Project Grant 2613195

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska $50,000 on October 1, 2026, for collaborative research on coupling between interfacial electrostatics and surface structures at transition-metal oxide/liquid interfaces.

The project, conducted under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering) with support from both the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program and the Electrochemical Systems Program, investigates how electrical charges and liquids alter surface structures at the atomic level. The research combines atomic-level material manufacturing, in-liquid imaging techniques, and computer simulations to observe how water and ions such as protons influence metal oxide surfaces, particularly 3D-transition-metal-oxide systems such as cobalt-based perovskites. The fundamental knowledge generated will enable design of more durable and efficient materials for use in complex liquid environments, with applications in next-generation microelectronics, corrosion-protective coatings, and chemical processing and water remediation systems.

The research provides interdisciplinary training for students across three universities in materials synthesis, advanced characterization, and computational modeling. Performance occurs at the University of Nebraska's Office of Sponsored Programs in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a period of performance from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. The award is classified as a Project Grant.