M. Stanley Whittingham - US grants

This grant will support research in the synthesis of new high temperature superconducting compounds. By identifying new classes of materials which exhibit this unusual behavior, the common features that are identified in the different materials may provide insight into the nature of the physical mechanism responsible for this phenomenon. This grant was selected from more than 260 proposals submitted in response to a solicitation for proposals in High Temperature Superconductivity in April, 1989. The research is supported by the Solid State Chemistry program with a significant contribution from the university.

A materials-oriented approach to chemistry is being developed through the preparation of "A Materials Chemistry Companion to General Chemistry", by an ad hoc committee of two dozen leading chemistry researchers and teachers. Consisting of text, problem sets, model kits, software, videotapes, demonstration and laboratory experiments, the "Companion" is scheduled for publication by the American Chemical Society in 1993. The "Companion" will demonstrate how virtually every topic typically covered in introductory chemistry courses can be illustrated with solids such as polymers, semiconductors, metals, superconductors, and ceramics. The project focuses both on innovation - the completion of material for the "Companion" - and on change - the implementation of a national strategy for assimilating materials chemistry into introductory chemistry courses. Strategies for effecting change include national testing of the "Companion" at over two dozen volunteering college test sites (more than 15,000 students); development of modules based on the "Companion" and their use in workshops for college and pre-college teachers; and critical evaluation of the instructional materials. The "Companion" and supporting activities will revitalize general chemistry courses, enhance the scientific literacy of students and teachers, and increase the number and diversity of high-quality students electing to pursue careers as chemists, chemistry teachers, scientists and engineers.

The goal of this project is to continue a seven-year old summer program in solid-state chemistry for undergraduate students and college faculty. The concepts and techniques of solid-state chemistry will be examined for integration with the well- established and full curriculum of chemistry based upon molecular concepts. Selected students and teachers will be offered opportunities to interact with solid-state chemists from industry and universities in a program of tutorials, site visits, and summer research. Participants will devote a nine-week period to research on individual projects. Results of these efforts will be presented by each participant in a final symposium.

Through the use of advanced technologies, a diverse faculty, and computer innovation, the institution will produce an inorganic laboratory that bridges the gap between molecular and materials sciences using techniques and methodologies which will prepare students with the tools necessary to succeed in industry and academia today. The central plan for this new laboratory is to have students model, prepare, and completely characterize a series of independent inorganic systems that range from simple molecules, such as ferrocene, to extended molecular structures and materials, such as zeolites. In each case the students will: 1) explore the reaction conditions and characteristics of target substances using advanced computer software, 2) apply their computer results in the preparation of these systems by modern synthetic methodologies, and 3) completely characterize these systems using advanced spectroscopic and analytical technologies. At the completion of each system, the students will assess the success of the initial modeling efforts on the final observed product and reaction conditions, and test any changes they may develop through additional computer analysis. Each system/experiment will be a self standing module that is readily transferrable to other universities. This new laboratory will act as a model which can and will be implemented at universities and colleges across the country both in the inorganic curriculum and, with suitable examples, other sub-disciplines as well.

This award from the Academic Research Infrastructure Program will help the Department of Chemistry at SUNY Binghamton acquire a time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer (TD-EPR). The research activity to be supported includes: (1) room- and low- temperature TD detection of short-lived excited states and electron transfer intermediates in surface photoelectrophotochemistry, (2) TD-EPR at low temperatures to detect paramagnetic photoexcited states of CH-bond activating carbonyl complexes and SS-EPR studies of Cubenzimidazole complexes in microelectronics, (3) SS-EPR of bis- ethylenedithiolotetrathiofulvalenes, etc. and varaible temperature TD-EPR of spin relaxation to characterize conductivity-relevant phenomena, (4) TD- and SS EPR of transition metal impregnation of solid-state materials for storage battery development, (5) EPR of carbenes in cyclodextrins and zeolites, (6) SS- and TD-EPR in solution and frozen solution of intermediates in tetraphenylborate photochemistry, (7) temperature dependence of TD-EPR T2's in spin probe models to characterize reactant molecular motion in zeolites, clays, porous silicas and carbonaceous materials, TD-EPR spin relaxation of natural free radicals in carbonaceous materials to characterize radical motions and interactions. An electron paramagnetic resonance (ER) spectrometer is an instrument used to obtain information about the molecular and electronic structure of molecules. It may also be used to obtain information about the lifetimes of free radicals which are often essential for the initiation of tumor growth and/or a variety of chemical reactions.

