Low-cost, Lightweight and Liquid Helium-free Superconducting MRI Magnet. This project aims to develop a liquid-helium-free superconducting technology to address the need for more affordable MRI magnets that currently rely on expensive, limited supplies of liquid helium. This project expects to generate a world-first, much needed MRI systems to be operated in persistent mode without a power supply, to obtain high-resolution images and low-cost operation. The expected outcomes include a novel, lig ....Low-cost, Lightweight and Liquid Helium-free Superconducting MRI Magnet. This project aims to develop a liquid-helium-free superconducting technology to address the need for more affordable MRI magnets that currently rely on expensive, limited supplies of liquid helium. This project expects to generate a world-first, much needed MRI systems to be operated in persistent mode without a power supply, to obtain high-resolution images and low-cost operation. The expected outcomes include a novel, lightweight, easy-to-operate magnesium diboride superconducting MRI magnet prototype under persistent mode operation. This should provide significant benefits, including reducing the cost associated with conventional liquid helium-dependent technologies and ensuring Australia at the forefront of MRI development worldwide.Read moreRead less
Engineering one dimensional quantum phases with nanostructured Josephson junction arrays. This project aims to engineer novel quantum electronic devices based on strongly-coupled, one-dimensional superconducting microcircuits. These will be realised using chains of nanoscale superconducting islands fabricated on a chip. The project expects to achieve a special type of insulating state, where individual charges can be transported one by one. This would be significant as a primary standard that pr ....Engineering one dimensional quantum phases with nanostructured Josephson junction arrays. This project aims to engineer novel quantum electronic devices based on strongly-coupled, one-dimensional superconducting microcircuits. These will be realised using chains of nanoscale superconducting islands fabricated on a chip. The project expects to achieve a special type of insulating state, where individual charges can be transported one by one. This would be significant as a primary standard that precisely links time (or frequency) to charge. The project also aims to create a current mirror device, in which a supercurrent sent down one chain induces a reflected supercurrent in the other, forming the basis of a new superconducting quantum bit. Other devices will be used to study a simplified model related to high temperature superconductors.Read moreRead less
Nanostructure engineered low activation superconductors for fusion energy. This project aims to develop a novel, low activation and liquid helium-free superconducting solution with superior electromagnetic, mechanical and thermal properties for use in fusion reactors. Superconducting magnets and their associated cryogenic cooling systems represent a key determinant of thermal efficiency and the construction/operating costs of fusion reactors. The project expects to overcome these barriers so tha ....Nanostructure engineered low activation superconductors for fusion energy. This project aims to develop a novel, low activation and liquid helium-free superconducting solution with superior electromagnetic, mechanical and thermal properties for use in fusion reactors. Superconducting magnets and their associated cryogenic cooling systems represent a key determinant of thermal efficiency and the construction/operating costs of fusion reactors. The project expects to overcome these barriers so that widespread uptake of these reactors becomes viable. Outcomes from the project will include a fundamental understanding of pure and doping-induced isotopic magnesium diboride superconductors and their behaviour under high neutron flux and harsh plasma atmosphere, which are specifically designed for application in next-generation, low-cost fusion reactors.Read moreRead less
Connecting man to machine: Wireless brain-machine interface. This project aims to enable direct wireless transmission of brain signals leading to reliable thought control of computers, wheelchairs, exoskeletons and vehicles. Such technology is currently limited by the fidelity, reliability, safety and longevity of the electrodes used to record signals from the brain. Partner organisation, SmartStent, has developed a novel stent-based electrode array which allows the extraction of high fidelity n ....Connecting man to machine: Wireless brain-machine interface. This project aims to enable direct wireless transmission of brain signals leading to reliable thought control of computers, wheelchairs, exoskeletons and vehicles. Such technology is currently limited by the fidelity, reliability, safety and longevity of the electrodes used to record signals from the brain. Partner organisation, SmartStent, has developed a novel stent-based electrode array which allows the extraction of high fidelity neural information without risky brain surgery and implant rejection. The project aims to combine SmartStent's stent-electrode technology with the diamond materials technology developed by the research team for hermetic encapsulation of electronics.Read moreRead less
Design and Fabrication of 2D Hybrid Materials. There are >300 2D materials like graphene with potentially exotic and useful electrooptic and superconductor properties that will drive novel industrial applications. This project aims to use advanced computational and experimental techniques to discover and fabricate new 2D hybrid materials built from different layers of 2D materials. This approach is essential as the number of possible hybrids is huge (millions) and current processes to identify a ....Design and Fabrication of 2D Hybrid Materials. There are >300 2D materials like graphene with potentially exotic and useful electrooptic and superconductor properties that will drive novel industrial applications. This project aims to use advanced computational and experimental techniques to discover and fabricate new 2D hybrid materials built from different layers of 2D materials. This approach is essential as the number of possible hybrids is huge (millions) and current processes to identify and build 2D hybrids are technically challenging and slow. Expected outcomes include defining a new paradigm for efficient identification and synthesis of 2D hybrids with exotic, bespoke properties. The generation of a large database of materials for researchers/industry would be of wide benefit.Read moreRead less
