Fundamental Science for Future Materials Applications

技术创新的基础是材料的发展。玛丽·安妮·怀特提出的研究计划的目标是进行实验，以确定材料的结构、动力学和性能之间的基本关系。其目的是提供重要的关键信息，从而为未来的材料应用建立一个基础性的科学平台。*选择了要研究的系统，以提供重要问题的答案。将提出三个方向。在一项研究中，我将确定可以优化纳米管材料中热和电传输的因素，以便在热管理和电路中潜在地使用。在另一个课程中，我将研究元素硼的动力学，以提高对含硼化合物的性质的预测，例如超硬材料。在第三项研究中，我将研究材料的冻结，以便更好地操纵材料应用，如储能、制备多孔陶瓷和新型催化剂。*这一提议将导致未来材料应用的断言是基于我过去的成功：笼状化合物的低导热系数导致了一种新的热电材料家族；用于储能的相变材料的开发；用于热可擦除打印机碳粉的热致变色材料。我提出的对物质中基本相互作用的研究，从元素到纳米管，再到块状物质的相，可以很好地为新材料的应用提供基础，同时培训新的科学家，并显著促进我们对物质的理解。

The foundation of technological innovation is the development of materials. The objective of Mary Anne White's proposed research program is to carry out experiments to determine fundamental relationships between structure, dynamics and properties of materials. The aim is to provide important key information, and thus build a fundamental scientific platform for future materials applications.******The systems to be studied have been selected to provide answers to important questions. Three directions will be advanced. In one study I will determine the factors that can optimize transport of heat and electricity in nanotube materials, for potential use in heat management and in electrical circuits. In another, I will study the dynamics of elemental boron, to advance prediction of properties of boron-containing compounds, such as superhard materials. In a third study I will investigate freezing of materials, to better manipulate materials for applications such as energy storage, preparation of porous ceramics, and new catalysts.******The assertion that this proposal will lead to future materials applications is predicated on my past successes: low thermal conductivity in clathrates giving rise to a new family of thermoelectric materials; development of phase change materials for energy storage; thermochromic materials for thermally erasable printer toner. My proposed investigations of fundamental interactions in matter, over length scales from elements, to nanotubes, to phases of bulk matter, could well provide the underpinnings of novel materials applications, while training new scientists and significantly advancing our understanding of matter.*****