NNCI: North Carolina Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN)

非技术描述：研究三角纳米技术网络(RTNN)通过提供技术领先地位和开放获取全面和动态的纳米技术实验室、设备和研究专业知识，促进新的有前途的纳米技术的创新和商业化，并促进美国的公共教育。三所主要的研究型大学支撑着RTNN(北卡罗来纳州立大学、杜克大学和北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校)，它们聚集在美国主要的纳米科学和纳米生物技术区域经济体之一附近。RTNN确定并响应新兴的纳米技术基础设施需求，这些需求将使研究人员能够应对未来十年的重大社会挑战，将我们的设施作为学术学科、行业以及公共和私营部门融合的焦点。RTNN通过实施和部署不断评估、评估和改进的创新计划，克服了获取纳米技术设施的障碍。RTNN领导关于纳米技术的社会和伦理影响的研究(SEIN)，包括纳米技术用户设施与就业和经济发展的交叉点上的问题。RTNN支持一个跨越7-12年级、社区学院、大学和行业的纳米技术创新生态系统。通过在全国范围内翻译项目的成功，RTNN成为美国纳米技术创新生态系统发展和壮大的领导者。技术描述：RTNN集成了三所主要研究型大学的全面共享用户设施和互补的研究项目。这些资源被用来显著提高纳米科学和纳米技术中最先进的制造和表征设施的国家影响力。一个具体的重点是让未得到充分服务的群体的用户参与进来，包括科技、经济和经济研究中心中所有代表性不足的群体，以及通常不会使用共享纳米技术设施的研究人员，例如来自非传统学科的设施。RTNN的技术能力涵盖传统硬/干材料和新兴软/湿材料的纳米制造和纳米表征。RTNN领域的核心研究专长和专门技术能力：有机和碳基一维和二维纳米材料(例如植物基纳米材料、纺织纳米纤维)；用于能源效率和可持续性的材料(例如混杂钙钛矿器件、宽带隙材料)；纳米材料和纳米结构的异质集成和界面研究(例如柔性衬底、纳米流体系统)；以及用于生物、医药和环境评估的纳米结构(例如用于药物输送的纳米颗粒、可穿戴电子设备)。RTNN通过创建和评估创新项目并在全国范围内传播这些项目来扩大共享设施的使用。这些计划包括纳米技术的新模块，A Maker‘s Course(一个关于制造纳米技术设备的大型在线公开课程)，扩大一个计划，以加快新用户和非传统用户进入设施工作的速度，一个社区大学实习计划，加强对K-12年级和农村社区的推广，以及纳米技术融合研究社区的领导力。该研究社区将汇集来自不同学科的研究人员，以解决解决重大社会挑战中的基础设施障碍。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-technical description: The Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN) enables innovation and commercialization of new promising nanotechnologies and facilitates public education for the U.S. by providing technical leadership and open access to comprehensive and dynamic nanotechnology laboratories, equipment, and research expertise. Three major research universities anchor the RTNN (North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and are clustered near one of the nation's major nanoscience and nano-biotechnology regional economies. The RTNN identifies and responds to emerging nanotechnology infrastructure needs that will enable researchers to address societal grand challenges of the next decade, using our facilities as a focal point for the convergence of academic disciplines, industries, and the public and private sector. The RTNN surmounts the barriers of accessing nanotechnology facilities by implementing and deploying innovative programs that are continually assessed, evaluated, and refined. The RTNN leads research on Social and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology (SEIN) including issues that reside at the intersection of nanotechnology user facilities with employment and economic development. The RTNN supports a nanotechnology innovation ecosystem that spans grades 7-12, community colleges, universities, and industry. By translating program successes across the nation, the RTNN serves as a leader for the development and growth of U.S. nanotechnology innovation ecosystems.Technical description: The RTNN integrates comprehensive shared user facilities and complementary research programs at three major research universities. These resources are used to dramatically increase the national impact of state-of-the-art fabrication and characterization facilities in nanoscience and nanotechnology. A specific emphasis is on engaging users from underserved groups, including all underrepresented groups in STEM as well as researchers who do not typically access shared nanotechnology facilities such as those from non-traditional disciplines. RTNN technical capabilities span nanofabrication and nano-characterization of traditional hard/dry and emerging soft/wet materials. Core research expertise and specialized technical capabilities in the RTNN span: organic and carbon-based 1-D and 2-D nanomaterials (e.g. plant-based nanomaterials, textile nanofibers); materials for energy efficiency and sustainability (e.g. hybrid perovskite devices, wide-bandgap materials); heterogeneous integration and interfacial studies of nanomaterials and nanostructures (e.g. flexible substrates, nanofluidics systems); and nanostructures for biology, medicine, and environmental assessment (e.g. nanoparticles for drug delivery, wearable electronics). The RTNN expands shared facilities usage by creating and assessing innovative programs and disseminating these programs throughout the nation. These programs include new modules for Nanotechnology, A Maker’s Course (a massive open online course on making nanotechnology devices), expansion of a program to accelerate the entry of new and non-traditional users into working in the facilities, a community college internship program, enhanced outreach to grades K-12 and rural communities, and the leadership of a Research Community for Nanotechnology Convergence. This Research Community will bring together researchers from distinct disciplines to address infrastructure barriers in tackling major societal challenges.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.