From the Ground Up-Materials Science in Singapore.

Abstract

Materials technology plays an important role in many industry sectors. It is a critical element to focus on when one seeks to achieve a quantum leap in technology development. For Singapore, the focus on high-value-added advanced manufacturing and building up of expertise in materials technology is an important goal in the planning on science and technology, in particular, a plan that consists of both short-term approaches to harvest materials technology for relevant applications, as well as a long-term strategy in prepositioning materials technology to lead in future industries. The first official program for materials science started in 1991 from the Division of Materials Engineering in Nanyang Technological University (NTU). National University of Singapore (NUS) began its program for materials science in 1996. Both NTU and NUS have created strong undergraduate and postgraduate programs in materials science today, and both universities have also been listed among the world's top rankings. Besides world-class universities, there is a need to have a world-class research institute to bridge the gap between the academia and industry. On September 8, 1997, Singapore's largest materials institute, the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) was formed by the then National Science and Technology Board, now known as the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR). This year, IMRE celebrates the 25th anniversary of its founding. Figure 1 shows the construction of and the completed IMRE building IMRE in 1999 and the current premises Fusionopolis 2. Materials technology was relatively new to Singapore in the early 1990s. The country established its first five-year National Technology Plan in 1991. Among the strategic areas identified then for development included polymers, composites, coatings, electronics materials, and optical materials. The achievements we see today in research and industry in these areas are thanks to the R&D activities planned and initiated three decades ago. Our quest to create an impact in industry through materials technology in the early 1990s led to the planning of a materials-focused research institute. This research institute should have strong linkages with the universities for upstream research and manpower development as well as a close working relationship with industry. The ultimate goal is to build up core competencies in materials technology and to enhance the growth of locally based industries through materials research and engineering. Although there are no industrial sectors that can be clearly labeled as “Materials”, the fact that materials is the enabling technology of all industries and that materials research forms the building block fundamental to innovation, has led to the emphasis on multidisciplinary R&D activities in materials technologies. The formation of IMRE showed a strong determination to steer materials science and technology to be a prime driving force for initiating new technology and improving existing technology. IMRE was part of a master plan to build up Singapore as an R&D hub for materials research by strengthening knowledge infrastructure and expanding the local talent pool. In the early formative years of IMRE, the institute carried out its activities in several locations, including the Science and Engineering Faculties in the NUS. The institute leveraged the relevant research teams and facilities at NUS to jump-start its R&D activities, and most importantly, to accelerate talent development. The symbiosis between IMRE and the locally based universities becomes even more apparent with joint appointments of staff. The joint appointment scheme provides an avenue to accelerate the exchange of technical expertise as well as to optimize the sharing of R&D facilities. The framework provided a fluid, dynamic, and conducive environment that allows researchers from different corners of the community to work together and share resources. It is through this framework that R&D manpower was nurtured through the co-supervision of students. Many of the young talents co-supervised by the universities and the research institutes therefore have the opportunities to be exposed to top academic research as well as application-oriented studies. Many of them have become leaders in the ecosystem. To support the national objective to strengthen industry, significant research activities under A*STAR were steered toward platform- or use-inspired basic technologies with an emphasis on applications. It was imperative to bridge materials science research with engineering, and to couple these more tightly with manufacturing to develop knowledge-intensive industries. Attracting new companies that utilize high-performance materials with novel properties and functions is one of the key strategies to sustain advanced manufacturing in the long term. Therefore, development of manpower to support industry has been part of the long-term strategy, which dovetails the manpower plan of the institutes of higher learning. With all the holistic approaches for enhancing R&D capabilities in place, intellectual properties in materials science have expanded over the years. This is especially important in establishing a strong foundation for high-value-added manufacturing as well as a magnet