IRES TRACK I: International Collaboration Focused on Developing Visible-Light Responsive Nanohybrids for Photocatalysis and Photoelectrochemical Solar Energy Conversion – SOLARIS

美国-波兰国际学生研究体验项目(IRES)为美国学生创造了一个独特的为期三年的机会，让他们在海外获得材料科学、纳米技术和太阳能转换领域的早期职业研究经验，与著名的欧洲科学家合作。通过阿德尔菲大学和华沙大学之间的这个合作项目，IRES的学生将参与专注于替代能源和环境修复应用的新型复合材料的开发和表征的研究。新材料的光电化学和光催化性能将使用最先进的仪器进行彻底表征，以将单个组分的结构和性能与纳米混杂复合材料的性能增强相关联。美国-波兰团队希望GO能更好地了解这些半导体纳米结构复合材料的基本工作原理，以提高它们在太阳能燃料生产和危险废物降解的光伏和光催化设备中的效率。该项目还将为教师提供研究经验，让他们接触创新的动手教学方法，并教他们如何在课堂上创造以学生为中心的积极学习环境。IRES项目每年支持6名美国学生参与，总共18名，为期3年。PI将招收来自不同贫困背景的合格IRES学生。美国学生参与者在波兰华沙大学化学与新技术中心(CENT)和华沙大学(UW)学习8周，与他们的美国和波兰导师以及波兰学生一起开展专注于光伏和光催化的主题相关研究项目。旅行前的培训包括技术准备和文化准备。作为在波兰参加暑期课程的先决条件，学生们与国际和平研究所一起进行独立学习，以了解与拟议研究相关的实验方法和理论方面。出差后，PI继续进行科学指导和职业建议。更广泛的影响是多方面的。一种具有成本效益的制造高效光伏和光催化装置的方法将极大地促进这些装置在经济和环境重要领域的应用，如危险废物处理和替代太阳能生产。此外，这些研究将有助于将杂化材料的电子性质与半导体元件的结构参数相关联。此外，参与这项研究的学生将开始建立一个国际职业网络，并将学习在一个跨学科、多文化的环境中工作。参与这个名为“教师与学生未来教师”的项目，将为他们提供新的实践研究经验的机会，并为他们在K-12教育系统中的工作做好更好的准备。这一合作的结果将通过在会议上发表演讲、发表期刊论文以及向高中生和教师进行宣传来传播。总体而言，IRES项目的合作活动有望促进这两个机构的STEM教育，加强国际合作，并促进在这一国家和国际需求的关键领域开展研究合作。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。

This U.S.-Polish International Research Experience for Students (IRES) project creates a unique three-year opportunity for U.S. students to acquire early career research experience abroad in the fields of materials science, nanotechnology and solar energy conversion working side by side with renowned European scientists. Through this collaborative project between Adelphi University and Warsaw University, IRES students will participate in research focused on development and characterization of novel composite materials for alternative energy sources and environmental remediation applications. The photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties of the new materials will be thoroughly characterized using state-of-the-art instrumentation to correlate the structure and properties of individual components with properties enhancement of the nanohybrid composites. The US-Polish team expects go gain a better understanding of the basic working principles of these semiconducting nano-architectured composite materials in order to increase their effectiveness in photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices for solar fuel production and hazardous waste degradation. This project will also provide research experience for teachers by exposing them to innovative hands-on approach to student teaching and teaching them how to create a student-centered active learning environment in the classroom.The IRES project supports the participation of 6 U.S. students annually, 18 total for the 3 year duration. PI will recruit qualified IRES students from diverse and underprivileged backgrounds. U.S. student participants spend 8 weeks at the Faculty of Chemistry and Centre for New Technologies (CeNT), Warsaw University (UW) in Poland working together with their U.S. and Polish mentors and Polish students on thematically-linked research projects focused on photovoltaics and photocatalysis. Pre-trip training includes both technical and cultural preparation. As a pre-requisite to the summer program in Poland students take an independent study with the PI to learn about experimental methods and theoretical aspects relevant to the proposed studies. Post-travel follow-up by the PI continues with scientific mentoring and career advice. The broader impact is multi-faceted. A cost-effective method for manufacturing highly efficient photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices will greatly facilitate the application of those devices in economically and environmentally important fields such as hazardous waste treatment and alternative solar energy production. Moreover, these studies will help to correlate the electronic properties of the hybrid with the structural parameters of the semiconducting components. Furthermore, the students involved in this study will start building up an international professional network and will learn to work in an interdisciplinary, multi-cultural environment. The involvement in this project of Teachers and Students Future-Teachers will give them novel opportunity for the hands-on research experience and better prepare them for their work in the K-12 education system. The results of this collaboration will be disseminated by presentations at conferences, publication of journal papers, as well as outreach to high school students and teachers. Overall, the cooperative activities of this IRES project are expected to enhance STEM education at both institutions, strengthen international partnering, and facilitate the development of research collaboration in this critical area of national and international need.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.