NNCI: North Carolina Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN)

非技术性说明：研究三角纳米技术网络（RTNN）通过提供技术领导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，实现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（北卡罗来纳州州立大学、杜克大学和查佩尔山的北卡罗来纳州大学）是RTNN的锚，并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，使研究人员能够应对未来十年的社会重大挑战，利用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，克服了访问纳米技术设施的障碍。RTNN领导对纳米技术（SEIN）的社会和伦理影响的研究，包括存在于纳米技术用户设施与就业和经济发展的交叉点的问题。RTNN支持跨越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计划的成功，RTNN作为美国纳米技术创新生态系统的发展和增长的领导者。技术描述：RTNN整合了三所主要研究型大学的全面共享用户设施和互补研究计划。这些资源被用来大大增加国家的影响，最先进的制造和表征设施在纳米科学和纳米技术。一个具体的重点是吸引来自服务不足群体的用户，包括STEM中所有代表性不足的群体以及通常不使用共享纳米技术设施的研究人员，如来自非传统学科的研究人员。RTNN的技术能力涵盖传统硬/干和新兴软/湿材料的纳米纤维和纳米表征。RTNN跨度的核心研究专长和专业技术能力：有机和碳基一维和二维纳米材料（如植物基纳米材料、纺织纳米纤维）;提高能效和可持续性的材料（例如混合钙钛矿器件、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）;以及用于生物学、医学和环境评估的纳米结构（例如用于药物递送的纳米颗粒、可穿戴电子器件）。RTNN通过创建和评估创新方案并在全国范围内传播这些方案来扩大共享设施的使用。这些计划包括纳米技术的新模块，一个制造商的课程（一个大规模的开放式在线课程，使纳米技术设备），一个程序的扩展，以加速新的和非传统的用户进入工作的设施，社区大学实习计划，加强推广到等级K-12和农村社区，以及纳米技术融合的研究社区的领导。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。

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.