9712182 Agrawal Description: This award supports the U.S.-India Cooperative Research: Processing, Properties, and Characterization of Ferroelectric Films. The collaborators are R.S. Katiyar, University of Puerto Rico, S.B. Desu, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and D.C. Agrawal, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The researchers will study thin films of novel optoelectronics and ferroelectrics with the aim of enhancing understanding of synthesis and processing, materials characterization and modelling of thin film growth and properties. Various techniques will be used to probe the micro-to nano-scale compositions, structure and characterization in order to establish structure-property relationships in these novel materials. Fundamental research on ferroelectric thin films holds great potential for eventual application in electro-optical devices, microwave electronics, micro sensors, and high density packaging. Scope: This project supports a new collaboration between two U.S. research institutions and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. All facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for the proposed synthesis, characterization and modelling work. The research is expected to stimulate a long-term science and engineering link among three centers-of excellence. The project is mutually beneficial and meets INT criteria for support. ***