9422667 Whittingham Previous research by this investigator has established that new oxide intercalation hosts can be readily synthesized using hydrothermal techniques, and that changing the acidity or the cations present in the reaction medium dramatically determines the crystalline structure formed. By appropriate choice of reaction medium it is proposed to form new structures containing large tunnels or channels, similar to those found in aluminosilicate zeolites, that will offer unique properties for the materials chemistry. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated for tungsten and molybdenum oxides. Major emphasis in this project will be placed on vanadium and manganese oxides, and on a new titanium phosphate. Because enhanced diffusion in such materials are expected, the diffusion/ionic mobility will be determined. The host materials also will be characterized for their ability to be intercalated by a variety of guest ions and molecules, and their chemical and physical properties will be determined using x-ray, electrochemical, and electrical measurements and the standard analytical techniques. %%% Zeolitic microporous materials have frameworks containing mostly the redox inactive elements aluminum and silicon. From a chemical point of view it would be highly desirable to have a framework containing, or built from, redox active species such as transition metals. In addition, for many electrochemical applications it would be preferable to work with oxides rather than sulfides because of their greater ease of handling, lower cost and for energy storage their greater electrochemical potential. The goal of this project is to synthesize transition metal oxide materials with open structures, that might have some of the properties and applications of the aluminosilicate zeolitic materials, have novel applications and be potentially electrochemically active.

Whittingham The NSF award will provide support for renovation of the Materials Chemistry/Physics Facility in the Science II building at the State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton. Science II was constructed in 1967 and has not undergone any renovation since. Project funding will provide a substantial improvement for cross-disciplinary activities between chemistry and physics in the areas of materials chemistry and condensed matter physics. The effort will benefit 6 faculty members, 22 graduate students and approximately 14 undergraduate researchers. The NSF-funded project to renovate interior laboratories will complement institutional efforts for major mechanical and roofing improvements. Laboratories and instrumentation facilities are located on the ground floor of Science II, and renovation activities will include consolidation and reorganization of space, installation of fume hoods, addition of air conditioning units for individual temperature control, installation of a Helium liquefier, upgrades to the electrical system, installation of a delivery system for gaseous nitrogen, and installation of new laboratory casework. The project will substantially improve research facilities for Electronics Packaging and Materials Research which have been selected by the University as areas of programmatic emphasis. University identification of these priorities includes resource investment in faculty recruitment, seed funding for development of two organized research centers, and substantial start-up funds for conduct of research.*** Stevenson The NSF and the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) will jointly support the renovation of approximately 131 square research meters for the enhancement of laboratory facilities in systematic and economic botany. The impacted laboratories have not been renovated since their original construction in 1957. As a result, they are not configured, or mechanically served, for molecular plant systematics, and t hey do not meet modern health and safety standards. Faculty and graduate students have been unable to conduct on-site research and training and have had to travel to local affiliated laboratories and, on occasion, to laboratories located out of state. Renovations will include replacement of two antiquated fume hoods, installation of new electrical wiring with ground fault receptacles, upgrading of water delivery and drainage systems, installation of thermostatic controls, replacement of traps and valves on steam radiators, removal of unused steam lines, and refurbishment of laboratory cabinets, floors, walls, ceilings, and lab bench tops. The renovation of laboratories for use in molecular systematics will add new impetus to the research and research training program at NYBG and will directly benefit five research scientists, three post doctoral students, and fifteen graduate students in molecular biology. The molecular research program allows researchers to track the evolution of the same gene in species from widely different groups of organisms, which in turn provides new insight on plant evolutionary history. The Garden is also used by visiting scientists, many of whom travel from Latin America for study and has cooperative programs with three local universities.

