Synthesis, characterisation, and applications of atomically thin layers of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. The project will explore the key fundamental properties of atomically-thin layers of functional materials made of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. By reducing the thickness of these materials to only a few atomic layers, the project will create novel electronic properties that are otherwise not exhibited. The aims are to understand layer-dependent changes to their p ....Synthesis, characterisation, and applications of atomically thin layers of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. The project will explore the key fundamental properties of atomically-thin layers of functional materials made of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. By reducing the thickness of these materials to only a few atomic layers, the project will create novel electronic properties that are otherwise not exhibited. The aims are to understand layer-dependent changes to their physical and chemical properties; to control and tune such properties by altering crystal structure and composition; and to investigate the effect of mixed-layer heterostructure configurations on these characteristics. The fundamental insights gained will serve as the driver for the next generation nanotechnology-enabled electronics and sensing systems.Read moreRead less
Diamond glass: An all-carbon technology for neural networks and biosensing. This project aims to use plasma deposition to synthesise diamond glass with the highest purity and the most diamond-like character so that it meets the strict requirements for emerging device applications. The extreme properties of diamond glass arise from the diamond-like bonding of the majority of its atoms. This amorphous, wide bandgap semiconductor is also the hardest known glass. The maximum diamond-like content pos ....Diamond glass: An all-carbon technology for neural networks and biosensing. This project aims to use plasma deposition to synthesise diamond glass with the highest purity and the most diamond-like character so that it meets the strict requirements for emerging device applications. The extreme properties of diamond glass arise from the diamond-like bonding of the majority of its atoms. This amorphous, wide bandgap semiconductor is also the hardest known glass. The maximum diamond-like content possible in diamond glass coatings is unknown, so determining its ultimate performance is difficult. Expected applications include medical diagnostics, non-volatile memories and programmable chips.Read moreRead less
Deformation and Adhesion of Thin Solid Films. Knowledge of the deformation mechanisms and adhesion of thin films on solid substrates is a major necessity for their mechanical property optimisation and commercialisation. The deformation mechanisms will be investigated by; 1) Nano-indentation with small spherical indenters, and 2) Transmission electron microscopy of focused ion beam milled cross-sections of such impressions. Adhesion will be evaluated using three techniques; 1) Tensile extension, ....Deformation and Adhesion of Thin Solid Films. Knowledge of the deformation mechanisms and adhesion of thin films on solid substrates is a major necessity for their mechanical property optimisation and commercialisation. The deformation mechanisms will be investigated by; 1) Nano-indentation with small spherical indenters, and 2) Transmission electron microscopy of focused ion beam milled cross-sections of such impressions. Adhesion will be evaluated using three techniques; 1) Tensile extension, 2) Nano-, and 3) Macro-indentation again with spherical indenters. In addition numerical modelling will compliment the observations of the film cracking and delamination about the impresion.Read moreRead less
Multilayer thin film memristors: designing interfaces and defect states in perovskites for nanoscale multi-state memories. This project will explore memristive devices, a frontier electronic memory technology, where the memory element's behaviour depends on its prior electronic experiences. This project will attempt to understand the processes that govern the storage and recall of information, to realise functional materials and interfaces that maximise memristive performance.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Flexible transparent oxides – the future of electronics is clear. This project aims to support the development of flexible electronic devices incorporating the functional properties of oxide thin films. Oxide thin films require high processing temperatures, which are incompatible with flexible substrates. This project seeks to provide a solution by using a novel transfer process that allows oxides to be combined with flexible polymer substrates. Applications in sensing under the influence of hea ....Flexible transparent oxides – the future of electronics is clear. This project aims to support the development of flexible electronic devices incorporating the functional properties of oxide thin films. Oxide thin films require high processing temperatures, which are incompatible with flexible substrates. This project seeks to provide a solution by using a novel transfer process that allows oxides to be combined with flexible polymer substrates. Applications in sensing under the influence of heat, gas, and light will be studied. This project will potentially create devices that can be conformally applied to surfaces or worn on a person to act as low-cost sensors for toxic gases or ultraviolet radiation.Read moreRead less
