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

摘要：伊利诺伊州材料研究科学与工程中心（I-MRSEC）的使命是开展基础创新研究，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，如何在材料中流动，这对于开发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进微电子学。这项工作的重点是利用二维（2D）和薄膜材料中的变形场（即所谓的应变场）来控制电子的运动。第二组的研究有助于设计新的电池材料。这项工作的重点是利用光来控制材料中离子的流动，这种现象被称为光电子学。该中心支持新型的材料合成、测量和分析共享设施。该中心还支持一项教育计划，重点关注K-12外展，为传统上在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域代表性不足的人群推广材料知识。我们特别关注指导中心各个层次的参与者，从本科生到教师，以促进STEM课程和领域的保留。该中心的活动旨在实现参与的多样性，远高于STEM领域的全国平均水平，有助于促进扩大和更成功的STEM劳动力。技术摘要：伊利诺伊州材料研究科学与工程中心的研究活动主要集中在设计和控制材料中电子和离子的输运。利用二维应变定向自旋、电荷和能量专注于在二维材料和准二维薄膜材料中创建应变分布，以获得新的材料系统，其对称性、拓扑结构和能带结构可以在纳米尺度上设计和图像化。目标是实现对应变的多维控制，包括空间非均质应变、应变梯度张量和异应变。这种行为与超导性、拓扑相、保护边缘状态和自旋织构相耦合，并使引导能量和处理信息的器件成为可能。光电子学：用光控制离子输运和缺陷研究了光激发电子载流子与动态离子构型相互作用的机制。通过确定控制离子通量的动力学和热力学参数的照明诱导变化的材料设计原则，这项工作使在照明下对离子进行数量级变化的高效、纳米级控制成为可能，并可能实现新的电化学制造、能源和信息技术。该中心的研究通过支持招募和保留传统上代表性不足的STEM参与者，为扩大参与和促进多样性提供了一个平台。该中心强调K-12外展和项目，支持指导所有中心参与者，从本科生到教师。作为中心研究项目的一部分，这项工作通过支持重要的新材料科学共享设施而具有更广泛的技术影响。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。

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.