to attract top research talent and R&D investment. To showcase the recent advances in materials science in Singapore, we present this special issue of Advanced Materials on the topic of “Materials Science in Singapore”. This issue brings together contributions from leading experts from IMRE as well as our valued collaborators in the universities, NTU, and NUS. As we dive into the 2020s, we face a changing world with the COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change has become an increasingly growing concern globally. Sustainability is therefore thrust into the limelight in research, industry operations, and product manufacturing. Ran Long, Xian Jun Loh, Enyi Ye, Yujie Xiong, and co-workers (article number 2104090) report the synthesis of carbon-supported Ni single-atom catalysts with precisely controlled single-atom structure via the Joule heating strategy, which demonstrate superior performance in electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction. Han Sen Soo and co-workers (article number 2100843) present a review that highlights the latest developments in sustainable plastics upcycling. Lei Wang and Jiayi Chen (article number 2103900) brief on recent developments of electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction and highlight the significance between the dynamic changes and catalytic performance. Kian Ping Loh and co-workers (article number 2103882) summarize the key reports on the development of single-atom catalysts under complex liquid phase conditions. The importance of materials technology and engineering in supporting across all sectors to address subjects with increasing complexity is evident, especially with the emergence of circular economy, which emphasizes materials all the more. In addition, there has been an increase in spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) waste owing to fast-growing consumption of electronic devices. Qingyu Yan, Madhavi Srinivasan, and co-workers (article number 2103346) present a review that highlights green recycling technologies toward spent LIB e-waste. Tej S. Choksi, Xin Wang, and co-workers (article number 2104891) report a novel molecular-confinement strategy that can effectively enhance the selectivity of single-atom catalysts for the electrocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide from ≈55% to over 80%. Energy considerations feature prominently in Singapore's materials work. Shuzhou Li, Yonggang Wen, Qingyu Yan, and co-workers (article number 2101474) review the detailed inner workings of machine-learning (ML) algorithms in materials and state prediction and materials discovery for rechargeable LIBs. Teck Ming Koh, Nripan Mathews, and co-workers (article number 2104661) summarize the unique features and properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) applications. Qing Wang and co-workers (article number 2104562) summarize the recent progress of redox-targeting-based energy storage and conversion systems and demonstrate the great versatility of redox-targeting processes for various energy-related applications, particularly those for large-scale energy storage. Dan Zhao and co-workers (article number 2104946) present work that utilizes a multi-interfacial engineering strategy, the direct layer-by-layer interfacial reaction of two covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with different pore sizes to form narrowed apertures atop a large-pore COF film, potentially for H2 separation. Food security also features prominently in global challenges affecting the world. Yeng Ming Lam and co-workers (article number 2105009) review potential research directions and challenges in urban farming. They discuss how materials optimization and innovation can drive the development of urban farming to meet national and global food demands. Some of the largest foundries in the world, outsourced semiconductor assembly, and testing businesses have production plants in Singapore. In addition to semiconductors, Singapore is a crucial node in the worldwide supply chain for storage goods and memory systems, as well as microelectronic systems. These producers are backed by a robust ecosystem of major manufacturing companies of materials and equipment and electronics. In research, semiconductor materials and electronic materials are of immense interest to Singapore. Pooi See Lee and co-workers (article number 2105020) present their perspectives on new opportunities in soft electronics, enabled by the utility of natural polymers as passive/active dielectrics or blending matrices for soft conductors. John Wang and co-workers (article number 2106845) review various strategies to enhance piezoelectric properties in lead-free systems with fundamental and historical context, and from atomic to macroscopic scale. They identify the main challenges currently faced in the transition from lead-based to lead-free piezoelectrics and suggest key milestones for future research. Optoelectronic materials are important for the advancement of high-speed and high-throughput optical communication and computing technologies. Interlayer excitons in 2D van der Waals heterostructures are interesting for their enticing properties and potential in device applications. Jinghua Teng and co-workers (article number 2107138) present a general view of these 2D-confined hydrogen-like bosonic particles