We propose to establish a research and education center of excellence maces by harnessing the strong nanomaterial based research programs that each participating investigator has developed and…

This is a $4,919,731 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) to establish the Materials for Energy and Sensing (MACES) Center of Excellence. The center will focus on developing a pipeline for a highly qualified STEM workforce and creating new materials solutions for high-performance, reliable, compact, and lightweight energy and sensing devices for NASA missions.

The research will encompass two core areas: space energy challenges, including high-efficiency photovoltaic devices, high-energy-density fuel cells, and thermal energy harvesting; and highly sensitive, robust, and compact sensing devices for planetary missions, including molecular recognition, nanosensing materials, and integrated fiber optic sensing systems. The project will also include an education program to recruit, train, and retain STEM students, particularly from underrepresented groups. This award is not set aside and UC Merced is the prime contractor, with the State of California Controller's Office as the parent organization.

We propose to establish a research and education center of excellence maces by harnessing the strong nanomaterial based research programs that each participating investigator has developed and building upon our excellent track record of multidisciplinary and closely mentored research training for both graduate and undergraduate students. The main goals of maces are one to develop a pipeline for a highly qualified stem workforce and two to create new materials solutions enabling high performance reliable compact and lightweight energy and sensing devices for NASA missions. To achieve these goals we will promote interdisciplinary and collaborative research to address key challenges in the synthesis characterization and integration of functional nanomaterials and to provide underrepresented stem students with state of the art research experience and structured mentoring. Research our proposed research encompasses two core areas for NASA missions sensing and energy. We aim to address in space energy challenges by i creating highly efficient compact and lightweight photovoltaic devices in tandem with an effective heliptropism system II implementing high energy density fuel cells and III developing new concepts for heliotropism and thermal energy harvesting. Concomitantly we will address the acute need for highly sensitive robust and compact sensing devices for current and future planetary missions. We will i offer a characterization method for interfacial molecular recognition with an order of magnitude higher resolution II create precise nanosensing materials with high sensitivity selectivity reproducibility and throughput and III. Establish integrated sensing systems such as portable fiber optics based systems for multiplexed detection of biomarkers with unprecedented sensitivity clue to precise engineering of raman hot spots. With the complementary expertise in nanomanufacturing and characterization we will use a multipronged nanomaterial approach to accomplish these missions by exploiting new self assembly paradigms unique 2D and 3D synthesis capabilities and innovative molecular design. Education the proposed education program will recruit train and retain students and eventually guide them to become future leaders in stem fields. A new research scholarship program will be established to provide research opportunities for undergraduate students, particularly underrepresented students. We will also create a nanomaterial emphasis track within existing graduate programs. Through rigorous training, our goal is to train PHD graduates who will evolve as major contributors to NASA a mission. The summer teacher workshop will enable high school teachers to attain tangible and practical curricula by CO developing science discovery modules with the participating investigators which will spark the scientific interests of local high school students and encourage them to pursue stem education and careers. Establishing a NASA center at the recipient despite its short history the recipient is emerging as a noteworthy center of excellence in research and science education among minority serving institutions with a group of young faculty members with trailblazing spirits. The proposed partnership will significantly bolster the recipient excellence in nanoscale materials research. The proposed educational program will also strengthen the stem pipeline by stimulating the largely untapped talent pool in this diverse community and increase the enrollment of graduate students especially from the underrepresented groups. The creation of this center will also help attract high caliber faculty members and enhance competitiveness of both individual investigators and the center as a whole in attracting future funds.