CAREER: Leveraging Defects & Disorder for Fast Ion Conduction

非技术描述：重大的技术进步有赖于创造具有前所未有的功能的新材料或改进现有材料以获得更好的性能。该项目旨在通过了解缺陷的影响，为设计和发现功能材料铺平一条超越当前技术水平的新途径。材料中的缺陷是对原子排列周期性秩序的破坏，是一把双刃剑。一方面，缺陷对材料的许多关键性能是至关重要的，例如，高能量和高功率密度的储能所必需的快速离子传导，另一方面，它们可能导致材料性能失效，如电池短路、不稳定或短寿命。从这项研究活动中获得的新知识填补了对缺陷化学的基本了解的空白，能够控制在技术上重要的材料中产生功能缺陷，并允许将有害缺陷降至最低，从而改善材料的性能。这些成果推动了能量转换和存储、数据处理、传感器和执行器等技术的进步。在这个项目中培训的学生通常会在国家实验室找到工作，从事化学和材料科学的研发，或者是能够实现新技术的高科技行业--这两条道路都可以提高国家竞争力。技术细节：由于缺乏对结构缺陷(包括其性质和功能)的了解，限制了正确利用缺陷来提高材料性能或将性能故障降至最低。该项目旨在通过表征、理解和预测不同时间和长度尺度上的缺陷，实现功能材料中可控的缺陷产生，从而提供新的性能或显著提高材料性能。这项研究结合了理论研究和先进的表征(核磁共振光谱和成像以及高分辨率电子显微镜)来研究3D固体离子导体中缺陷的形成、演化及其对离子传导和材料稳定性的影响。所获得的见解将改变材料设计，并导致更有效的材料发现，以促进能源储存技术的进步。大学生(本科生和研究生)接受第一原理计算、材料信息学方法、高级材料合成和/或表征方面的培训。与一家历史上的黑人机构合作建立了一个材料化学研讨会项目，以招收少数民族学生。FSU的高中实习和中学指导计划被用来吸引K-12学生参与科学研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Significant technological advancement relies on creating new materials with unprecedented functions or improving existing materials for superior performance. This project aims to pave a new path beyond the current state of the art for designing and discovering functional materials by understanding the impacts of defects. Defects in materials are disruptions to the periodic order of atom arrangements and serve as a double-edged sword. On one hand, defects are critical to delivering many key properties of materials, for instance, fast ion conduction necessary for energy storage with high-energy and high-power densities, and on the other hand, they can lead to materials performance failure such as short-circuit in batteries, instability, or short lifetime. The new knowledge gained from this research activity fills the gap in fundamental understanding of defect chemistry, enables controlled creation of functional defects in technologically important materials, and allows minimization of detrimental defects for improved materials performance. The outcomes advance technologies such as energy conversion and storage, data manipulation, sensors, and actuators. Students trained within this project will typically find employment in national laboratories engaged in R&D of chemical and materials science, or high-tech industries that enable novel technologies - both pathways can enhance national competitiveness. TECHNICAL DETAILS: The lack in understanding structural defects, including their nature and function, has limited the proper employment of defects to enhance materials performance or to minimize performance failures. This project aims to achieve controlled defect creation in functional materials in order to deliver new properties or significantly enhance materials performance by characterizing, understanding, and predicting defects at different time and length scales. This research combines theoretical investigation and advanced characterization (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) to examine defect formation, evolution, and their impacts on ion conduction and materials stability in 3D solid ion conductors. The insights gained will transform materials design and lead to more efficient materials discovery for technological advancement in energy storage. University students (at both the undergraduate and graduate levels) are trained in first principles calculations, materials informatics approaches, advanced materials synthesis and/or characterization. A materials chemistry seminar program in partnership with a historically black institution is established to recruit minority students. High-school internship and middle school mentorship programs at FSU are leveraged to engage K-12 students in scientific research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.