Metals and Metallic Nanostructures (MMN)

The Metals and Metallic Nanostructures Program supports foundational research on the relationship between structures and properties of metals and their alloys. Research should advance foundational materials science to enable the development of metallic materials, especially from the sub-nanometer to micro- length scales, to optimize superior behaviors and enable accurate prediction of properties and performance. This program focuses on experimental research that leverages advanced instrumentation.

While the program is open to the synergistic use of theory, computation, data analytics and/or machine learning, such techniques should play a supporting role and not serve as the primary driver or focus. Computational and theoretical activities should not exist as co-equal activities in terms of time, effort or budget. 

The program aims to advance the materials science of metals and their alloys through foundational research across an array of topics, including, but not limited to:

• Phase transformations

• Grain and interphase boundary characterization

• Oxidation and corrosion

• Behavior in extreme environments

• Magnetics

• Functional materials

• Mechanical behavior

• Alloy development, including complex alloys such as metallic glasses and multi-principal-element alloys

Proposals involving collaboration with industry are welcome and should carry the prefix (GOALI) whenever appropriate.  Submitted proposals should clearly emphasize the contributions to fundamental materials science using experiments as the primary approach. 

Additional Information

Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to include all anticipated expenses (e.g., broader impacts activities, REU costs, equipment, etc.) in the initial proposal, rather than planning for or seeking supplemental funding requests at a later time.

PIs are encouraged to discuss intended chemical nanosynthesis efforts with both the Solid-State Materials Chemistry (SSMC) program directors and/or the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) program directors prior to proposal submission to MMN. Similarly, proposals focused entirely or partly on catalysis are encouraged to contact the Chemical Catalysis (CAT) program, while metals for biological applications or biological environments should consult the Biomaterials (BMAT) program before submitting.

As a general practice, the MMN program works closely with other programs within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) and beyond to accommodate the multidisciplinary nature of proposal submissions where warranted. Such proposals may either be transferred or reviewed jointly depending on the extent of alignment with the goals of both programs. Generally, submitting PIs will be notified and given the opportunity to accept a transfer before such an action is taken.