Synthesis of Complex and Advanced Chalcogenide Materials

第一部分：非技术总结社会在许多层面上的持续进步有赖于新材料的稳定使用，这些材料能够实现新的功能或解决长期存在的问题和挑战。固态材料是我们现代社会所依赖的许多产品和工艺的基础。这个项目涉及更广泛的问题：我们如何发现和合成新的固态材料？它发展了合成的基础科学和原理，以及如何将它们用作设计和合成有用的新材料的工具。具体地说，该项目由材料研究部内的固态和材料化学计划支持，重点是开发金属硫化物的化学。硫化物是硫、硒和碲的化合物，它们在各种科学调查和技术中都很重要。该项目将硫化物材料发现作为一门科学，同时研究新材料的晶体结构、物理性质，包括离子交换、电荷传输和光响应。主要目标是了解如何控制导致固态硫化物的反应，从而避免已知材料和获得新材料。这项研究活动既增强了我们的科学理解，也挑战了我们的科学理解。它还将提高现有技术应用的有效性，并影响新的应用。可能的技术影响可能是通过新的半导体、具有高锂迁移率的材料、量子材料和用于环境修复的离子交换吸附材料。该项目为研究生和本科生提供了不同的机会，包括那些来自代表人数不足的群体的学生，学习批判性思维技能，这将有助于推动未来的科学研究。此外，该教育计划还包括向高中推广离子交换材料，并在YouTube上传播有关安全使用该项目中使用的先进合成方法的视频。第二部分：技术总结本项目将硫化物材料的发现作为一门科学，同时研究新材料的晶体结构、物理性质，包括离子交换、电荷传输和光响应。在促进对合成的基本了解，特别是使用助熔剂方法的总体主题范围内，项目研究：(A)了解复杂的含锂硫化物相的合成；(B)在硫化物中形成稳定的硼团簇作为构件；(C)了解导致低价金属次硫化物的合成路线；(D)离子交换器的合理设计。预期的好处是：i)对含锂硫化物相的反应性和稳定性有了广泛的新见解；ii)扩大了鲜为人知的以硼簇合物为基础的硫化物小类；iii)次硫化物中的新化学和成键及其对物理和化学性质的影响；以及iv)描述了金属硫化物离子交换器选择性结合重金属软金属离子所涉及的因素，并利用这些知识利用离子交换化学创造了新的组合物。这些材料可能产生的技术影响可能是用于辐射探测的新型半导体、具有高锂迁移率的材料、拓扑量子材料、开放框架系统以及用于环境修复的离子交换吸附材料。该项目由材料研究部内的固态和材料化学项目支持。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。

PART 1: NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe continued advancement of society on many levels relies on the steady use of new materials that can enable new functions or solve long-standing problems and challenges. Solid state materials underpin many products and processes on which our modern society depends. This project deals with the broader question: How do we discover and synthesize new solid state materials? It develops the fundamental science and principles of synthesis and how they can be used as tool to design and synthesize useful new materials. Specifically, the project, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program within the Division of Materials Research, focuses on developing the chemistry of metal chalcogenides. Chalcogenides are compounds of sulfur, selenium and tellurium and they are important in a broad variety of scientific investigations and technologies. The project pursues chalcogenide materials discovery as a science coupled with the study of crystal structure, physical properties including ion-exchange, charge transport and photo-response of the new materials. The primary goals are to learn how reactions leading to solid state chalcogenides can be controlled so known materials can be avoided and new materials can be accessed. This research activity enhances, as well as challenges, our scientific understanding. It will also enhance the effectiveness of existing technological applications and impact new applications. Possible technological impact could be via new semiconductors, materials with high Li mobility, quantum materials and ion-exchange sorbent materials for environmental remediation. The project provides diverse opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented groups, to learn critical thinking skills that will help advance future scientific research. Additionally, the educational program encompasses outreach to high schools on ion exchange materials and dissemination of YouTube videos on safe use of the advanced synthetic methods used in the project. PART 2: TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis project pursues chalcogenide materials discovery as a science coupled with the study of crystal structure, physical properties including ion-exchange, charge transport and photo-response of the new materials. Within an overarching theme of contributing to fundamental understanding of synthesis, particularly using flux-based methods, the project studies: (a) the understanding the synthesis of complex Li-containing chalcogenide phases; (b) the formation of stable boron clusters as building blocks in chalcogenides; (c) the understanding of the synthesis routes that lead to subchalcogenides with low-valent metals; (d) the rational design of ion-exchangers. The expected benefits are: i) broad new insights regarding the reactivity and stability of lithium-containing chalcogenide phases; ii), expansion of the small class of the little-known boron cluster-based chalcogenides; iii) new chemistry and bonding in subchalcogenides and their impact on physical and chemical properties, and iv) delineation of the factors involved in the selective binding of heavy soft metal ions by metal sulfides ion-exchangers and use of this knowledge to create novel compositions using ion-exchange chemistry. Possible technological impact of these materials could be new semiconductors for radiation detection, materials with high Li mobility, topological quantum materials, open framework systems, and ion-exchange sorbent materials for environmental remediation. This project is supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program within the Division of Materials 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.