Title: Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

Program Name: MATERIALS RSCH SCI & ENG CENT

Recipient: Northwestern University     PI Name: Mark C Hersam     Total Funding: $8,700,000.00

Award Notice Date: 6/26/2023     Start Date: 9/1/2023     End Date: 8/31/2029

Abstract: Nontechnical Description: The Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (NU-MRSEC) advances world-class materials research, education, and outreach via active interdisciplinary collaborations within the Center and with external partners in academia, industry, national laboratories, and museums, both domestically and abroad. The intellectual merit of the NU-MRSEC resides primarily within its interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) and seed-funded projects that explore the frontiers of materials research. IRG-1 entitled “Bioprogrammable Materials via Cell-Free Synthetic Biology” develops soft composite materials that incorporate biological machinery in a cell-free platform, thus removing the nourishment and care demands of living tissue. In this manner, the functionality of living biological systems are achieved in an autonomous material with direct implications for sustainable agriculture, water treatment, smart clothing, and wound healing. IRG-2 entitled “Orchestrated Iontronics via Dynamic Hybrid Ionic/Electronic Conductors” designs materials that concurrently conduct ions and electrons, behaving in a manner that mimics biological neurons. These hybrid ionic/electronic conductors thus enable brain-inspired computation that is accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and bioelectronics. By incorporating these research advances into innovative pedagogy, the NU-MRSEC achieves broad impact through professional development of graduate students and postdocs, research experiences for undergraduates and teachers, and outreach to K-12 students and the general public. These activities are enhanced by partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago Public Schools, and Chicago City Colleges. Technical Description: The Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (NU-MRSEC) integrates materials research, education, and outreach through two interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) and with external partners in academia, industry, national laboratories, and museums, both domestically and abroad. IRG-1 entitled “Bioprogrammable Materials via Cell-Free Synthetic Biology” develops soft active materials that incorporate biological machinery into artificial cells that eliminate the need for, and constraints of, living cells. These bioprogrammable materials possess autonomous properties such as self-healing, on-demand cargo release, dynamic mechanical property modulation, biomineralization, and shape-morphing. By achieving the adaptive multi-functionality of biological systems in a cell-free synthetic material, IRG-1 accelerates advances in sustainable agriculture, soft robotics, water treatment, smart clothing, and wound healing. IRG-2 entitled “Orchestrated Iontronics via Dynamic Hybrid Ionic/Electronic Conductors” designs materials with mixed ionic and electronic transport phenomena that realize neuromorphic functionality for efficiently implementing artificial intelligence. By understanding and controlling the interplay between organic materials and inorganic layered materials, IRG-2 achieves synergistic iontronic attributes including multi-timescale synaptic potentiation and plasticity, non-linear responses that emulate neuronal spiking, and stimuli-induced structure modulation to provide sensory transduction, selectivity, and adaptation. The research of the NU-MRSEC informs a comprehensive set of education and outreach activities that are not only designed for specific cohorts (general public, K-12, undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs) but also bridge programs that shepherd students along the development pathway, thereby increasing the number and diversity of participants at all levels. These efforts are augmented by corporate partnerships and startup companies, extensive shared facilities, and regular interactions with Argonne National Laboratory, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago Public Schools, and Chicago City Colleges. 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.

For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2308691

Title: Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Program Name: Graduate Research Fellowship

Recipient: Northwestern University     PI Name: Gayle E Woloschak     Total Funding: $28,092,672.00

Award Notice Date: 8/17/2022     Start Date: 9/1/2022     End Date: 8/31/2027

Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a highly competitive, federal fellowship program. GRFP helps ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of financial support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM and STEM education. This award supports the NSF Graduate Fellows pursuing graduate education at this GRFP institution. 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.

For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2234667

Title: MRI: Acquisition of a NanoRaman Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) System for Multi-Property Measurements in Electronic and Other Materials

Program Name: Major Research Instrumentation

Recipient: Northwestern University     PI Name: Oluwaseyi Balogun     Total Funding: $455,000.00

