Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Illinois at Chicago received a $652,461 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The award funds research into simple molecular systems subjected to ultrahigh pressures, with a primary focus on discovering, characterizing, and synthesizing hydrogen-rich superconducting materials capable of transporting electrical current without resistance at and above room temperature under pressure. The project employs state-of-the-art experimental techniques including in situ high pressure-temperature methods and variable magnetic field analysis, conducted both at the University of Illinois Chicago laboratory and at National User Facilities.

The deliverables include the discovery and characterization of new superconducting materials with potential for practical applications in energy and quantum technologies, as well as the development of novel experimental techniques and methodologies made available to the broader scientific research community. Additionally, the award supports the training of graduate and undergraduate students in advanced research methods for studying matter and materials under extreme conditions, conducted through the University of Illinois Chicago and its partner institutions including National Laboratories. This fundamental research contributes to the NSF's objective of strengthening the Nation's scientific enterprise and enhancing understanding of physical phenomena with potential for transformative technological applications.