DMR-9707358 Partial support is being provided for the symposium entitled European Gordon Research Conference on Solid State Chemistry to be held at Queens College, Oxford, England, September 20-25, 1997. It will bring together researchers with expertise in a broad range of topics considered to be at the forefront of global issues in solid state chemistry and materials. The support will be provided for the educational aspects of the conference, namely to provide money for a "scholarship" program to support 10 U.S. contributions from students, postdocs, and new faculty, and for registration and partial travel support for other U.S. participants of renown in the area of solid state chemistry and materials. The cost of U.S. participation in this international meeting is being cost shared by the Gordon Research Conference. %%% This is one of four major meetings on solid state chemistry occurring in 1996-1997 that will receive NSF support and which together will help to serve as an information base for the NSF Workshop on Solid State Chemistry to be held late in 1997. The purpose of this meeting is to bring together international researchers with expertise over a broad range of topical areas in solid state chemistry and materials to survey those considered to be of high priority by the international community. ***

INT-9911983
Whittingham
Description: This award is for the US-India Collaborative Research: Host-Guest Chemistry in Polyoxometalates (V and Mo): Synthesis, Structure, Electrochemical and Magnetic Properties. Collaborators Stanley Whittingham, State University of New York at Binghamton and Indian chemist Arunachalam Ramanan, Indian Institute of Technology will undertake research in solid state chemistry leading to an understanding of the parameters involved in hydrothermal synthesis of transition metal oxides and framework materials. Structure control is critical for an intelligent design of battery and sensor materials. The major emphasis of this project will be placed on vanadium and molybdenum oxides. These host materials will be characterized for their ability to be intercalated by a variety of guest ions and molecules, and their chemical and physical properties will be determined using x-ray, electrochemical, and magnetic/electrical measurements as well as the standard analytical techniques.
Scope: This collaboration adds an international component to research currently supported by the Division of Materials Research (DMR-9810198). Whittingham has made important contributions in the areas of hydrothermal synthesis, structural solid state chemistry, and battery materials; Ramanan has made major contributions in the areas of polyoxometalate chemistry, hydrothermal chemistry and chemistry involving intercalation compounds. The PIs have established a record of high quality joint research. This project will accelerate the research programs at both institutions and will impact graduate and undergraduate students. This research has high potential to impact the development of batteries and sensors.

This Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education (NUE) award, funded by the Division of Materials Research, supports Dr. Wayne Jones and Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham in Chemistry and Materials Science at the State University of New York at Binghamton to lead an interdisciplinary effort in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Materials Science and Engineering and create a series of on-line modules describing concepts and techniques related to nanotechnology. These course materials are introduced in a number of existing undergraduate courses in order to integrate nanotechnology concepts into the core discipline.

Advanced instrumentation is available to provide remote Internet access to characterization on the nanometer length scale for undergraduate students both on campus and across the country using Internet 2. The project includes a capstone experience for students interested in exploring nanotechnology in more depth. This two-credit University-wide course brings together students in their senior year to explore in more detail the science underlying nanotechnology.

This project targets the discovery and characterization of new transition metal oxides with open structures that are capable of acting as the host for guest-host reactions intercalation compounds. These oxides form intriguing structures, including nanoscrolls and nanourchins, that are able to intercalate a range of ions, including lithium and are therefore of interest for use in advance lithium batteries, and as sensors. The redox reactions that occur on intercalation modify not only the physical properties but may allow for the scrolling to occur reversibly and therefore act as nano-mechanical actuators. This project will train students in and use the most cutting-edge characterization techniques, not only at Binghamton where 15M$ of materials characterization is being installed this year, but also at the National Laboratories, including Brookhaven, Argonne and Oak Ridge. The students and postdoc on this project will not only move on to become scientific leaders themselves, but will help train the next generation of students by participating in undergraduate classes at SUNY-Binghamton in Chemistry and Materials Science from Introductory Chemistry through senior level courses in Nanoscience, Solid State Chemistry and Materials Analysis Techniques.

