Center for Soft PhotoElectroChemical Systems (SPECS)

Director

Neal Armstrong

Lead Institution

University of Arizona

Class

2022-2026

Mission

To understand the factors controlling charge and matter transport processes in inexpensive, scalable, and durable π-conjugated polymer (plastic) materials by exploring the factors across spatiotemporal scales that underpin emerging energy conversion technologies to influence the formation of fuels, such as H2, from sunlight and develop new approaches to energy storage.

Partner Institutions

University of Arizona
Emory University
Georgia Institute of Technology
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Stanford University
University of Colorado
University of Kentucky

Quick Facts

Single Slide Overview
Technical Summary
http://specs.arizona.edu/

BES Staff Contact

Jennifer Roizen

Grand Challenges Addressed

Grand
Challenge #1

Grand
Challenge #2

Grand
Challenge #5

Transformative Opportunities Addressed

Mastering Hierarchical Architectures and Beyond-Equilibrium Matter

Trans. Opp. #1

Understanding the Critical Roles of Heterogeneity, Interfaces, and Disorder

Trans. Opp. #2

Exploiting Transformative Advances in Imaging Capabilities across Multiple Scales

Trans. Opp. #5

BES Reports Addressed

Highlights

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Applying a voltage to lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) can cause it to separate into distinct regions with dramatically different magnetic properties, as illustrated by the red and blue colors in the above figure.

Tuning Magnetism With Voltage Opens a New Path to Neuromorphic Circuits

Experiments show that applied voltage can dramatically alter the magnetic properties of quantum materials.

A metallic line atop a medium biased at the edge of chaos can provide effective negative resistance for time-varying signals, outputting a larger signal compared to its input. The energy for amplification comes from the static bias applied to the medium.

The “Edge of Chaos” Amplifies Signals Without Transistors

Emulating the edge of chaos of axons enables a metal wire to overcome its resistance without cooling, thereby amplifying signals flowing inside of it.