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
Phase transitions in ultra-thin epitaxial polar oxide films. In this project we will utilize sophisticated thin film fabrication and characterization techniques( such as in-situ x-ray diffraction) and the most advanced computational materials science tools. Therefore this project will provide postgraduates and young researchers to cutting edge research, boosting the enormous potential of Australia in basic materials science. It brings together early career researchers with complimentary expert ....Phase transitions in ultra-thin epitaxial polar oxide films. In this project we will utilize sophisticated thin film fabrication and characterization techniques( such as in-situ x-ray diffraction) and the most advanced computational materials science tools. Therefore this project will provide postgraduates and young researchers to cutting edge research, boosting the enormous potential of Australia in basic materials science. It brings together early career researchers with complimentary expertise areas to interact with each other. It emphasizes cross-disciplinary research and exchange of research ideas across three continents; thus providing the ideal training ground for young researchers who are expected to make a major contribution to both, fundamental and applied research in the future.Read moreRead less
Graphene based nanostructures for high performance devices. Graphene sheets are the building blocks of graphite and a huge variety of carbon based nanostructures. Stacked graphene sheets have the unique property of the highest known thermal conductivity. By manipulating graphene sheets into three-dimensional channels and interconnects, vastly increased heat fluxes can be extracted from sensitive nanoscale devices such as microprocessors and micro electro mechanical systems. The potential of stac ....Graphene based nanostructures for high performance devices. Graphene sheets are the building blocks of graphite and a huge variety of carbon based nanostructures. Stacked graphene sheets have the unique property of the highest known thermal conductivity. By manipulating graphene sheets into three-dimensional channels and interconnects, vastly increased heat fluxes can be extracted from sensitive nanoscale devices such as microprocessors and micro electro mechanical systems. The potential of stacks of graphene as electrical contacts and interconnects will also be explored. By combining thermal and electrical functions, graphene will allow more efficient use of the valuable space on future devices. The outcome will be more efficient nanoscale devices to meet ever increasing performance demands.Read moreRead less
Dopants, defects and related issues in Zinc Oxide. ZnO is a promising semiconductor for optoelectronic devices namely green, blue, ultraviolet (UV) and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and ultimately UV lasers. It can also act as a transparent conductive oxide which has applications in flat panel displays and photovoltaic devices. Because of these potential applications, ZnO is the 'hottest' semiconductor with abounding literature and four new international conferences organised on progress in ....Dopants, defects and related issues in Zinc Oxide. ZnO is a promising semiconductor for optoelectronic devices namely green, blue, ultraviolet (UV) and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and ultimately UV lasers. It can also act as a transparent conductive oxide which has applications in flat panel displays and photovoltaic devices. Because of these potential applications, ZnO is the 'hottest' semiconductor with abounding literature and four new international conferences organised on progress in this research area in recent years. This project is an excellent opportunity for Australia to increase its strength in optoelectronic device research and to provide an understanding of some fundamental issues in doping, defect formation, diffusion and annihilation in ZnO.Read moreRead less
Nanocavities in Si - Structural Evolution and Metal Gettering. Nanocavities represent a novel means of minimising metallic contamination in the active region of Si microelectronic devices. We propose innovative experiments, using in-situ transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron-based x-ray methods, to achieve a fundamental understanding of the processes that govern nanocavity structural evolution and metallic impurity trapping. We seek to develop a patentable technology to enhance impu ....Nanocavities in Si - Structural Evolution and Metal Gettering. Nanocavities represent a novel means of minimising metallic contamination in the active region of Si microelectronic devices. We propose innovative experiments, using in-situ transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron-based x-ray methods, to achieve a fundamental understanding of the processes that govern nanocavity structural evolution and metallic impurity trapping. We seek to develop a patentable technology to enhance impurity trapping efficiency and thus dramatically increase the applicability of this industrially-relevant process.Read moreRead less
Probing the properties of amorphous semiconductors with swift heavy ion irradiation and synchrotron radiation. This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and the Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies and Advanced Materials. We seek to deduce and understand the processes operative during swift heavy ion irradiation of amorphous semiconductors to probe fundamental materials properties. Ou ....Probing the properties of amorphous semiconductors with swift heavy ion irradiation and synchrotron radiation. This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and the Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies and Advanced Materials. We seek to deduce and understand the processes operative during swift heavy ion irradiation of amorphous semiconductors to probe fundamental materials properties. Our results and accompanying scientific insight will broaden the applicability of amorphous semiconductors in advanced technologies, enhance the national research profile, increase the domestic knowledge base and yield skilled, young scientists trained to utilise the Australian Synchrotron.Read moreRead less
Amorphous-Phase Formation and Structure in Semiconductor Substrates following Swift Heavy-Ion Irradiation. This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and the Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies and Advanced Materials. We seek to deduce and understand the processes operative during swift heavy-ion irradiation of elemental and binary semiconductor substrates and identify and measure the ....Amorphous-Phase Formation and Structure in Semiconductor Substrates following Swift Heavy-Ion Irradiation. This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and the Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies and Advanced Materials. We seek to deduce and understand the processes operative during swift heavy-ion irradiation of elemental and binary semiconductor substrates and identify and measure the resulting amorphous-phase structure. Our results and accompanying scientific insight will broaden the applicability of these materials in advanced technologies, enhance the national research profile, increase the domestic knowledge base and yield skilled, young scientists trained to utilize the Australian Synchrotron when commissioned in 2007.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
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
Ferroelectric - ferromagnetic tunnel junctions. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials have attracted significant attention and exhibited potential in many applications such as storage memories, solid-state light sources and a range of smart chemical and biological sensors. This proposal seeks to investigate the behaviour of these materials in ultra-thin film form, where imposed geometrical constraints produce novel combinations of ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The fundamental unders ....Ferroelectric - ferromagnetic tunnel junctions. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials have attracted significant attention and exhibited potential in many applications such as storage memories, solid-state light sources and a range of smart chemical and biological sensors. This proposal seeks to investigate the behaviour of these materials in ultra-thin film form, where imposed geometrical constraints produce novel combinations of ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The fundamental understanding of the behaviour of these materials will help us develop new material systems with exciting possibilities in the design of advanced devices and sensors.Read moreRead less