1. National Science Foundation Developing Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion Steven May, Drexel University, DMR 1151649 Outcome: Researchers at Drexel University are developing approaches to tune light absorption and electrical properties in iron-based oxides for solar energy conversion. Impact: The work has the potential to enable a new generation of photovoltaics and opto- electronic devices that utilize complex oxides, materials comprised of elements that are nontoxic and in many cases more earth abundant than those found in many conventional compound semiconductors. Explanation: A fundamental concept of materials research is that functional properties are strongly dependent on a material’s atomic structure. Using this guiding principle, the research team is working to control the atomic positions within thin films of oxide materials as a means to engineer their light absorbing properties. Graduate students Amber Choquette and Mark Scafetta at the molecular beam epitaxy system used to synthesize complex oxide films.

2. National Science Foundation Using Atomic Structure to Engineer Electronic Structure in Oxides Steven May, Drexel University, DMR 1151649 The manner in which a material interacts with light is dictated by the energies of its electrons, the collection of which is referred to as electronic structure. Using a combination of optical and x-ray- based characterization techniques, the research team is building an understanding of how electronic structure is coupled to atomic structure in semiconducting (La,Eu)FeO 3 films. These materials belong to the larger class of perovskite compounds, which are used for a variety of applications in energy, health, and electronics. It is anticipated that the insights gained into how to engineer electronic structure in (La,Eu)FeO 3 can be broadly applied to perovskites to yield new compounds for applications ranging from solar energy to opto-electronics to communications. Using a combination of x-ray (top) and optical (bottom) spectroscopies, researchers are developing a better understanding of electronic structure in iron-based perovskite oxides.

3. National Science Foundation Outreach: Students Lead Activities at Philly Materials Day Steven May, Drexel University, DMR 1151649 Graduate students in the May research group play a critical role at the Philly Materials Day event held in February. PhD students Amber Choquette (top), Alex Krick (bottom left), and Mark Scafetta (bottom right) lead activities in which participants investigate how structural changes in materials, induced by chemical reactions, have dramatic consequences on their physical properties. Philly Materials Day is an annual event aimed at increasing public awareness of the societal impact of materials and exposing K-12 students to the field of materials science and engineering. The day-long event drew over 2000 people to Drexel’s campus in 2013.