Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to det ....Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to determine structure and interatomic bonding in much thicker nanostructures than hitherto possible. This should benefit academic and industrial researchers by giving them new tools to understand and design high-performance materials for applications ranging from catalysis to energy storage to next-generation electronics.Read moreRead less
Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a ....Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a tool to measure the phonon density of states which is critical for developing a mathematical model of thermal boundary resistance. This is expected to identify mechanisms for ultra-low thermal conductivity leading to potential applications in thermoelectric generators and heat-resistant materials.Read moreRead less
Imaging Symmetry – A New Mechanism for Revealing the Structure of Matter. This project aims to develop a revolutionary method for imaging atomic structures. In this method, the image contrast derives from the symmetry of the structure, measured at the picometre scale, using tiny electron probes. This new conceptual approach is expected to overcome some of the key limitations of existing electron microscopy methods by providing increased sensitivity and reduced radiation damage, thereby enabling ....Imaging Symmetry – A New Mechanism for Revealing the Structure of Matter. This project aims to develop a revolutionary method for imaging atomic structures. In this method, the image contrast derives from the symmetry of the structure, measured at the picometre scale, using tiny electron probes. This new conceptual approach is expected to overcome some of the key limitations of existing electron microscopy methods by providing increased sensitivity and reduced radiation damage, thereby enabling complex structures in technologically important materials to be determined. This should provide new ways to understand the properties of these materials advanced materials and engineer them for applications in the energy, transport, health, communications and other sectors of society. 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
Surface and Interface Engineering for Superconducting Quantum Circuits. The limiting factor for current quantum computers is a process called decoherence. This project aims to identify new strategies to reduce decoherence in quantum computer components using an interdisciplinary approach based on quantum physics, materials science, and engineering. This project involves investigating the effect of
atomically sharp interfaces on decoherence and using capping layers to control and/or inhibit oxide ....Surface and Interface Engineering for Superconducting Quantum Circuits. The limiting factor for current quantum computers is a process called decoherence. This project aims to identify new strategies to reduce decoherence in quantum computer components using an interdisciplinary approach based on quantum physics, materials science, and engineering. This project involves investigating the effect of
atomically sharp interfaces on decoherence and using capping layers to control and/or inhibit oxide growth that reduce the contribution of interfaces to decoherence. Expected outcomes of this project include development of solutions to fabricate long-lived superconducting qubits benefiting superconducting quantum technologies and making a significant step towards realisation of a practical quantum computer.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the deple ....Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the depletion of background spins in natural silicon and now aim to push the enrichment to greater extremes. We will integrate the extreme material into functional devices that use electrically detected electron spin resonance to probe exceptionally durable quantum states and open a near-term pathway to large-scale devices.Read moreRead less
From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for thre ....From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for three-dimensional characterisation and simulations at the atomic-scale of embedded nanostructures. This should provide significant benefits for the improved design of light alloys, such as for the automotive and aerospace sectors, but also for high-tech materials whose function depends on precipitates. Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of magnetic 2D materials with quantum microscopy. This project aims to create a universal, high-throughput platform to characterise magnetic 2D materials, by exploiting recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable the measurement of hitherto inaccessible magnetic properties of individual 2D microsheets, the imaging of device-relevant phenomena such as domain wall dynamics and skyrmionics, and the systematic screening of newly synthesised materials. Antici ....Unlocking the potential of magnetic 2D materials with quantum microscopy. This project aims to create a universal, high-throughput platform to characterise magnetic 2D materials, by exploiting recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable the measurement of hitherto inaccessible magnetic properties of individual 2D microsheets, the imaging of device-relevant phenomena such as domain wall dynamics and skyrmionics, and the systematic screening of newly synthesised materials. Anticipated outcomes include crucial new insights into 2D magnetism and the discovery of magnetic 2D materials compatible with real-world conditions. This should accelerate the development of future energy-efficient and flexible electronics and memory technologies, where magnetic 2D materials are expected to play a key role.
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Nonlinear Optical Metrology of Electronic Interfaces for Silicon Devices. This project aims to develop a prototype electric field induced second harmonic generation metrology setup for studying thin film dielectric interfaces on silicon in partnership with Femtometrix. The quality of these silicon-dielectric interfaces, which are affected by trapped charges and defects, are critical for microelectronic and optoelectronic device manufacturing. Through several proposed methodologies to separate th ....Nonlinear Optical Metrology of Electronic Interfaces for Silicon Devices. This project aims to develop a prototype electric field induced second harmonic generation metrology setup for studying thin film dielectric interfaces on silicon in partnership with Femtometrix. The quality of these silicon-dielectric interfaces, which are affected by trapped charges and defects, are critical for microelectronic and optoelectronic device manufacturing. Through several proposed methodologies to separate the effect of interface and bulk signals, it is expected that the sensitivity of the prototype setup will exceed the previous record of 1 kV/cm. This metrology technique will be further expanded for applicability to silicon photovoltaics, specifically passivating contacts which cannot be studied via conventional techniques.Read moreRead less
Revealing the atoms that control performance in photoactive perovskites. This project aims to develop new electron microscopy techniques that will unambiguously determine the elusive structures of photoactive perovskite compounds under static and operational conditions, while correlating crystal structure with solar cell device performance. Photoactive perovskites are promising photovoltaic materials, however, many are sensitive to air and irradiation. This has impeded a huge international resea ....Revealing the atoms that control performance in photoactive perovskites. This project aims to develop new electron microscopy techniques that will unambiguously determine the elusive structures of photoactive perovskite compounds under static and operational conditions, while correlating crystal structure with solar cell device performance. Photoactive perovskites are promising photovoltaic materials, however, many are sensitive to air and irradiation. This has impeded a huge international research effort to determine their structure reliably at the atomic scale. With these new techniques applied to leading compounds and devices, it is expected this project will reveal the structural effects controlling electrical properties and device performance and so enable the design of superior perovskite photovoltaics.Read moreRead less