Collaborative Research: Combinatorial solution processing of optical phase change materials

合作研究：光学相变材料的组合溶液加工

• 批准号: 2225968
• 负责人: Juejun Hu
• 金额: $ 32万
• 依托单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2225968&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Combinatorial; solution; processing

Non-technical summaryPhase change materials (PCMs) are a class of compounds whose optical properties undergo dramatic changes upon micro-structural transformation. This unique property allows novel PCM-based reconfigurable or programmable optical systems to be created. Unlike conventional optics whose characteristics are fixed, the functions of such programmable optics can be dynamically configured on-the-fly to adapt to changing application needs. This project, supported by the Ceramics program in the Division of Materials Research, pioneers a transformative synthesis paradigm for expedited discovery of PCM alloys, specifically tailored for optical applications. Instead of relying on traditional costly vacuum systems to prepare PCMs, the program explores solution-based printing – similar to color printing of photos – as a scalable synthetic route of PCMs. The researchers also develop new methods to enable high-throughput screening and down-selection of PCMs to achieve material properties optimized for specific optical applications. Fundamental insights gained from this research have broad impacts on applications spanning energy-efficient data communications, active metamaterial, photonic memory, reflective display, analog optical computing, and beyond. In addition, the project also enables research opportunities for undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Furthermore, the researchers develop a massive open online course (MOOC) dedicated to glass materials, thereby filling a critical gap when it comes to glass science education.Technical summaryPhase change materials (PCMs) are a class of compounds whose optical properties undergo dramatic changes upon micro-structural transformation. Discovery of new optical PCMs and characterization of their structural, optical, and phase transition properties, however, are increasingly becoming the bottleneck given the low throughput of traditional PCM synthesis and inability to reliably measure their properties in operando. With this project, supported by the Ceramics program in the Division of Materials Research, researchers at the University of Central Florida and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology develop a transformative synthesis and characterization paradigm for high-throughput discovery and characterization of multicomponent PCM alloys, specifically tailored for optical applications. Rather than relying on vacuum deposition, they harness combinatorial printing of PCM solutions to facilitate high-throughput, scalable synthesis of PCMs with custom chemistries and even complex multilayer structures. The PCMs are printed on integrated micro-heater arrays as a multifunctional characterization platform. It facilitates systematic investigation on the impact of post-deposition annealing and operando characterization of two critical attributes traditionally challenging to assess: temperature-dependent phase transition kinetics, and optical constants of thin film PCMs. Further coupled with a cohort of other characterization techniques commensurate with high-throughput screening, combinatorial solution processing presents a facile route for expedited discovery of new optical PCMs with broad impacts on energy-efficient data communications, active metamaterial, photonic memory, reflective display, analog optical computing, and beyond.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.

非技术摘要相变材料 (PCM) 是一类化合物，其光学特性在微观结构转变时会发生巨大变化，与特性固定的传统光学系统不同，这种独特的特性允许创建基于 PCM 的新型可重构或可编程光学系统。 ，这种可编程光学器件的功能可以动态配置，以适应不断变化的应用需求。该项目得到了材料研究部陶瓷项目的支持，开创了一种变革性的合成范例。研究人员还加快了专为光学应用定制的 PCM 合金的发现，而不是依赖传统的昂贵的真空系统来制备 PCM，而是探索基于溶液的打印（类似于照片的彩色打印）作为 PCM 的可扩展合成路线。开发新方法来实现 PCM 的高通量筛选和降选，以实现针对特定光学应用优化的材料特性。从这项研究中获得的基本见解对节能数据通信、有源超材料、光子等领域的应用产生了广泛的影响。此外，该项目还为中佛罗里达大学和麻省理工学院的本科生提供了研究机会。此外，研究人员还开发了大规模开放在线课程（MOOC）。致力于玻璃材料，从而填补了玻璃科学教育的关键空白。技术摘要相变材料（PCM）是一类化合物，其光学性质在新型光学相变材料的发现和表征时发生巨大变化。它们的结构、光学和相位然而，由于传统 PCM 合成的通量低且无法可靠地测量其性能，因此在中央大学研究人员材料研究部陶瓷项目的支持下，过渡性能正日益成为瓶颈。佛罗里达州和麻省理工学院开发了一种变革性的合成和表征范式，用于高通量发现和表征多组分 PCM 合金，专门为光学应用量身定制，而不是依赖真空沉积，而是利用组合印刷。 PCM 解决方案可促进具有定制化学物质甚至复杂多层结构的 PCM 的高通量、可扩展合成。 PCM 被打印在集成微加热器阵列上，作为多功能表征平台，有助于系统研究沉积后退火和沉积的影响。传统上难以评估的两个关键属性的操作表征：薄膜 PCM 的温度相关相变动力学和光学常数，进一步与一系列其他表征技术相结合。通过高通量筛选，组合解决方案处理为快速发现新型光学 PCM 提供了一条简便途径，对节能数据通信、活性超材料、光子存储器、反射显示、模拟光学计算等产生广泛影响。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。