Next-Generation Materials for Plasmonics and Spintronics

摘要：犹他大学材料研究与创新卓越中心（Utah CEMRI*）的使命是促进新材料的跨学科基础研究，发展潜在的理论和实验科学，培养下一代科学家，在全国青年中培养对科学、数学和工程的好奇心和激情。将知识传播到我们社会的最广泛领域，并奠定下一代科学技术的基础，这将彻底改变社会。这将通过一系列研究、教育和推广项目来实现。犹他CEMRI包括两个跨学科研究小组（IRG），即从太赫兹到紫外线的等离子体超材料（IRG 1）和有机自旋电子学（IRG 2）。IRG 1将专注于理解和利用人工结构材料（超材料）在广泛的电磁波谱范围内的表面等离子激元极化子的特性。IRG 1的目标包括在太赫兹光谱范围内创建新的光学工具、材料和器件架构，证明磁等离子体在改善有机半导体自旋注入方面的适用性，以及开发等离子体增强紫外共振光谱的能力。IRG 2将专注于理解和操纵几种不同的自旋相关有机器件的自旋激发，包括有机自旋阀、自旋有机发光二极管和用于太阳能收集的自旋增强有机光伏。利用基本的电学、光学和磁学研究，该小组的主要目标是加强对有机材料中自旋相互作用的基本理解，包括超精细、自旋轨道和交换。这些研究将用于开发基于自旋的有机发光二极管，该二极管可用于磁存储器和显示器，以及具有提高太阳能转换效率的低成本有机光伏电池。种子项目将通过竞争性同行评审程序获得资助，目标是带领中心进入新兴的变革性研究领域，并为新的未来IRG奠定基础。所有研究项目将在竞争的基础上定期进行审查，以保持高水平的科学卓越性、合作和生产力。为了扩大研究范围，拓宽研究生和博士后的研究视角，犹他州CEMRI成员将积极参与与美国和国外的大学，工业和国家实验室的实质性合作。研究成果将发表在高质量、高影响力的期刊上。犹他州CEMRI的一个重要作用是扩大对研究工作的参与。这包括积极努力增加学生、博士后和教职员工的多样性，增加代表性不足群体成员的参与。犹他州CEMRI将通过所有中心成员的积极参与，实施旨在影响K-12学生、教师（RET）、本科生（REU）、代表性不足的群体和广泛的社会阶层的教育和外展活动。这些活动包括一年一度的科学奥林匹克竞赛、面向高中生的探索工程项目、面向K-12学生的伙伴学校项目、面向女高中生的Hi-GEAR（实现女孩工程能力）夏令营、鼓励女性追求科学的ACCESS项目，以及REU和RET项目。所有主要的多元化、教育和推广项目都将定期评估，以确保其有效性和影响。* NSF材料研究科学与工程中心（MRSEC）

Abstract:The mission of the University of Utah's Center of Excellence for Materials Research and Innovation (Utah CEMRI*) on Next Generation Materials for Plasmonics and Organic Spintronics is to foster interdisciplinary basic research on new materials, develop the underlying theoretical and experimental science, train the next generation of scientists, create curiosity and excitement in Science, Math, and Engineering among the nation's youth, transmit the knowledge to the broadest possible segments of our society, and lay the foundation of the next generation science and technology that will revolutionize society. This will be accomplished through a number of research, educational and outreach programs. The Utah CEMRI includes two interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs), namely Plasmonic Metamaterials from the Terahertz to the Ultraviolet (IRG 1), and Organic Spintronics (IRG 2). IRG 1 will focus on understanding and exploiting the properties of surface plasmon polaritons in artificially structured materials (metamaterials) across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The goals of IRG 1 include creatingnew optical tools, materials and device architectures in the THz spectral range, demonstrating the applicability of magneto-plasmons to improve spin injection into organic semiconductors and developing capabilities for plasmon-enhanced UV resonant optical spectroscopies. IRG 2 will focus on understanding and manipulating spin excitations in several different spin-related organic devices, including organic spin-valves, spin-organic light emitting diodes, and spin-enhanced organic photovoltaics for solar energy harvesting. Using fundamental electrical, optical and magnetic studies, the primary goal of this group is to enhance basic understanding of spin interactions in organic materials, including hyperfine, spin-orbit and exchange. These studies will be used to develop spin-based organic light emitting diodes, which have applications in magnetic memory and displays, and low-cost organic photovoltaic cells with enhanced conversion efficiency for solar energy. Seed projects will be funded through a competitive peer review process with a goal of leading the Center into emerging transformative research areas and forming the basis of a new future IRG. All research projects will be regularly reviewed on a competitive basis to maintain high levels of scientific excellence, collaboration and productivity. In order to expand the scope of research and broaden the research perspectives of graduate students and post-docs, Utah CEMRI members will actively engage in substantive collaborations with universities, industry and national labs in the US and abroad. The results of research will be published in high quality, high impact refereed journals. An important role of the Utah CEMRI is to broaden participation in the research endeavor. This involves actively working to increase the diversity among students, post-docs and faculty members, with increased participation from members of under-represented groups. The Utah CEMRI will implement educational and outreach activities designed to impact K-12 students, teachers (RET), undergraduate students (REU), underrepresented groups, and broad segments of society through active participation of all center members. These activities include an annual Science Olympiad, Discover Engineering program for high school students, Partner School Program for K-12 students, Hi-GEAR (Girls Engineering Abilities Realized) summer camp for female high school students, ACCESS program to encourage women to pursue Science, and REU and RET programs. All major diversity, education, and outreach programs will be regularly assessed to ensure their efficacy and impact.*An NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)