REU Site: The Chemistry of Energy Research at Penn State University

该奖项由宾夕法尼亚州立大学化学系（CHE）颁发，支持由Mary Beth Williams和Zuleika Medina Torres领导的本科生研究经验（REU）项目，从2010年开始为期三个夏天。该网站每年夏天将为9名学生提供为期10周的培训。研究项目侧重于对能源和可持续性有影响的领域的化学研究。样品项目包括：(1)Ru配合物的合成与光致电子转移与催化研究；(2)研究简单化学物质与二氧化碳反应制备用于人工光合作用的非天然氨基酸；(3)用于光催化和光电化学的纳米级整流结研究；(4)用于光催化材料的新型金属氮化氧半导体的低温化学合成；(5)室温离子液体的输运和电荷转移研究；(6)更高效的量子点太阳能电池的合成；(7)聚合物纳米结构的制备；(8)设计和合成用于能源应用的聚合物。除了在夏季进行研究外，参加该计划的学生还将参加一些专业发展活动。学生将从全国各地的大量机构招募，包括一些少数民族学校。作为培训的一部分，年轻科学家需要接触现代研究方法和工具。这个REU网站旨在为大量可能没有这个机会的学生提供化学科学方面的前沿研究培训。这些研究项目涉及的化学领域将对能源和可持续性领域产生影响。在这里参与研究的不同学生群体将为读研做好充分准备，并最终成为该国技术劳动力的一部分。

This award from the Division of Chemistry (CHE) supports a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site led by Mary Beth Williams and Zuleika Medina Torres at Pennsylvania State University for three summers, commencing in 2010. The site will support nine students per summer in a ten week program. The research projects focus on chemical research in areas with an impact on energy and sustainability. Sample projects include: (1) the synthesis and study of Ru complexes for photoinduced electron transfer and catalysis; (2) the study of the reactions of simple chemicals and carbon dioxide to prepare unnatural amino acids for use in artificial photosynthesis; (3) the study of nanoscale rectifying junctions for photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry; (4) the low-temperature chemical synthesis of new kinds of metal oxynitride semiconductors for use as photocatalytic materials ; (5) the study of transport and charge transfer in room temperature ionic liquids; (6) the synthesis of more efficient quantum dot solar cells; (7) the fabrication of polymer nanostructures; and (8) the design and synthesis of polymers for energy applications. In addition to conducting research during the summer, the students participating in this program will participate in a number of professional development activities. Students will be recruited from a large number of institutions across the country, including a number of schools that are minority-serving.Young scientists need exposure to modern research methods and tools as part of their training. This REU site aims to provide cutting-edge research training in the chemical sciences to a significant number of students who might not otherwise have this opportunity. The research projects are in areas of chemistry that will have an impact in the areas of energy and sustainability. The diverse student cohort participating in research at this site will be well-prepared for graduate school, and eventual employment as part of the country's technical workforce.