CAREER: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Lanthanide-Based Silicides and Germanides

本项目旨在了解复杂金属间化合物的组成、结构和电子结构之间的关系以及它们的性质。利用合理设计的合成，我们将寻求开发基于镧系元素和更重的碳类似物硅和锗的新型金属间化合物。这项研究将涉及对其中许多相的复杂晶体化学和可能的化学计量比宽度进行彻底和系统的结晶学研究(单晶和粉末X射线和/或中子衍射)。然后，所导出的原理将被应用于更复杂的三元相结构的合理化和相应的相平衡。这些研究的基本目标将是更好地了解结构关系以及它们对磁性和电子性质的影响。最终，从这些研究中获得的全面知识将被用作对新合成材料的感兴趣的性能进行合理调整的基础。预计这个项目将把P.I.S团队推向这项研究的前沿，并使首席研究员能够为快速发展的固态和材料化学领域做出重大贡献。%本提案中概述的努力主要旨在为系内、学院和特拉华大学内部的固态和材料化学教育和研究奠定基础和基础设施。拟议的研究是高度跨学科的，包括化学、物理和材料科学，并将为研究生和本科生提供出色的固态研究培训。将特别注意招收传统上任职人数不足的学生，并鼓励他们积极参与项目的发展和进步。这将使他们通过从事各种职业并积极为国家的科学进步做出贡献，在就业市场上更具竞争力。此外，提案中讨论的研究计划的成功结果预计将促进特拉华大学在固态化学领域的科学存在，并对校园内和部门间的合作产生直接的积极影响。

AbstractThis project aims to understand the relationships among the composition, structure, and electronic structure in complex intermetallic compounds and their properties. Using rationally designed syntheses, we will seek to develop new classes of intermetallic compounds that are based on the lanthanide elements and the heavier carbon analogues, Silicon and Germanium. This research will involve thorough and systematic crystallographic studies (single- crystal and powder X-ray and/or neutron diffraction) of the complicated crystal chemistry and the possible stoichiometry breadths of many of these phases. The derived principles will be then applied for rationalization of the structures of more complex ternary phases and the corresponding phase equilibria. The fundamental goal of these investigations will be gaining better understanding of the structural relations together with the effect they have on the magnetic and electronic properties. Ultimately, the comprehensive knowledge gained from these studies will be used as a foundation for the reasoned tuning of properties of interest of the newly synthesized materials. It is anticipated that this project will advance the P.I.'s group to the forefront of this research and will allow the principle investigator to make significant contributions to the fast growing field of solid-state and materials chemistry.%%%The efforts outlined in this proposal are broadly aimed at establishing the fundamentals and the infrastructure for solid-state and materials chemistry education and research within the Department, the College and the University of Delaware as a whole. The proposed studies are highly interdisciplinary, encompassing chemistry, physics, and materials science, and will give excellent training in solid-state research to graduate and undergraduate students. Special attention will be paid to recruiting students from traditionally under- represented backgrounds and encouraging their active participation in the project development and advancement. This will allow them to be more competitive on the job market by going on to various careers and actively contributing to the nation's scientific progress. Also, the successful outcome of the research program discussed in the proposal is anticipated to boost the scientific presence of the University of Delaware in the solid-state chemistry arena, and to have a direct positive impact on intra- and inter-departmental collaborations across campus.