Indo-US Partnership on the Influence of Reduced Dimensions on the Structure and Properties of Nanocomposite Thin Films

Vision:
The vision of this proposal is to create a Materials World Network between the University of North Texas (UNT), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Ohio State University (OSU) that responds to two underpinning requirements. Firstly, it is essential for students from the U.S. to be competitive in the global research and development arena in which they will inevitably work. A most increasingly significant geographical region within that global arena is Asia, and hence our students must understand the Asian working culture. Secondly, it is very important to capitalize on the vast intellectual capital being generated in Asian institutes of higher learning, specifically here by networking with TIFR, without doubt one of the premier educational and research institutions in the physical sciences in Asia. This will be accomplished by direct interaction, both in India and also in the US (at the participating institutions), and by having access to the very best students from India. It is intended that the proposed program will develop a model for establishing a successful network, which will permit expansion of the proposed collaboration to other Asian institutes. This model may also be exploited by other US institutions that may wish to form networks in materials research and other areas of science and engineering.

The Network:
The proposed network will enable a program of research aimed at determining the role of reduced dimensions on the structure and properties of nanocomposite thin films. This will be achieved by focusing on four principal objectives:

1. To investigate in detail the factors influencing phase stability in nanocomposite thin films, especially the role of interfaces in determining the crystal structure and lattice parameters in these systems. This will involve a determination of the structure and chemistry of interfaces in these materials at the highest spatial resolution using state-of-the-art characterization techniques.
2. To investigate the influence of size-induced changes in crystal structure in nanocomposite thin films on the physical and mechanical properties of these materials.
3. To rationalize these various size-induced effects on the basis of the underlying physics of the problem. A strong effort will be placed on the further development of the thermodynamic model for rationalizing and predicting phase stability in nanoscale multilayers incorporating the influences of coherency strains, intermixing between the nanolayers (including alloying additions) and the interfacial structure and roughness.
4. To expand the thermodynamic model for multilayers to the case of nanoscale precipitates in an immiscible matrix.
   

The network will be enabled by continuous exchanges of students (10 weeks/year) and faculty (2 weeks/year) between TIFR and the two US institutions. These exchanges will involve joint research activities and the teaching of intensive short courses.

Intellectual Merit:
The purpose of this research is to develop a better and more thorough understanding of the effect of reduced dimensions on the structure of nanocomposite thin films and the consequent impact on the properties. While the study focuses on some specific systems, the understanding gained from this research is expected to have a far-reaching impact on the field of nanostructured materials and their technological applications. The proposed team of researchers have formed a strong interdisciplinary alliance which due to its international nature draws on the strengths of the intellectual capital available in both countries as well as forms the basis for developing a worldwide network to address these challenging scientific issues.

Broader Impacts:
The proposed program aims to respond to a requirement and an opportunity, as noted above. The requirement is for our students to succeed in a global R&D environment, and the opportunity is to engage the growing intellectual capital in Asia to benefit our research efforts, specifically involving the influence of reduced dimensions on the properties of materials. The model of collaboration described in this proposal, which we intend to implement, will impact positively other embryonic efforts to establish international networks. The exchange of graduate students and faculty will be coupled with an on-going program of education and outreach. In this way, high school and undergraduate students will benefit directly from such a diverse interaction.