NSE/NIRT: Electron Transport Through Molecular Inorganic Clusters - A Convergent Approach Toward Molecular Electronic and Magnetic Devices

PARK0210426本提案是对NIRT类别的纳米科学与工程计划NSF 01-157的响应。该计划的重点是研究分子无机团簇的基本电学和磁学性质，并探索其器件应用的多个研究者的实验和理论计划。这一建议代表了以下之间的协同合作：(I)通过合理控制合成参数来设计具有不同电磁性质的新型无机簇合物，(Ii)由单个团簇和低维团簇阵列构建的原型电子器件的制造和表征，(Iii)使用最先进的测量来表征团簇阵列的电子和磁性，以及(Iv)利用高级理论计算对团簇性质的详细理解，这反过来将指导分子和分子电子器件的设计。这项拟议的研究牢牢建立在已经证明的参与PI的专业知识和优势的基础上。他们的努力协同作用有望导致对分子磁性团簇的电子和磁性的基本了解，这反过来可能导致在新型分子电子和磁性器件方面的应用。拟议的合成和表征工作之间的合作将提供关于新分子磁性团簇的电子和磁性的详细实验信息，然后这些信息可以反馈到团簇合成工作中，以设计所需的特征。此外，理论和实验之间的相互作用将有助于对这些团簇中电子和自旋运动的基本理解，从而有助于设计具有新性质和新功能的团簇。PI预计，合成、表征、器件制造和理论计算之间的协同将最终为使用有序无机簇阵列的单团簇存储器件和自旋电子器件的可行性提供重要的见解。拟议的研究工作将为哈佛和伯克利的学生提供强大的教育机会，使他们能够接触到包括合成、表征、器件制造和理论计算在内的广泛合作。哈佛、伯克利和IBM之间的合作还将提供一个独特的环境，在这个环境中，本科生、研究生和研究生可以参与纳米科学和技术领域的跨学科合作研究，同时还可以接触到世界级学术和工业研究机构的研究。如果没有这种合作，学生将无法获得这个独特的机会，这肯定会拓宽他们的视野，并有助于他们的职业决策。这个纳米级跨学科研究团队(NIRT)项目是由美国国家科学基金会电气和通信系统(ENG)、化学(MPS)、材料研究(MPS)和与工业的学术联系机会(ENG)部门共同资助的。

Park0210426This proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative, Program Solicitation NSF 01-157, in the NIRT category. The proposal focuses on a convergent multi-investigator experimental and theoretical program to investigate fundamental electronic and magnetic properties of molecular inorganic clusters and to explore their device applications. This proposal represents the synergistic collaboration between (i) the synthesis of novel inorganic clusters with diverse electronic and magnetic properties engineered via judicious control of synthetic parameters, (ii) the fabrication and characterization of prototype electronic devices built from individual clusters and low-dimensional cluster arrays, (iii) the electronic and magnetic characterization of cluster arrays using state-of-the-art measurements, and finally (iv) the development of detailed understanding of cluster properties using high-level theoretical calculations, which will, in turn, guide the design of molecules and molecular electronic devices. The proposed research is firmly grounded upon the expertise and strengths of participating PIs that have already been demonstrated.The synergy between their efforts is expected to result in a fundamental understanding of the electronic and magnetic properties of molecular magnetic clusters, which, in turn, may lead to the applications toward novel molecular electronic and magnetic devices. The proposed collaboration between synthesis and characterization efforts will provide detailed experimental information on the electronic and magnetic properties of new molecular magnetic clusters, which can then be fed back into the cluster synthesis efforts to engineer desired characteristics. Moreover, the interplay between theory and experiment will allow for the development of a fundamental understanding of electron and spin motion in these clusters and will therefore aid the design of clusters with novel properties and devices with new functionalities. The PI's expect that a synergy between synthesis, characterization, device fabrication, and theoretical calculations will ultimately provide important insight into the viability of single-cluster memory devices and spin-electronic (spintronic) devices using ordered inorganic cluster arrays.The proposed research effort will provide powerful educational opportunities for students at Harvard and Berkeley by exposing them to a broad collaboration that encompasses synthesis, characterization, device fabrication, as well as theoretical calculations. The collaboration between Harvard, Berkeley, and IBM will also provide a unique setting in which undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students can participate in a collaborative interdisciplinary research effort in nanoscience and technology, while also being exposed to research at world-class academic and industrial research institutions. This unique opportunity, which won't be available to students without this collaboration, will surely broaden their vista and be of aid in their career decisions.This Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT) project is co-funded by the National Science Foundation Divisions of Electrical and Communications Systems (ENG), Chemistry (MPS), Materials Research (MPS), and Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (ENG).