and developments. Jianping Xie and co-workers (article number 2103918) review the basic principles of light interaction with nanoclusters (NCs), especially optical absorption, photoluminescence, the interactions with polarized light, and the light-induced chemical reactions of metal NCs. Kuan Eng Johnson Goh and co-workers (article number 2103907) report quantum-confinement measurements on split-gate WS2/HfO2 layers. The results are based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) WS2 and HfO2 grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) This work demonstrates good contacts and device operation at low temperatures—something that will be essential for quantum computing based on superconductors. Guoying Deng, Chuanlai Xu, Xiaodong Chen, and co-workers (article number 2104078) propose a simple and rapid quantification method of Young's modulus of soft materials, based on the self-locking effect in the Hertz model. The design of an architecture that consists of a stretchable strain sensor, self-locking elements, a tip, and a locking frame is reported. Biomaterials research and biomimicry are an important part of the Singapore materials science ecosystem. Yun-Long Wu, Gang Liu, Xian Jun Loh, Zibiao Li, and co-workers (article number 2107674) describe a material based on glucose–PEO–bPLLA–TEMPO for cancer theranostics. The nanomedicine is loaded with a targeting agent and a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy, which leads to cell death and repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages and shows promising therapeutic effects in mouse models. Jing Yu, Ali Miserez, and co-workers (article number 2103828) study the liquid–liquid phase separation of green mussel adhesive protein for the development of a more robust bioadhesive. Xian Qin, Luís D. Carlos, Xiaogang Liu, and co-workers (article number 2101895) report a special class of memristive materials based on persistent luminescent emitters with optical characteristics closely resembling those of biological synapses. Mimicking memory processes, including encoding, storing, and retrieving information, is critical for neuromorphic computing and artificial intelligence. Fucai Liu, Zheng Liu, and co-workers (article number 2104676) demonstrate a two-terminal synaptic device based on layered CuInP2S6 with high ionic conductivity. Various synaptic functions are mimicked by controlling the migration of Cu ions with an electric field. The synaptic device is used for the simulation of Pavlovian conditioning and activity-dependent plasticity. Kah-Wee Ang and Dongzhi Chi (article number 2103376) synthesize HfSe2 film by molecular beam epitaxy, and further fabricate memristors with low switching voltage and switching energy, which are important parameters of artificial synapses for neural network applications. Xinyi Su and Xian Jun Loh (article number 2108360) report a nanomicelle drug-delivery system capable of delivering aflibercept to the posterior segment of the eye, topically through corneal–scleral routes. The ability to deliver anti-VEGF drugs and the intrinsic anti-angiogenic properties of nanomicelles results in synergistic effects which can be harnessed for effective therapeutics. With the increasing demand in applications of technologies and more research activities becoming multi-disciplinary, there are rich opportunities for inter-institute, cross-system, and trans-disciplinary research. Singapore's materials science scene is poised for growth! To close, we wish to express our sincere appreciation for the strong support from the editorial team of Advanced Materials, in particular, Dr. Jos Lenders and Dr. Liying Wang. We are also grateful to all the authors who have shared their insights in this special collection. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Xian Jun Loh completed his basic and postgraduate studies at the National University of Singapore. A polymer chemist by training, he is currently the Executive Director of the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR. As a pioneer in the area of biodegradable thermogels, he is highly knowledgeable in developing these materials for various applications spanning biomedical, engineering, cosmetics, personal care, and food. He is also a co-founder of a spin-off, Vitreogel Innovations, a company that looks at developing thermogels for retinal detachment treatment. Bin Liu is currently Provost's Chair Professor and Vice President for Research and Technology, National University of Singapore (NUS). She received her Ph.D. from NUS and conducted her postdoctoral research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. She joined NUS as an Assistant Professor in 2005 and was promoted to full Professor in 2016. Her research focuses on the development of conjugated polymers and organic nanomaterials, and exploration of their applications in energy and biomedical applications. Xiaodong Chen is the President's Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry (by courtesy), and Professor of Medicine (by courtesy) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He concurrently serves as Scientific Director at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). His research interests include mechano-materials and devices, the integrated nano-biointerface, digitalization of senses, and cyber–human interfaces.