Award Notice Date: 8/18/2021     Start Date: 9/1/2021     End Date: 8/31/2023

Abstract: Non-Technical Description: This major research instrumentation award supports the acquisition of a NanoRaman AFM (atomic force microscopy) system at Northwestern University (NU). The instrument integrates scanning probe microscopy (SPM) for measurements of nanoscale material properties (topography, friction, surface potential, electrical and thermal conductivity, etc.) with optical spectroscopy tools including confocal Raman, tip-enhanced Raman (TERS), and photoluminescence (TEPL) spectroscopy. The instrument enables correlated multi-property measurements of structural, physical, and chemical properties of nanoscale materials by researchers from broad backgrounds at NU including, Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, and Earth and Planetary Sciences, and users outside of NU. The instrument facilitates the discovery of new electronic materials and the development of novel devices that range from transistors, photodetectors to advanced brain-inspired computing technologies. In addition, the instrument is integrated into existing graduate and undergraduate curricula at NU to facilitate hands-on experimentation of the multi-physics of nanoscale materials. The instrument also provides opportunities for educating the next generation of nano-scientists and engineers and diversifying the Nation's STEM workforce through multidisciplinary training for underrepresented students at grade school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Technical Description: The NanoRaman AFM system offers a versatile platform for correlated multi-property measurements with 10 nm lateral spatial resolution and high measurement precision. The instrument facilitates integrating multi-dimensional electronic materials to leverage interfaces and defects to enable novel electronic, optoelectronic, and thermoelectric phenomena. Through SPM, TERS, TEPL, and second harmonic generation measurements, the instrument allows studies of thermal, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties in mixed-dimensional heterostructures and how defects can control these properties. Specifically, researchers use the instrument to characterize carrier concentration and band-edge energy modulation in low-dimensional ferroelectrics with polarizable nanoscale domains, heat dissipation across individual grain boundaries and defects in 2D semiconducting crystals, excitonic and nonlinear optical properties emissions in 2D van der Waals crystals coupled to plasmonic lattices, and local studies of photophysical phenomena in perovskite compounds that impact the performance of electronic devices. In addition, this instrument facilitates measurements outside the scope of electronic materials. Scientists study, for example, soil and sedimentary organics at microscale and nanoscale interfaces for carbon sequestration applications, tunable metal-organic frameworks for chemical sensing, and nanoscale composite materials for enhanced performance of construction materials. 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.

For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2117727

Title: NNCI: Soft Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource

Program Name: NQNI-Natl Qutum&Nanotech Infra

Recipient: Northwestern University     PI Name: Vinayak P Dravid     Total Funding: $5,500,000.00

Award Notice Date: 8/19/2020     Start Date: 9/1/2020     End Date: 8/31/2025

Abstract: Non-Technical Description: The Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource NNCI site is the Northwestern University (NU) led collaborative venture with the Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility (PNF) of the University of Chicago (UC). SHyNE builds on each institution's long history of transforming the frontiers of science and engineering. Soft nanostructures are typically polymeric, biological, and fluidic, while hybrid represents systems comprising structures and hybrid materials comprising soft-hard interfaces. SHyNE facilities provides broad access to an extensive fabrication, characterization, and computational infrastructure with a multi-faceted and interdisciplinary approach for transformative science and enabling technologies. SHyNE provides specialized capabilities for soft materials and soft-hard hybrid nano-systems. SHyNE enhances regional capabilities by providing users with on-site and remote open-access to state-of-the-art laboratories and world-class technical expertise to help solve the challenging problems in nanotechnology research and development. SHyNE covers non-traditional industries: agricultural, biomedical, chemical, food, geological and environmental, among others. A critical component of the SHyNE mission is scholarly outreach through secondary and post-secondary research experience and integration with course/curricula as well as societal and public outreach through a novel nano-journalism project in collaboration with the Medill School of Journalism. SHyNE promotes and facilitates active participation of underrepresented groups, including women and minorities, in sciences and utilizes Chicago's public museums for broader community outreach. SHyNE leverages an exceptional depth of intellectual, academic, and facilities resources to provide critical infrastructure in support of research, application development, and problem-solving in nanoscience and nanotechnology and integrates this transformative approach into the societal fabric of Chicago and the greater Midwest. Technical Description: SHyNE is a solution-centric, open-access collaborative initiative with strong ties with Northwestern University's International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN), in partnership with University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. SHyNE open-access user facilities bring together broad experience and capabilities in traditional soft nanomaterials such as biological, polymeric or fluidic systems and hybrid systems combining soft/hard materials and interfaces. Collectively, soft and hybrid nanostructures represent remarkable scientific and technological opportunities. However, given the sub-100nm length-scale and related complexities, advanced facilities are needed to harness their full potential. Such facilities require capabilities to pattern soft/hybrid nanostructures across large areas and tools/techniques to characterize them in their pristine states. These divergent yet integrated needs are met by SHyNE, as it coordinates Northwestern's extensive cryo-bio, characterization and soft-nanopatterning capabilities with the state-of-the-art cleanroom fabrication and expertise also at UC's Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility (PNF). SHyNE addresses emerging needs in synthesis/assembly of soft/biological structures and integration of classical clean-room capabilities with soft-biological structures, providing expertise and instrumentation related to the synthesis, purification, and characterization of peptides and peptide-based materials. SHyNE coordinates with Argonne National Lab facilities and leverages existing super-computing and engineering expertise under Center for Hierarchical Materials Design (CHiMaD) and Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII), respectively. An extensive array of innovative educational, industry and societal outreach, such as nano-journalism, industry-focused workshops/symposia and collaborations with Chicago area museums, provide for an integrated and comprehensive coverage of modern infrastructure for soft/hybrid systems for the next generation researchers and the broader society. 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.

For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2025633