| NSF Org: |
CHE Division Of Chemistry |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 8, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | September 7, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 2018740 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Kenneth Carter
CHE Division Of Chemistry MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | August 15, 2020 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $303,546.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $303,546.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3 LOS ANGELES CA US 90033 (213)740-7762 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
837 Bloom Walk, LHI 104 Los Angeles CA US 90089-1661 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Chemical Instrumentation |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. The University of Southern California (USC) is acquiring a single crystal X-ray diffractometer to support Professor Travis Williams and colleague, Ralf Haiges. In general, an X-ray diffractometer allows accurate and precise measurements of the full three-dimensional structure of a molecule, including bond distances and angles. A diffractometer also provides accurate information about the spatial arrangement of a molecule relative to neighboring molecules. The studies may impact many areas, including organic and inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument is an integral part of teaching as well as research and research training of undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, biochemistry and other engineering fields at this institution. In addition, the diffractometer has broad impact on teaching and training, outreach activities, and undergraduate research at USC and regional partners from primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs). The instrument acquisition is an essential component of an outreach program inspiring diverse, low-income high school students to become leaders and innovators in science and engineering through the Young Scientists Program of the USC Joint Educational Project and the Southern California Section of the American Chemical Society.
The award of the X-ray diffractometer is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. The instrument acquisition impacts the characterization of synthetic inorganic and organic materials to develop new catalysts to advance manufacturing used for biodiesel production, solar-to-fuel technologies, and photovoltaics. The instrumentation is also used for studying catalytic processes to enable polymer sustainability. In addition, the diffractometer benefits exploration of organofluorine compounds of relevance to the methanol economy. The instrument is also used to characterize products relevant to biological chemistry.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This award supported the installation of a Rigaku Synergy single crystal X-ray diffractometer at the University of Southern California. After 1 year of preparation, lab renovation, and installation, the diffractometer was put into full-time service, and has produced to date data supporting over two dozen peer-reviewed publications. These products have reported advances in all areas of chemistry, including the generation of fuels based on sunlight; discovery of new OLED materials; new methods to manufacture medicines, techniques and materials for capture and conversion of atmospheric CO2; and new catalyst materials for decarbonizing our energy supply.
Simultaneously with the project's scientific mission, it has supported a crystallography education program. We have trained 29 new beginning crystallographers, including 11 women and 4 underrepresented minority learners.
Going forward post-COVID, we have fired permanent staff to operate the instrument and lead its community outreach program. This includes integrating the diffractometer into projects with local PUIs, including and ongoing REU Site at USC that exposes underrepresented undergraduatess to crystallography and a collaborative research program in fuels decarbonization with CalState LA.
The NSF award was leveraged to recruit synergistic foundation funding to renovate two supporting powder X-ray diffractometers, thus completing a full modernization of X-ray diffraction tools at USC.
Last Modified: 11/16/2023
Modified by: Travis J Williams
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