CAREER: Semiconducting Delafossite Structures for Transparent Conducting Coating

这个CAREER项目系统地探索了阳离子取代的铜铁矿结构的电学和光学性质。AgInO 2的电学和光学性质可以归因于铜铁矿结构的某些独特特征;它由一价A原子（Cu、Ag、Pd或Pt）的二维阵列夹在B 3+ O 6八面体层之间组成。这些材料中线性配位的O-A-O结构是其导电机制的关键。该项目的实验目标是确定影响金属A原子之间的轨道重叠和3d或4d态的晶体场分裂的晶体化学关系。通过在A-和B-位点上的阳离子取代，可以操纵铜铁矿结构中的A-A和O-A-O距离。预计这些结构的改变将表现在可见光谱中的电导率、迁移率、带隙和光透射率的变化中。研究主题将与合作K-12科学教师的帮助下，K-12教室。合作者将在夏季与研究小组合作，从而获得材料科学方面的实践经验。他或她将在下一个学期的课堂上使用这些知识。此外，还将在当地的一个住宅设施为患有情绪和行为障碍的儿童启动一个夏季科学项目。结合材料动手实验、一对一指导和基于互联网的扫描电子显微镜（SEM），将吸引孩子们的注意力，激发他们对科学的兴趣。%%该项目涉及具有高度技术相关性的材料科学专题领域的基础研究问题。该项目的范围将使学生面临材料合成，加工和表征方面的挑战。该项目的一个重要特点是高度重视教育，并将研究与教育相结合。***

This CAREER project systematically explores the electrical and optical properties of cation-substituted delafossite structures. The electrical and optical properties of AgInO2 can be attributed to certain unique features of the delafossite structure; it consists of a two-dimensional array of monovalent A-atoms (Cu, Ag, Pd, or Pt) sandwiched between layers of B 3+ O6 octahedra. It is the linearly coordinated O-A-O structure in these materials that is the key to their conduction mechanism. The experimental objective of this project is to determine crystal chemical relationships that influence orbital overlap between metallic A-atoms and the crystal field splitting of 3d or 4d states. With cationic substitutions on the A- and B-sites, it may be possible to manipulate the A-A and O-A-O distances in the delafossite structure. It is expected that these modifications to the structure will be manifested in variations in the conductivity, mobility, band gap, and optical transmission in the visible spectrum. The research themes will be related to the K-12 classroom with the help of a collaborating K-12 science teacher. The collaborator will work with the research group during the summer, thereby, receiving practical experience in materials science. He or she will use this knowledge in the classroom in the following school semester. In addition, a summer science program will be initiated at a local residential facility for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. A combination of hands-on experiments with materials, one-on-one instruction, and an internet-based scanning electron microscope (SEM) will be used to capture the children's attention and stimulate their interest in science.%%% The project addresses fundamental research issues in a topical area of materials science having high technological relevance. The scope of the project will expose students to challenges in materials synthesis, processing, and characterization. An important feature of the project is the strong emphasis on education, and the integration of research and education. ***