Understanding and eliminating dissipation in superconducting devices: the origin of two-level defects. Superconducting quantum circuits constitute the next generation of nano-electronics. They find application in medicine, biology and geophysics; from mapping mineral deposits to imaging heart function, and are a promising candidate for quantum information processing and high speed electronics. A major loss mechanism within a Josephson junction (which forms the basis of a quantum circuit) is caus ....Understanding and eliminating dissipation in superconducting devices: the origin of two-level defects. Superconducting quantum circuits constitute the next generation of nano-electronics. They find application in medicine, biology and geophysics; from mapping mineral deposits to imaging heart function, and are a promising candidate for quantum information processing and high speed electronics. A major loss mechanism within a Josephson junction (which forms the basis of a quantum circuit) is caused by intrinsic two-level defects. What is not known is the true microscopic nature of these defects, although there are many theories. This project aims to unravel this mystery using detailed theoretical and computation analysis based on precision experimental characterisation.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100987
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,186.00
Summary
Designing next generation smart materials for capturing toxic gases. The project aims to use rapid computational and experimental screening tools to speed the design and development of robust metal organic frameworks for detecting and capturing toxic gases. Detecting and capturing toxic gases is vital for numerous industrial processes. Metal organic frameworks are porous materials that hold the world record for specific surface area and storage of gases. Their development and application in prac ....Designing next generation smart materials for capturing toxic gases. The project aims to use rapid computational and experimental screening tools to speed the design and development of robust metal organic frameworks for detecting and capturing toxic gases. Detecting and capturing toxic gases is vital for numerous industrial processes. Metal organic frameworks are porous materials that hold the world record for specific surface area and storage of gases. Their development and application in practical conditions require stability in the operating environment. It is expected that this project will lead to the development of efficient and effective porous materials that detect and capture toxic gases, thus improving Australian industry’s ability to monitor and eliminate emissions, improving air quality and public health.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100020
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
High bandwidth, high speed, terahertz optical sampling and analysis system. This project aims to promote scientific and technological research by providing access to a wide bandwidth, high speed, high resolution advanced terahertz spectrometer. Terahertz frequencies are the least-explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum and investment here is likely to yield scientific and technological reward. Expected outcomes are new commercial devices and products operating in the terahertz regime. Th ....High bandwidth, high speed, terahertz optical sampling and analysis system. This project aims to promote scientific and technological research by providing access to a wide bandwidth, high speed, high resolution advanced terahertz spectrometer. Terahertz frequencies are the least-explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum and investment here is likely to yield scientific and technological reward. Expected outcomes are new commercial devices and products operating in the terahertz regime. The project’s expected effects include new commercial terahertz products; better monitoring of explosives and toxins; research training and job creation; reduced risk in decision making, especially when monitoring water; and cultural benefits, through applying terahertz methods to artworks.Read moreRead less
Aberration-corrected atom probe tomography for materials engineering. Observing atomic-scale structure (AS) is key to unlocking advanced materials science and engineering (MSE).
Aims: We aim to (1) develop software that will enable the accurate observation of atoms in a material, and (2) apply this new software to additive manufactured alloys and quantum computing materials.
Significance: We expect to complete aberration-corrected atom probe tomography capability for the first time international ....Aberration-corrected atom probe tomography for materials engineering. Observing atomic-scale structure (AS) is key to unlocking advanced materials science and engineering (MSE).
Aims: We aim to (1) develop software that will enable the accurate observation of atoms in a material, and (2) apply this new software to additive manufactured alloys and quantum computing materials.
Significance: We expect to complete aberration-corrected atom probe tomography capability for the first time internationally. We intend to gain better insights into some longstanding questions in MSE that can only be answered by accurately observing AS.
Benefits: By making the outcomes commercially available, we aspire to improve consistency in the quality of products, and increased yield, that result from manufacturing processes.Read moreRead less
Enabling semiconductor nanowire technologies via 3D atomic-scale insight. Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are nanotechnology building blocks that have the potential to transform solar cells, light emitting diodes, lasers and transistors, creating new industries in communications, energy and healthcare. The industrial development of NWs has been blocked by uncertainties in the relationships between their growth conditions, properties and atomic-scale structure. This project will address this chall ....Enabling semiconductor nanowire technologies via 3D atomic-scale insight. Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are nanotechnology building blocks that have the potential to transform solar cells, light emitting diodes, lasers and transistors, creating new industries in communications, energy and healthcare. The industrial development of NWs has been blocked by uncertainties in the relationships between their growth conditions, properties and atomic-scale structure. This project will address this challenge by establishing a rigorous framework for these relationships. The project aims to achieve this by harnessing the unique power of atom probe microscopy to reveal the NW structure in three dimensions, and at atomic-resolution. The project aims to place Australian research at the frontier of development of these future industries.Read moreRead less