International Institute for Multifunctional Materials for Energy Conversion (IIMEC)

该奖项与佐治亚理工学院、休斯顿大学以及北非(摩洛哥、阿尔及利亚、突尼斯、埃及)、中东(沙特阿拉伯、卡塔尔、科威特)和地中海国家(土耳其、塞浦路斯、希腊、法国)大学的国际合作伙伴合作，在得克萨斯工程实验站建立了用于能源转换的多功能材料国际材料研究所(IIMEC)。IIMEC的国际合作建立在以下联系的基础上：2003年在卡塔尔开设的德克萨斯农工大学分校，由阿卜杜拉国王科技大学资助的沙特阿拉伯新成立的应用数学和计算科学研究所，法国洛林的佐治亚理工学院校区，以及休斯顿大学和突尼斯之间的交流项目。研究的重点是计算模型和实验，以研究多种功能的交叉耦合，例如，形状记忆合金和聚合物中的热、磁和机械耦合；电活性聚合物、陶瓷和复合材料中的电和机械性能的耦合；光伏、热电和燃料电池应用中的热/光和电耦合。IIMEC将建立一个高性能的计算基础设施和高速通信协议，以促进其伙伴之间在多功能材料方面的研究和教育合作，同时扩大全球网络。该研究所为本科生、研究生以及初级和成熟的科学家提供参与国际研究的机会，合作伙伴之间的交流访问，促进新的合作和成员的种子计划，以及合作国际机构之间远程使用的仪器开发。研究所的管理领导由其董事和执行委员会提供，并由咨询委员会和国际领导小组提供指导。该奖项由数学和物理科学局的材料研究部和国际科学和工程办公室的非洲、近东和南亚小组共同资助。

This award establishes an International Materials Institute for Multifunctional Materials for Energy Conversion (IIMEC) at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station in partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Houston and international collaborations at universities in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt), the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait) and Mediterranean countries (Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, France). The international collaborations of IIMEC builds on connections facilitated by a Texas A&M branch campus in Qatar opened in 2003, a newly established Institute for Applied Mathematics and Computational Science in Saudi Arabia funded by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Georgia Tech campus in Lorraine, France and an exchange program between University of Houston and Tunisia. The research thrust is on computational modeling and experiments to study the cross-coupling of multiple functionalities, for example, thermal,/magnetic and mechanical coupling in shape memory alloys and polymers; coupling of electrical and mechanical properties in electroactive polymers, ceramics and composite materials; thermal/optical and electrical coupling for photovolatics, thermoelectrics, and fuel cell applications. IIMEC would establish a high performance computational infrastructure and high speed communications protocols to facilitate research and educational collaboration on multifunctional materials among its partners while expanding the global network. The Institute offers opportunities for undergraduate, graduate students as well as junior and established scientists to engage in international research, exchange visits among partners, seed programs to promote new collaborations and members, and instrumentation development for remote use among partnering international institutions. The Institute's management leadership is provided by its Directors and an Executive Committee, with guidance from an Advisory Board and an International Leadership Team. This award is jointly funded by the Division of Materials Research in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate and the Africa, Near East & South Asia group of the Office of the International Science and Engineering.