A novel maskless process for patterning and doping of silicon. The outcomes of this research will have consequences for the semiconductor industry by providing the potential for a completely new process tool for patterning and doping in device and circuit fabrication. The technology is also applicable as a simple and inexpensive way to 'write' conducting and insulating regions in silicon and may thus be applicable for smart cards and small industry. Successful implementation of the research will ....A novel maskless process for patterning and doping of silicon. The outcomes of this research will have consequences for the semiconductor industry by providing the potential for a completely new process tool for patterning and doping in device and circuit fabrication. The technology is also applicable as a simple and inexpensive way to 'write' conducting and insulating regions in silicon and may thus be applicable for smart cards and small industry. Successful implementation of the research will raise Australia's international profile in this area. This work will be particularly beneficial to a new high-tech Australian company, WRiota, which specializes in device technology based in nanoindentation of silicon.Read moreRead less
Transistor-based sensor technology for fast, reliable and accurate in situ monitoring of recycled wastewater. Water recycling is becoming critical for water supplies worldwide, due to declining natural supplies of fresh water, combined with increasing demand. The greatest community and industry concerns over recycled water are quality assurance and relative cost. Ensuring quality requires monitoring of contaminants, yet no single real-time technology exists to measure the myriad of potential con ....Transistor-based sensor technology for fast, reliable and accurate in situ monitoring of recycled wastewater. Water recycling is becoming critical for water supplies worldwide, due to declining natural supplies of fresh water, combined with increasing demand. The greatest community and industry concerns over recycled water are quality assurance and relative cost. Ensuring quality requires monitoring of contaminants, yet no single real-time technology exists to measure the myriad of potential contaminants. This project will develop technology using AlGaN/GaN-based transistors, sensitised to different contaminants, enabling multi-analyte real-time sensor arrays. In situ monitoring systems based on such arrays will be fast, accurate, reliable, low-cost, and applicable to a broad variety of water recycling projects.Read moreRead less
Thin combinatorial films for heat management in microelectronics. This project aims to provide a viable solution for heat management in microelectronics by using highly efficient Peltier devices made with thin combinatorial films. Heat generated by electric current, which is ubiquitous in microelectronic devices, has become increasingly problematic for high density charge-based logical circuitries. The project will significantly enhance the energy conversion efficiency of Peltier devices by opti ....Thin combinatorial films for heat management in microelectronics. This project aims to provide a viable solution for heat management in microelectronics by using highly efficient Peltier devices made with thin combinatorial films. Heat generated by electric current, which is ubiquitous in microelectronic devices, has become increasingly problematic for high density charge-based logical circuitries. The project will significantly enhance the energy conversion efficiency of Peltier devices by optimising the interdependent electron and phonon transports, simultaneously, with a new concept of thin combinatorial films for heat management in microelectronic devices. This is expected to facilitate the development of novel materials in Australia, with access to a large global market.Read moreRead less
Investigation of novel magneto-optic materials exhibiting high Faraday figure of merit. Magneto-optical materials have a wide range of potential applications in consumer products, telecommunications and defence. Nanotechnologies based on these materials offer an even broader range of emerging applications. Understanding and participating in the development of magneto-optic technologies will therefore be critical to maintaining Australia's knowledge base and expertise in future technological adv ....Investigation of novel magneto-optic materials exhibiting high Faraday figure of merit. Magneto-optical materials have a wide range of potential applications in consumer products, telecommunications and defence. Nanotechnologies based on these materials offer an even broader range of emerging applications. Understanding and participating in the development of magneto-optic technologies will therefore be critical to maintaining Australia's knowledge base and expertise in future technological advances. Given the early stages of development of these technologies, Australia's expertise in material science and the patent rights held by Australian companies in this area, Australia has the opportunity to make major contributions to this field, and the potential to capitalise on the application of these technologies in niche markets.Read moreRead less
THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS NANO-MATERIALS. We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in applications ....THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS NANO-MATERIALS. We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in applications as diverse as lithographic templates for electronic and optical devices, nano-porous membranes and photonic band gap materials. We shall verify our theoretical predictions by carrying out experiments on the various molecular architectures that we have studied theoretically.Read moreRead less