9612873 Acrivos This well integrated Research for Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) proposal advances education and research by involving undergraduate as well as graduate students in a study of low dimensional solids. It will focus on common properties exhibited by a variety of compounds such as graphite, dichalcogenides, superconducting cuprates and nickelates, and organic metals, all of which have layered structures. Common properties to be studied include the ability to undergo intercalation reactions involving different donor/acceptor groups as well as metal to non metal to superconducting phase transitions. Methods that will be used in these investigations include electron spin resonance and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. %%% Intercalation reactions are used for the synthesis of low dimensional solids as materials for high-duty batteries, catalysts, and solid lubricants. The synthesis of these materials and their evaluation by spectroscopic measurements will promote solid laboratory experiences for the undergraduate and masters degree students. The integration of research with education through the training of students in this fundamentally and technologically significant materials area, together with strong collaborations at IBM and the Universities of Purdue, Notre Dame, and Cambridge (UK), make this a most unique RUI program. ***
