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Research Description

Partnership for Research and Education in Materials Science College of Engineering and Computer Science

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Dr. Karen Lozano
Director
UTRGV/UMN PREM
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg Campus, ENGR 3.252
Email: karen.lozano@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-7020

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Research Description

Five research projects will be pursued collaboratively by UTRGV and UMN faculty members. Our research strategy is designed to develop basic science knowledge and technologies to promote national competitiveness, while focusing on the development of human capital and infrastructure. Students will develop their ability for innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurship. Faculty members at a minority serving institution will strengthen their STEM research, educational, and outreach efforts.

Thrust 1: Magnetoelectric Effects in Perovskite Complex Metal Oxides

Objectives: To explore Complex Metal Oxides (CMO) for the discovery of new physical phenomena and to gain insights into the science of strongly correlated electron materials, especially perovskite ferrites, cobaltites and manganites, via understanding their synthesis-microstructure-property relationships.

Faculty: UTRGV: Karen Martirosyan (lead), Yuanbing Mao, and Mircea Chipara; UMN: Chris Leighton and Bharat Jalan. 

Thrust 2: Nonflammable, Ionic Liquid-Based Electrolytes for Safer Lithium-ion Batteries

Objectives: To study Li-ion transport in ionic liquids (ILs) and in polymer/ILs electrolytes and to demonstrate effective use of ILs in solid polymer electrolytes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs).

Faculty: UTRGV: Mataz Alcoutlabi (lead), Horacio Vasquez and Dorina Chipara; UMN: Marc Hillmyer and Tim Lodge; Utah:  Dmitry Bedrov.

Thrust 3: Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Photovoltaics and Electrolyte Gated Transistors (EGTs)

Objectives: Synthesize and characterize low band gap semiconductors such as substituted regioregular poly-3-hexyl-thiophenes, regioregular alternating copolymers with variable chromophore density, discrete distyrylbenzene derivatives, and conjugated poly-p-phenylene vinylenes containing amino functionalities.

Faculty: UTRGV: Yuanbing Mao and Jose Gutierrez (Lead); UMN: Dan Frisbie and Marc Hillmyer.

Thrust 4: Homeostasis of Cultured Mammalian Cells in a Nanofiber Environment

Objectives: To develop nanofiber (NF) based scaffolds to analyze the interaction of cultured mammalian cells and explore novel methods for monitoring cellular viability and homeostasis in a NF environment.

Faculty: UTRGV: Robert Gilkerson (lead), Karen Lozano, and Waseem Haider. UMN: Theresa Reineke.

Thrust 5: Cellular Imaging Using Persistent Luminescent ZnB'2O4 Spinel Nanoparticles

Objectives: To develop spinel NPs with long-persistent luminescence and high brightness, and to explore the in vivo biodistribution for bioimaging and bioanalysis.

Faculty: UTRGV: Yuanbing Mao (lead) and Robert Gilkerson; UMN: Uwe Kortshagen, Eray Aydil.

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