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This project targets the discovery and characterization of new materials that might find application for example as sensors or as components of advanced energy storage devices, that might power the next generation of electric vehicles. These materials form in different shapes, like urchins, and in different sizes ranging from a few millimeters to the nanosize. In the formation of these materials we mimic nature by using green approaches that lead to completely different materials. These materials are then characterized using National Laboratory Facilities; this not only gives us the best capabilities but also trains students in these advanced techniques thus providing the United States with the next-generation of leading-edge scientists. We also involve these graduate students in the education of undergraduates, ranging from first year Introductory Chemistry through advanced senior-level classes. Doing this we hope to not only attract more students into the sciences and engineering, but also lead to a more scientifically-literate population. The students trained using NSF funding have found positions in industry, national labs and in teaching positions in academia.

This International Symposium on the Reactivity of Solids will be held at the University of Minnesota in June 2007. The last meeting in the U.S. was in 1988 at Princeton, NJ. It was also supported by the National Science Foundation. The International Symposium on the Reactivity of Solids (ISRS) is an interdisciplinary professional group dedicated to the promotion of interdisciplinary research on materials properties and performance with a particular emphasis on how the reactivity effects the synthesis, properties and performance of the material. The symposium encourages interactions among researchers in universities, government laboratories, and industrial laboratories. It will bring together chemists, geologists, physicists and materials scientists to discuss the leading scientific issues relating to inorganic materials.

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A particular purpose of this proposal is to encourage the participation of underrepresented groups and junior scientists just beginning their careers, so that they can interact with the leaders in their field. The results of the meeting will be disseminated by publication in the Journal of Materials Science, thus reaching the largest possible audience.

Community college students face more barriers on their path to a STEM bachelor's degree than those entering college through a four-year school. To create a viable pathway to STEM degrees, and to ensure opportunities to students with significant financial need, this project will establish a partnership funded by an NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) Track 3 award centered at Binghamton University that provides a smooth and supported transition from community college through STEM baccalaureate degrees. The project will work with established, successful partnerships between Binghamton, CUNY Queensborough Community College, and the SUNY Broome Community College to increase retention, success, and graduation of students as they transition from Associate of Science (AS) to Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs. The project emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, using "Smart Energy" as an educational emphasis that is critical to the alternative energy future of the United States, and a disciplinary focus on degrees in chemistry, physics, and mechanical engineering. The project will offer 90 low-income, academically talented students four-year scholarships and aim for all students in the program to complete their BS degree. The project will recruit from proven networks for low-income, academically talented, and underrepresented students. Project features will include an early research experience, a 1-credit seminar, coordinated advising support between 2-year and 4-year schools, faculty mentorship development, industry internship and middle school outreach opportunities, articulation agreements to support seamless transfer, and other forms of support to foster learning communities.

The fundamental objective of this proposed S-STEM program is to promote STEM BS degree completion and careers for low-income, academically talented students, including underrepresented minority and female students, through a well-supported, seamless transfer path from partner community colleges to Binghamton University. The proposed students will be trained in STEM fields related to Smart Energy, as a key societal challenge. The students will gain hands-on experience, addressing current global problems, and will contribute to knowledge gains in STEM fields, including new materials and technologies for energy generation and storage at leading-edge research programs at Binghamton. The American Chemical Society's ChemIDP will be employed to take students through a process of self-assessment, career planning, goal setting and skill strengthening. The project team will work with the American Chemical Society's Education Division to provide professional development workshops and resources to faculty involved in the project in support of upper level student advising. This project will study interventions to improve retention, completion and academic success for community college transfer students, extending support to transfer students as soon as they begin at community college, contributing to the body of knowledge about the factors that shape student success in STEM education. Those activities deemed to be effective in meeting the project goals will be brought to the SUNY Chancellor as a model for seamless transfer across the 64 SUNY campuses and disseminated nationally through regional meetings and educational symposia. By attracting scholars into STEM programs and guiding them through BS degrees and into science-related careers, this project will have impact beyond SUNY Binghamton to fill a national need for highly trained scientists and engineers, while providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged students.