Spin dependent transport in magnetic nanostructures. The ability to use electron spin in electronic circuits has opened new possibilities for designing devices. A well known example is the giant magnetoresistance, a phenomena discovered over fifteen years ago that now plays a key role in current high density magnetic disc drives. Future developments will involve spin dependent transport through structures wherein quantum interference effects will be important. Two basic problems facing the cons ....Spin dependent transport in magnetic nanostructures. The ability to use electron spin in electronic circuits has opened new possibilities for designing devices. A well known example is the giant magnetoresistance, a phenomena discovered over fifteen years ago that now plays a key role in current high density magnetic disc drives. Future developments will involve spin dependent transport through structures wherein quantum interference effects will be important. Two basic problems facing the construction of a complete theory of transport in such ?mesoscopic? conductors will be solved in this project. The results will provide important insights into the dynamics of spin transport through structures such as magnetic nano-wires.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561240
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$121,510.00
Summary
Combined reactor for the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) of amorphous layers of silicon, silicon nitride and silicon oxide, and for Reactive Ion Etching. Our small, but very productive group (up to 30 publications per Discovery grant) has reached critical mass (8 people), and the acquisition of essential infrastructure is peremptory. Without the proposed plasma reactor our strong international impact (10 papers, one invited, at the 2003 world conference on photovoltaics) will ....Combined reactor for the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) of amorphous layers of silicon, silicon nitride and silicon oxide, and for Reactive Ion Etching. Our small, but very productive group (up to 30 publications per Discovery grant) has reached critical mass (8 people), and the acquisition of essential infrastructure is peremptory. Without the proposed plasma reactor our strong international impact (10 papers, one invited, at the 2003 world conference on photovoltaics) will wane. This machine permits to deposit thin layers of silicon nitride and amorphous silicon and is a versatile tool for investigating silicon materials for photovoltaics and microelectronics. Such reactors have become an essential tool for silicon solar cell work. Most laboratories across the world have at least one, including UNSW, but access to the latter is impractical.Read moreRead less
Compact high voltage superconducting fault current limiter employing a new core architecture and novel magnetic materials. The proposed project is an example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Fault current limiters are designed to protect electricity grids. The integration of superconductors in fault current limiting applications allows for this protection to be achieved in an energy efficient ma ....Compact high voltage superconducting fault current limiter employing a new core architecture and novel magnetic materials. The proposed project is an example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Fault current limiters are designed to protect electricity grids. The integration of superconductors in fault current limiting applications allows for this protection to be achieved in an energy efficient manner, since negligible impedance is applied to the network during the un-faulted state. Effective and efficient protection of the electricity network is of national interest, with any failure affecting industry and individuals. The proposed research team is in a leading position to develop the potential of this technology for both national networks and a world market.Read moreRead less
Development of Magnesium Diboride Superconductor Wires with High Upper Critical Field for MRI Applications. The aim of the program is to demonstrate the superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) wires with improved upper critical field (Hc2,) appropriate for large-scale applications. The basic idea will be based on the two-gap superconductivity to add well-distributed impurities which will act as scatterers, increasing resistivity, and thus Hc2. The core innovation of this proposal is based on t ....Development of Magnesium Diboride Superconductor Wires with High Upper Critical Field for MRI Applications. The aim of the program is to demonstrate the superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) wires with improved upper critical field (Hc2,) appropriate for large-scale applications. The basic idea will be based on the two-gap superconductivity to add well-distributed impurities which will act as scatterers, increasing resistivity, and thus Hc2. The core innovation of this proposal is based on the recent breakthrough in MgB2 that was made by the CIs through nano-SiC particle doping, which achieved a record high Hc2 in bulk form and enhancement of critical current density, Jc, in magnetic fields by an order of magnitude. The expected outcome is the development of superconducting MgB2 wires and coils with high Hc2 and Jc for MRI applications.Read moreRead less
Mechanism and enhancement of supercurrent carrying ability in magnesium diboride superconductor. The newly discovered MgB2 superconductor has great potential to replace the existing conventional superconductors for uses in various medical and industrial applications. This project brings together two world leading groups with complementary expertise to develop a fundamental understanding of the factors controlling MgB2 performance and to find effective ways to significantly improve its supercurre ....Mechanism and enhancement of supercurrent carrying ability in magnesium diboride superconductor. The newly discovered MgB2 superconductor has great potential to replace the existing conventional superconductors for uses in various medical and industrial applications. This project brings together two world leading groups with complementary expertise to develop a fundamental understanding of the factors controlling MgB2 performance and to find effective ways to significantly improve its supercurrent carrying capabilities for practical applications. The outcome of this project will be of benefit to both countries and will lead to many practical applications such as transformers, rotors, and transmission cables, as well as magnetic resonance imaging without using liquid helium, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Read moreRead less
