Project Grant 2209027

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Materials Research provides $225,904 to Brown University under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for collaborative research on rare earth materials under extreme conditions from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026.

The award supports experimental and computational research to determine the thermodynamic and structural properties of refractory rare earth ceramic materials at high temperature and pressure. High pressure synthesis experiments and synchrotron diffraction techniques will study phase transitions in rare earth monoxides, oxycarbides, and sesquioxides. Computational thermodynamics and machine learning will guide experiments and predict stability and structure. Calorimetric methods will measure thermodynamic properties, which will be disseminated through a public database. The research aims to enable more efficient and sustainable rare earth materials and devices. Students will also receive training in various techniques to prepare them for careers in fields like materials science and semiconductor technology.