Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (I-MRSEC)

非技术摘要：伊利诺伊州材料研究科学与工程中心(I-MRSEC)的使命是进行基础、创新的研究，以支持社会需求领域的技术应用，同时促进以材料为重点的跨学科教育和学生培训。该中心的工作由两个跨学科小组开展，主要集中在控制带电粒子，特别是电子和离子在材料中的流动方式，这对于推动下一代信息存储和处理以及能源技术的进步至关重要。第一组的研究有助于推动微电子学的发展。这项工作的重点是在二维(2D)和薄膜材料中使用变形场--即所谓的应变带--来控制电子的运动。第二组的研究为新型电池材料的设计做出了贡献。这项工作的重点是利用光来控制离子在材料中的流动，这种现象被称为光离子。该中心支持用于材料合成、测量和分析的新型共享设施。该中心还支持一项教育计划，重点是K-12扩展，向在科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)领域传统上代表性不足的人群推广材料知识。特别关注辅导中心各级学员，从本科生到教职员工，以促进STEM课程和领域的留住。该中心的活动旨在实现参与的多样性，远远高于全国STEM领域的平均水平，有助于促进扩大和更成功的STEM劳动力队伍。技术摘要：伊利诺伊州材料研究科学和工程中心的研究活动主要集中在设计和控制电子和离子在材料中的传输。用2D Strainscapes指导自旋、电荷和能量专注于在2D材料和准2D薄膜材料中创建应变分布，以访问其对称性、拓扑和能带结构可以在纳米级设计和图案化的新材料系统。目标是实现对应变的多维控制，包括空间不均匀应变、应变梯度张量和异质应变。这种行为与超导电性、拓扑相、受保护的边缘状态和自旋纹理相耦合，并使可能的设备能够引导能量和处理信息。光离子学：用光控制离子传输和缺陷研究光激电子载流子与动态离子配置相互作用的机制。通过确定光照引起离子通量的动力学和热力学参数变化的材料设计原则，这项工作使人们能够对在光照下发生数量级变化的离子进行有效的纳米级控制，并可能实现新的电化学制造、能源和信息技术。该中心的研究为扩大参与和促进多样性提供了一个平台，方法是支持招募和留住传统上在科技、经济、技术和经济研究机构任职人数较少的参与者。该中心强调K-12外展和项目，以支持所有中心参与者的指导，从本科生到教职员工。作为该中心研究计划的一部分，这项工作通过支持材料科学的重要新共享设施而产生了更广泛的技术影响。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。

Nontechnical Abstract:The Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (I-MRSEC) has a mission to perform fundamental, innovative research that supports technological applications in areas of societal need, while promoting interdisciplinary materials-focused education and training of students. The work of the Center is carried out by two interdisciplinary groups, and is broadly centered on controlling how charged particles, specifically electrons and ions, flow in materials, which is essential for developing next generation advancements in information storage and processing and energy technologies. The research in the first group helps to advance microelectronics. The work focuses on using deformation fields -- so-called strainscapes -- in two-dimensional (2D) and thin film materials, to control the motion of electrons. The research in the second group contributes to the design of new battery materials. The focus of the work is to use light to control the flow of ions in materials, a phenomenon called photo-ionics. The Center supports new types of shared facilities for materials synthesis, measurement, and analysis. The Center also supports an educational program, focusing on K-12 outreach, which promotes materials knowledge for populations traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). There is a special focus on mentoring Center participants at all levels, from undergraduate students to faculty, in order to foster retention in STEM courses and fields. The activities in the Center are designed to achieve diversity in participation that is well above nationwide averages for STEM fields, helping to promote an expanded and more successful STEM workforce. Technical Abstract:The research activity of the Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center is broadly centered on designing and controlling transport of electrons and ions in materials. Directing Spin, Charge, and Energy with 2D Strainscapes focuses on creating strain distributions in 2D materials and quasi-2D thin film materials to access new materials systems whose symmetry, topology, and band structure can be designed and patterned at the nanoscale. The goal is to achieve multi-dimensional control over strainscapes, to include spatially heterogeneous strain, strain gradient tensors, and heterostrain. This behavior couples to superconductivity, topological phases, protected edge states, and spin textures, and enables possible devices that direct energy and process information. Photo-Ionics: Controlling Ion Transport and Defects with Light investigates mechanisms by which light-excited electronic carriers interact with dynamic ion configurations. By determining materials design principles for illumination-induced changes in kinetic and thermodynamic parameters governing ion flux, the work enables efficient, nanoscale control over ions with orders-of-magnitude changes under illumination, and possible new electrochemical manufacturing, and energy and information technologies. The research in the Center provides a platform for broadening participation and promoting diversity through support for recruiting and retention of participants traditionally underrepresented in STEM. The Center emphasizes K-12 outreach and programs that support mentoring of all center participants, from undergraduate students to faculty. As part of the research programs in the Center, the work has broader technical impact by supporting significant new shared facilities for materials science.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.