1. Field-induced Point Defect Redistribution in Metal Oxides: Mesoscopic Length Scale Phenomena Elizabeth Dickey, North Carolina State University, DMR 1132058 Outcome: Researchers at North Carolina State University are studying how electric fields influence atom mobility in electronic ceramics and how the attendant changes in microchemistry can ultimately degrade device functionality. Impact: The impact of this research is an improved understanding of failure mechanisms in dielectric oxides, which will in turn enable the microelectronics community to predict the performance limits of oxides and to optimize device design for maximum lifetime. Explanation: The image to the right shows a cathodoluminescence image of TiO2after it has been biased with an electric filed until electrical degradation. The red hues show the spatial distribution of Ti interstitial defects after the degradation process. This type of characterization technique allows imaging of mesoscale chemistry and its evolution during device degradation. Professor Elizabeth Dickey, of North Carolina State University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering received the 2012 Richard M.FulrathAward from the American Ceramic Society.

2. Materials Visualization with Scanning Electron MicroscopyElizabeth Dickey, North Carolina State University, DMR 1132058 • Professor Dickey worked with Karen Russell, the Academically Gifted Program Coordinating Teacher at Fred A. Olds Elementary School in Raleigh, NC to integrate electron microscopy into the 4th grade curriculum on rocks and minerals. Students visited the Department of Materials Science and Engineering scanning electron microscopy lab in Fall 2011, where Professor Dickey explained and demonstrated the scanning electron microscope. Students brought samples of minerals that they had been studying in the classroom and were able to image their surface microstructure in the microscope.