Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

Nontechnical Description: The Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials: an NSF MRSEC brings together researchers from across science and engineering to create materials with new atomic-scale structures and functionalities, and to develop approaches for actively controlling and reconfiguring materials in real time. These materials will enable the development of new and improved technologies in areas such as sustainable energy, quantum information processing, bioinspired systems, and semiconductors for telecommunications, computing, and sensing. The Center consists of two Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs). IRG 1 focuses on the design and creation of soft materials, based on nanoparticle and biopolymer networks, whose structure and functionality can be actively controlled by the introduction of chemical fuels or other forms of energy. These new, highly adaptive materials will have the potential to be used in applications ranging from optical coatings for temperature control to artificial cellular materials. IRG 2 addresses new properties and functions enabled by the engineering of structure and symmetry in atomically thin and molecular materials. Such materials will offer compelling opportunities to develop new capabilities for electronics, photonics, and quantum devices and systems. These research activities are closely integrated with initiatives in education and outreach. The Center engages elementary school teachers in materials research to improve teacher efficacy and student engagement with science at a formative age and thereby increase the number of students interested in science, engineering, and related fields. A materials podcast, community college and Hispanic-serving institution partnerships, and mentoring programs engage diverse populations and foster broad participation and success in materials-related education and careers. Technical Description: IRG 1, Fuel-Driven Pluripotent Materials, focuses on materials whose morphology and functionality can be actively controlled via the introduction of chemical fuels or optical energy. Inspired by stem cells that can differentiate to take on distinct structures and functions, IRG 1 will design and synthesize materials whose polymorphic, highly non-equilibrium structures are accessed by kinetically controlled fueling processes proceeding along designed, out-of-equilibrium pathways. IRG 2, Engineered Functionality in Atomically Thin Heterostructures, exploits solid-state, crystalline material heterostructures created by stacking layers of atomically thin or molecular materials with precisely controlled rotational alignments to realize new properties and functionalities based on topology, correlations, and light-matter coupling in materials. Shared facilities for optical characterization of materials will serve MRSEC researchers and the broader materials community. The Center’s research advances are expected to enable new adaptive materials with optical, rheological, and contractile properties not found in nature for energy efficiency, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology, and transformative discoveries in solid-state materials, electronics, and photonics that will impact Industries of Tomorrow including quantum information science, telecommunications, and future semiconductors. 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.