The Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) at Northwestern University supports interactive, interdisciplinary research in four primary thrust areas investigating the sciences of new materials. The thrust on internal interfaces in nanostructured materials addresses the growth of heteroepitaxial thin-film structures, the electronic and optical properties of narrow-band semiconductor superlattices, and the superconducting and mechanical properties of superlattices involving metallic compounds and interleaved insulators. The research program on high temperature superconducting materials begun in 1987 brings together faculty from physics, chemistry, materials science and electrical engineering in a collaborative investigation of the theory, crystal chemistry, processing and characterization of ceramic superconductors. The electrical transport in molecular materials group is engaged in the design and synthesis of new solid materials whose optical, magnetic and charge transport properties test and extend basic understanding of the organic conductive state. Its work focusses on two classes of molecular charge-transport materials: polymer solid electrolytes, and metallomacrocyclic "metals" and conductive polymers. The nonlinear optical polymers thrust begun in 1986 is now called macromolecular and molecular nonlinear optical materials. Research in this group includes the synthesis and processing, theory, and characterization of molecular and polymeric nonlinear optical materials, and microfabrication studies directed towards their potential application in devices. In addition to these four thrust areas, the MRL supports research in sciences of high-strength steel at Northwestern, part of a broad effort involving about 30 investigators from universities, industry and government laboratories led by the Northwestern group. This effort is directed at the scientific basis for new steels in two key classes: martensitic alloy steels for advanced structural applications, and ferrite-based microalloyed steels for high-formability sheet. The MRL also supports the development, operation and maintenance of major central materials research facilities at Northwestern, and provides seed funds for new faculty and for high-risk research on materials. The program currently involves 31 faculty members, 7 postdoctoral associates, 3 scientific and technical support staff, 31 graduate students and 8 undergraduates. The Northwestern MRL is under the direction of Professor Stephen H. Carr.
