The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Maryland carries out nationally recognized fundamental research on surfaces and interfaces of materials with potential impact on the next generation of opto- and nano-electronic devices, and on complex oxides with potential applications in memory, switches and sensors. The research is closely integrated with a continuing educational outreach program that has a direct impact on the education of a diverse population of K - 12 students and teachers. The Center is expanding support and customer base for its shared facilities by direct interactions with the new University of Maryland Center for Integrated Nano-Science and Engineering (M-CINSE).
The University of Maryland (UMD) MRSEC was funded in 2005 with support for two Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs). The IRG entitled Low-Dimensional Interfaces conducted advanced research on nanoscale materials, correlating interface structures with electron transport and charge separation processes. A powerful set of tools was developed for this research that included theoretical modeling of interface structure based on fundamental interactions, direct imaging of interfaces under chemical and/or electrically driven conditions, and device nanofabrication and characterization. Materials systems developed under this research included fullerenes and molecular organic semiconductors and two-dimensional materials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide. The IRG entitled Multifunctional Magnetic Oxides conducted advanced research on metal oxide materials in which the coupling between magnetism and ferroelectricity was tuned through composition, structure and the application of external fields. State of the art growth techniques for synthesizing single crystals and atomically controlled thin film multilayers were developed, and combinatorial synthesis approaches were utilized for rapid optimization of functional properties. Both IRG’s created new knowledge of key materials properties needed to enable new nanoelectronic, energy and sensing devices (IRG1) and develop novel room-temperature device concepts for their exploitation in applications including ultrasensitive magnetic field sensor arrays and bi-tunable memory elements (IRG2). Since the award in 2005, internal UMD matching funds and MRSEC Seed funds were also used to explore new and emerging ideas, particularly in the areas of functional nanomaterials, topological insulators, biomaterials and electrical energy storage, and joint projects with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Naval Research Laboratory and the National Research Council. Since the award in 2005, internal UMD matching funds and MRSEC funds were used to develop and deliver highly successful education outreach programs that impacted 39,954 K-12 students, 1367 pre-college teachers, and engaged 62 (non UMD) undergraduate students in research experiences. The UMD MRSEC produced already 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals and was awarded two patents. Of these publications 115 appeared in high-impact scientific journals. UMD MRSEC researchers received important scientific and educational awards, including several into the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Seven cutting-edge Shared Experimental Facilities were developed and operated by the MRSEC, and will remain accessible to researchers from UMD and other academic, government laboratory and industrial organizations. The UMD MRSEC developed a broad array of educational products (including journal articles, widely distributed kits, museum exhibits, STEM camps, and teacher training workshops) that have reached tens of thousands of individuals. The summer K-12 campus and museum programs developed by the MRSEC remain in operation under continued UMD support and ongoing UMD-museum partnerships. The UMD MRSEC directly supported the research activities of 53 graduate students (including 35 awarded PhD’s to date), 92 undergraduate students, and 21 post-doctoral researchers, most of whom are now pursuing scientific and engineering careers. The UMD was highly successful in achieving its diversity goals, increasing participating in science and technology by including 25,087 underrepresented minority (URM) K-12 students, 822 URM pre-college teachers, 35 URM undergraduate students, 9 URM graduate students, 3 URM post-doctoral researchers, and 5 URM faculty in its programs.
