CAREER: Optoelectronic Nanocomposites: Controlling the Properties of Bulk Ceramic Heterostructures using External Electric Fields.

非技术描述：使用透明材料弯曲(折射)光的能力在相机和望远镜等许多设备中都很熟悉和有用。一种称为电光材料的特殊材料的光折变特性可以通过电场来控制。由于电场相对容易产生和改变，电光材料使光路可以“在飞行中”改变。如果能够更快地实现电光响应或使用更小的场，电光材料可以找到许多新的应用。这个职业项目的目的是通过使用复合方法来扩大电光陶瓷的适用性。通常情况下，陶瓷复合材料是不透明的，但通过仔细控制其结构，可以生产出透光性能可以通过施加电场来控制的大型陶瓷材料。这些材料应该在数码相机等广泛的消费电子产品和高级应用中有用，特别是在激光领域。作为综合教育努力的一部分，这项研究将通过讲习班式的演示来激励年轻的科学家和工程师。光与材料的相互作用相对容易演示，使得这项研究对不同的学生群体来说变得生动起来。技术细节：折射率是最基本的光学特性之一？它控制光线被材质折射的程度。利用电场可以控制电光材料的折射率。具有高电光响应的材料已经可用，但通常所需的高场和/或慢开关时间使得它们无法用于许多应用。这个职业项目将从具有不同性质的氧化物中产生块状异质结构，以便在不影响大的电光效应的情况下，利用小的应用领域来控制光学性质。明智地使用氧化物混合物(复合材料)可以调整响应，生产更多用途的材料。其策略是在不损失纳米结构的情况下将氧化物纳米粉末加固成大尺寸纳米复合材料。这项研究将阐明的一些具体科学问题是：纳米结构长度尺度(晶粒度)和不同相(界面)对块状陶瓷的透明度和光电性能的作用。如果成功，这些材料将用于光束偏转和产生从消费电子产品到高功率激光的各种设备中的巨型光脉冲。此外，还有一个详细的计划，为以不同方式学习的学生开发工作坊式的演示。这些示威活动将在包括大学宿舍和高中教室在内的各种场所进行，以便接触到不同的学生群体。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The ability to bend (refract) light using transparent materials is familiar and useful in many devices such as cameras and telescopes. Light refraction properties of a special class of materials called electrooptic materials can be controlled using electric fields. Since electric fields are relatively easy to generate and change, electrooptic materials allow light paths to be changed 'on the fly'. Electrooptic materials could find a host of new applications if the electrooptic response could be attained faster or using smaller fields. The aim of this CAREER project is to extend the applicability of electrooptic ceramics by using a composite approach. Typically ceramic composites are opaque, but by carefully controlling their structure large ceramic materials whose light transmittance properties can be controlled by applying electric fields will be produced. These materials should be useful in a wide array of consumer electronics such as digital cameras and advanced applications especially in the laser field. As part of the integrated educational effort the research will be used to motivate young scientists and engineers through workshop-like demonstrations. Light interaction with materials is relatively easy to demonstrate allowing the research to be brought to life for diverse groups of students.TECHNICAL DETAILS: The refractive index is one of the most fundamental optical properties ? it controls the degree to which light is refracted by a material. The refractive index of electrooptic materials can be controlled using electric fields. Materials with high electrooptic response are already available, but often the high fields and/or slow switching times required make them prohibitive for many applications. This CAREER project will produce bulk heterostructures from oxides with different properties in order to control optical properties using small applied fields without compromising large electrooptic effects. Judicious use of oxide mixtures (composites) can tune response producing more versatile materials. The strategy is to consolidate oxide nanopowders into large sized nanocomposites without losing the nanostructure. Some of the specific scientific issues the research will elucidate are: the role of nanostructured length scales (grain sizes) and dissimilar phases (interfaces) on transparency and optoelectronic properties in bulk sized ceramics. If successful, these materials will be used for optical beam deflection and generation of giant optical pulses in devices ranging from consumer electronics to high powered lasers. In addition there is a detailed plan to develop workshop-like demonstrations for students who learn in different ways. These demonstrations will be conducted in various venues including university dormitories and high school classrooms in order to reach distinct student populations.