FIU-2D Crystal Consortium Partnership for Research and Education in Materials

佛罗里达国际大学（FIU）和宾夕法尼亚州立大学（Penn State）的2D晶体联盟材料创新平台（2DCC MIP）之间的FIU-2DCC材料研究和教育合作伙伴关系（PREM）将作为FIU和2DCC之间的科学和教育平台，最终目标是增加材料研究的多样性。FIU是一所位于佛罗里达州迈阿密的顶尖少数族裔服务机构，招收了58,928名学生，涵盖了所有级别的学术指导，其中79%的学生来自STEM领域的少数族裔（超过65%的西班牙裔或拉丁裔学生，超过12%的黑人或非洲裔美国人），57%的学生是女性，在促进STEM领域的广泛参与方面具有独特的优势。FIU-2DCC PREM将把变革性研究与创新教育和外展相结合，以促进30多名博士、20多名硕士和40多名学士的招募和参与，其中大多数来自STEM中代表性不足的少数群体和女性。学生们将沉浸在一个研究密集型的环境中，以获得量子材料研究方面的专业知识，并将获得360度的成功工具包，包括两所机构的教师的双重指导，获得专家和仪器，以及职业技能培训。通过学生交换计划，团队将在多元化中成长，并推动创新解决问题。通过PREM， FIU将成为南佛罗里达州的材料研究中心，同时丰富与宾夕法尼亚州立大学2DCC MIP的合作伙伴关系。研究成果将通过同行评议的文章和会议报告进行传播，学生的成功将通过专门的项目网站和外展活动进行宣传。该项目将为少数民族学生和女性加入材料科学工作队伍提供可持续的渠道。FIU-2DCC PREM的跨学科研究将有助于揭示二维（2D）材料中量子发射的相关现象，实现基于二维材料的量子转换器，并了解控制二维量子材料与支持其集成到未来量子器件的衬底之间界面的力学特性。PREM团队将专注于新的二维材料和工艺的基础和实践方面，这些材料和工艺可以在量子科学的新兴领域产生变革，并提供先进的表征方法，以确保未来量子设备的长期二维弹性。合作研究将集中在三个方面：(1)用于开发量子科学中有用的单光子发射器的新型二维量子点；(2)具有光学非线性的层状晶体，用于开发二维量子频率转换器；(3)独立和衬底沉积的二维材料的力学行为，通过预测模型来支持二维材料的发现和二维材料的原子水平表征。宾夕法尼亚州立大学2DCC MIP的用户设施，以及FIU的独特设备，将加速量子材料的发现，并实现跨学科的学生培训。最终，这一研究伙伴关系将增加对室温二维量子发射基本机制的理解，为小型化量子转换器产生层状晶体，并为可扩展的量子计算铺平道路，有可能带来重大的社会进步。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

The FIU-2DCC Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) between Florida International University (FIU) and the 2D Crystal Consortium Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC MIP) at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), will function as a science and education platform between FIU and 2DCC with the ultimate goal of increasing diversity in materials research. FIU, a premier Minority Serving Institution located in Miami, Florida, enrolls 58,928 students combining all levels of academic instruction, with 79% of students from an underrepresented minority in STEM (more than 65% Hispanic or Latino and more than 12% Black or African American), and 57% women, is uniquely positioned to promote broadening participation in STEM fields. FIU-2DCC PREM will integrate transformative research with innovative education and outreach to promote recruitment and implement participation of over 30 Ph.D., over 20 M.S. and over 40 B.S. students, the majority being from underrepresented minority groups in STEM and women. The students will be immersed in a research-intensive environment to gain expertise in quantum materials research and will be provided with a 360-degree toolkit for success, comprising dual mentoring by faculty at both institutions, access to experts and instrumentation, and career skills training. Through the student exchange initiative, the team will grow in diversity and drive innovative problem-solving. Through the PREM, FIU will become a materials research hub in South Florida while enriching the collaborative partnership with 2DCC MIP at Penn State. The research outcomes will be disseminated through peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations, and the student success will be publicized through the dedicated project website and outreach events. The project will lead to a sustainable pipeline of minority students and women joining the materials science workforce.The interdisciplinary research of FIU-2DCC PREM will enable uncovering of phenomena related to quantum emission in two-dimensional (2D) materials, the realization of 2D-materials based quantum converters, and understanding of the mechanical properties governing the interfaces between the 2D quantum materials and the substrates supporting their integration into future quantum devices. The PREM team will focus on fundamental and practical aspects of new 2D materials and processes that can be transformative in the emerging field of Quantum Science and provide advanced characterization methods to ensure long-term 2D resilience in future quantum devices. Organized in three major thrusts, the collaborative research will focus on: (1) novel 2D quantum dots for developing Single Photon Emitters useful in Quantum Science; (2) layered crystals with optical nonlinearity for developing 2D quantum frequency converters; and (3) mechanical behavior of stand-alone and substrate-deposited 2D materials, assisted by predictive models to support 2D materials discovery and atomic-level characterization of 2D materials. The user facilities at 2DCC MIP of Penn State, along with unique equipment at FIU, will accelerate quantum materials discovery and enable cross-disciplinary student training. Ultimately, this research partnership will increase the understanding of fundamental mechanisms governing room-temperature 2D quantum emission, generate layered crystals for miniaturized quantum converters, and pave the way for scalable quantum computing, with potential to deliver significant societal progress.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.