Ceramics (CER)

The Ceramics program supports research that increases foundational understanding of the synthesis, processing, microstructure, properties and performance of ceramic materials and their composites. The program also supports research that develops capabilities to accurately predict those things.

Research proposals that seek to discover or create new ceramic materials are welcome. Proposed efforts to develop new techniques or novel approaches to enable such discoveries are encouraged.

The program focuses on experimental research that leverages a variety of characterization tools and interrogation modalities. While the program supports synergistic use of theory, computation, data analytics and/or machine learning, such techniques should play a supporting role and not be the primary focus of proposed projects. Proposed computational and theoretical activities should be equal in terms of time, effort and budget.

Broadly, the program supports foundational scientific research in ceramic materials including, but not limited to:

• Thin films (e.g., oxides, carbides, nitrides and borides)

• Bulk materials (e.g., glass-ceramics and inorganic glasses)

• More complex forms (e.g., ceramic-based composites and inorganic carbon-based materials)

More specifically, the program supports topics including, but not limited to:

• Nucleation and growth of thin films

• Deposition techniques

• Bulk crystal growth

• Phase transformations and equilibria

• Morphology

• Surface modification

• Corrosion

• Interfaces and grain boundary characterization

• Defects.

Proposals involving collaboration with industry are welcome, including Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals. Such proposals should include the prefix "GOALI" in the proposal's title. 

Proposals should clearly emphasize the contributions to foundational materials science using experiments as the primary approach. 

Additional Information

Principal investigators (PIs) should include all anticipated expenses (e.g., broader impacts activities, research experiences for undergraduates, equipment, etc.) in the initial proposal, rather than planning for or seeking supplemental funding requests at a later time.

Prior to submitting a proposal, PIs should discuss intended chemical nanosynthesis efforts with both the Solid State Materials Chemistry program directors and/or the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry program directors. Similarly, PIs submitting proposals focused entirely or partly on catalysis should contact the Chemical Catalysis program, while those focused on ceramics for biological applications or environments should consult the Biomaterials program before submitting.

The program works closely with other programs in the NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and other NSF directorates to accommodate the multidisciplinary nature of submitted proposals. NSF may transfer or jointly review such proposals with other programs. Generally, NSF will notify PIs about such transfers before they happen.