ADVANCED PHYSICS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SILICON MATERIALS AND DEVICES. Silicon, the semiconductor material that has revolutionised modern society through Microelectronics, is also at the centre of Photovoltaics, the technology that permits harvesting the energy from the sun to improve the quality of life and sustain it beyond the limitations of fossil fuel resources. By improving our understanding of the fundamental properties of silicon and advancing the solar cell devices made from it, this p ....ADVANCED PHYSICS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SILICON MATERIALS AND DEVICES. Silicon, the semiconductor material that has revolutionised modern society through Microelectronics, is also at the centre of Photovoltaics, the technology that permits harvesting the energy from the sun to improve the quality of life and sustain it beyond the limitations of fossil fuel resources. By improving our understanding of the fundamental properties of silicon and advancing the solar cell devices made from it, this project aims to increase Australia's presence in the vast field of Microlectronics and maintain its leading position in solar energy technologies.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and Modelling of Nanostructured Soft Magnetic Materials for Advanced Electromagnetic Applications. This project bridges the gap between nanomagnetic materials and practical applications. The knowledge generated and the international collaborations with world class scientists established through this cutting-edge research project will strengthen the leading status of Australia in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research outcomes will stimulate the growth of world ....Characterisation and Modelling of Nanostructured Soft Magnetic Materials for Advanced Electromagnetic Applications. This project bridges the gap between nanomagnetic materials and practical applications. The knowledge generated and the international collaborations with world class scientists established through this cutting-edge research project will strengthen the leading status of Australia in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research outcomes will stimulate the growth of world class Australian industries and hence the national economy through the commercial manufacturing of hi-tech nanomagnetic materials and innovative smart devices and systems. High quality PhD and honours project students will be trained.Read moreRead less
Magnesium diboride superconductor magnets for applications. The proposed development of magnesium diboride magnets is one of the core technologies that underlie applications in magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic separators, and other devices. The proposed international research consortium is in a leading position to explore the potential of these superconductor magnets for various applications. A breakthrough in the current proposal will lead to widespread commercial activities in a number of ....Magnesium diboride superconductor magnets for applications. The proposed development of magnesium diboride magnets is one of the core technologies that underlie applications in magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic separators, and other devices. The proposed international research consortium is in a leading position to explore the potential of these superconductor magnets for various applications. A breakthrough in the current proposal will lead to widespread commercial activities in a number of industry sectors: mineral separation, health, electric power, transportation, water purification, drug delivery, and space/aviation. Application of the proposal's outcomes will lead to enormous energy savings and environmental benefits. Read moreRead less
Improving silicon grain boundaries by linking electronic material quality and device manufacturing conditions. This project develops our recent findings for improving silicon grain boundaries in electronic devices such as cheap solar cells, active matrix displays, thin-film transistors, etc. The performance of such devices and their applications have been limited mainly because no simple link between manufacturing conditions and device quality has been found. However, we recently verified a phys ....Improving silicon grain boundaries by linking electronic material quality and device manufacturing conditions. This project develops our recent findings for improving silicon grain boundaries in electronic devices such as cheap solar cells, active matrix displays, thin-film transistors, etc. The performance of such devices and their applications have been limited mainly because no simple link between manufacturing conditions and device quality has been found. However, we recently verified a physical model description of grain boundaries on a broad range of devices, and this allows us to find such a link and to address prevailing problems from a new perspective. This will improve both the understanding and the manufacturing of such devices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775559
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
16 Tesla Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). Success of this proposal will enhance national and international collaboration through access to the proposed 16-Tesla PPMS by a large number of collaborating groups. This state-the-art facility will substantially enhance the materials characterisation capability of Australia. Equipped with this 16-Tesla PPMS and other related facilities the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials at the University of Wollongong will continue a ....16 Tesla Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). Success of this proposal will enhance national and international collaboration through access to the proposed 16-Tesla PPMS by a large number of collaborating groups. This state-the-art facility will substantially enhance the materials characterisation capability of Australia. Equipped with this 16-Tesla PPMS and other related facilities the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials at the University of Wollongong will continue as an important national and international centre for physical property characterisation. It will allow Australian researchers to remain competitive in this important of materials research.Read moreRead less