力;（4）接受增强的专业发展，促进科学素养，大学成功和追求STEM职业。学生将做好充分准备，通过行前活动在KIT和UBT进行研究，包括为期一个学期的研究准备课程，包括语言和文化教学，为期一周的现场访问Doane从主办教师，并参加在Doane的研究方向会议。研究经历后的持续指导和专业发展将通过参加STEM研讨会，地方和国家STEM会议来展示研究成果，与学生家庭机构或新研究项目的导师继续研究以及发表研究成果来实现。研究项目中探索的有机材料预计将与纳米分子电子学的发展有关。学生将利用扫描探针光刻，蘸笔纳米光刻，喷墨和槽模印刷，在旋涂，自组织液体和仪器过程中的原位吸收和光致发光光谱，以创建和研究纳米材料的性能，如石墨烯纳米带，铁电有机薄膜，功能化有机聚合物薄膜和功能化石墨烯。这项研究的结果预计将产生一般的设计原则和新的战略，将指导新材料的开发。通过参与的学生和教师对该项目的成果交流和推广，将扩大分子电子学材料开发、STEM研究和IRES项目的公众知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

U.S. undergraduate students from Doane University and an alliance of midwestern schools will conduct research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Karlsruhe and the University of Bayreuth (UBT) in Bayreuth. The proposed research seeks to design, synthesize, and study inorganic, organic, and bioorganic materials for next-generation functional molecular electronics. Organic and bioorganic materials present a versatile and unique opportunity for exploring new concepts in electronics, spintronics, and related technologies. The research is relevant to solar energy generation, storage, organic field-effect transistors, and even biomedical applications. Students will receive enhanced professional training and exposure to world-class researchers and facilities, in addition to experiencing international-level teamwork and post-research activities, including networking opportunities. This project will also increase the involvement of underrepresented minority students in undergraduate research through targeted recruiting at Doane and through the NSF-funded the Iowa-Illinois-Nebraska STEM Partnership for Innovation in Research and Education (IINSPIRE) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). The inclusion of Alliance students will strengthen existing connections and build networks for further collaboration between students and campuses in the Alliance and could serve as a model for future projects. Participation in research experiences by students from groups underrepresented in the physical sciences increases the likelihood that they will persist in their STEM studies and pursue advanced STEM degrees. This project serves the national interest by (1) promoting the progress of science in critical areas such as energy independence and electronic materials for computing and devices, and (2) increasing the future prosperity and welfare of students entering the STEM workforce by providing high-quality training and professional development, especially for underrepresented individuals and students from small colleges and universities that do not have advanced research capabilities.The Doane IRES KIT-UBT will provide fifteen U.S. undergraduate students with eight-week research experiences in Germany at KIT and UBT. This project will help accelerate the development of molecular-defined low-dimensional materials which may enable new organic, inorganic, and bioorganic electronics devices, organic logic devices, single-molecule transistors, dipolar logic, and other devices where the electronic properties depend on the behavior and the polarization of single molecules. Developing an accessible technology like inkjet printing for energy creation materials could further the future of energy independence and resilience. IRES KIT-UBT students will (1) receive rigorous training in preparation for research; (2) conduct publishable research in materials for molecular electronics; (3) increase individual cultural competency; and (4) receive enhanced professional development that promotes scientific literacy, college success, and pursuit of STEM careers. Students will be well-prepared to conduct research at KIT and UBT through pre-departure activities, including a semester-long research preparation course that includes language and culture instruction, a week-long site visit at Doane from host faculty, and participation in a research orientation session at Doane. Continued mentoring and professional development after the research experience will be achieved through participation in STEM seminars, local and national STEM conferences to present research results, continued research with mentors at students' home institutions or new research projects, and the publishing of research results. The organic materials explored in the research projects are expected to be relevant for the development of nanoscale molecular electronics. Students will utilize scanning probe lithography, dip-pen nanolithography, inkjet and slot-die printing, in-situ absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy during spin-coating, self-organizing liquids, and instrumentation to create and investigate properties of nanomaterials such as graphene nanoribbons, ferroelectric organic thin films, and functionalized organic polymer films and functionalized graphene. The outcomes of this research are expected to yield general design principles and new strategies that will guide the development of new materials. Through communication of results and promotion of the program by the students and faculty involved, expanded public knowledge of material development for molecular electronics, STEM research, and the IRES program will result.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.