Interactions, phase behavior and self-assembly of colloidal nanorods: Establishing design rules for creating new nano-structured materials. This project aims to apply new computational methods developed by the applicant to characterise the interactions between colloidal nanorods and their self-assembly in the presence of interfaces and directional interactions. While nanoparticles can currently be made in a staggering array of shapes, patterns and materials, organising such objects into extended ....Interactions, phase behavior and self-assembly of colloidal nanorods: Establishing design rules for creating new nano-structured materials. This project aims to apply new computational methods developed by the applicant to characterise the interactions between colloidal nanorods and their self-assembly in the presence of interfaces and directional interactions. While nanoparticles can currently be made in a staggering array of shapes, patterns and materials, organising such objects into extended structures that could revolutionise technology remains a challenge. The expected outcome is a robust strategy for making monolayer films of rods aligned perpendicular to a variety of interfaces for the fabrication of solar cells, microfiltration membranes and biosensors.Read moreRead less
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
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL120100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,645,586.00
Summary
Understanding and controlling the properties of Dirac electronic materials. This project will gain deep insights into a new class of materials that includes graphene, the thinnest possible plane of carbon. New electronic properties will be engineered in Dirac materials to make them valuable for applications in computing, sensors, and solar power generation.
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
Semiconductor quantum wells at the atomic scale. The project will prepare novel semiconductor materials based on layered transition metal dichalcogenides in which electrons are confined in atomically-thin planes. This strong confinement leads to new properties that will be studied in this project, including strong electron-electron interactions, strong electron-defect interactions and atomically-sharp heterostructures. Additionally the novel electronic structure of the dichalcogenides leads to n ....Semiconductor quantum wells at the atomic scale. The project will prepare novel semiconductor materials based on layered transition metal dichalcogenides in which electrons are confined in atomically-thin planes. This strong confinement leads to new properties that will be studied in this project, including strong electron-electron interactions, strong electron-defect interactions and atomically-sharp heterostructures. Additionally the novel electronic structure of the dichalcogenides leads to new electronically and optically addressable information storage and transmission based on the 'valley' of the electrons. It is expected that these new properties will enable photovoltaics, quantum-confined devices operating at room temperature, and new information processing based on the valley degree of freedom.Read moreRead less
The development of inexpensive negatively charged films to increase the efficiency of commercial solar cells. This project aims to reduce the cost of solar electricity by developing inexpensive, negatively charged dielectric films. When deposited on the surfaces of commercial solar cells, these films will significantly increase cell efficiency, thereby producing more power from a given area.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Scanning auger microscope facility for elemental imaging and characterisation of surfaces and interfaces. This project will establish a scanning auger microprobe facility as part of the Australian microscopy and microanalysis research facility. It will provide advanced characterisation and ultra-high resolution imaging of elemental species on surfaces, for researchers working in the areas of nano- and green technologies, and minerals processing.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100173
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,062.00
Summary
Strain-stabilised perovskite optoelectronics: from fundamentals to devices. This project aims to develop deep structure-property relationships and strain engineering protocols to generate stable forms of the emerging inorganic halide perovskite semiconductors, which are promising for next-generation solar cells and light emitting diodes. This project expects to arrive at working light emitter and detector prototypes via a three-dimensional, multi-length scale strain engineering approach that uti ....Strain-stabilised perovskite optoelectronics: from fundamentals to devices. This project aims to develop deep structure-property relationships and strain engineering protocols to generate stable forms of the emerging inorganic halide perovskite semiconductors, which are promising for next-generation solar cells and light emitting diodes. This project expects to arrive at working light emitter and detector prototypes via a three-dimensional, multi-length scale strain engineering approach that utilises materials processing techniques already used in the semiconductor industry. The expected outcomes include the development of new stabilisation methods which are compatible with facile and scalable device processing, which will directly impact the success of future perovskite optoelectronic devices and technologies.Read moreRead less
Next generation excitonic solar cells using advanced charge generation concepts: setting the new efficiency benchmark. Next generation cheap organic solar cells will be developed, which will facilitate the large scale deployment of affordable solar cells, thus enabling Australia to reduce its carbon footprint. The proposed significant advances in solar cell design will place Australia at the forefront of this technology creating new industries.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100054
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$824,080.00
Summary
Facility for electric and magnetic probes of materials at extreme conditions. This project aims to establish a readily accessible facility for measurement of electric and magnetic properties of materials under extreme temperature, magnetic field, and sensitivity conditions. The expected outcome is to build capacity for and support world-leading research into novel topological materials, atomically thin materials, materials with strong light-matter interactions and magnetic materials. The benefit ....Facility for electric and magnetic probes of materials at extreme conditions. This project aims to establish a readily accessible facility for measurement of electric and magnetic properties of materials under extreme temperature, magnetic field, and sensitivity conditions. The expected outcome is to build capacity for and support world-leading research into novel topological materials, atomically thin materials, materials with strong light-matter interactions and magnetic materials. The benefits to society are new devices for efficient generation, storage, transmission and switching of energy.Read moreRead less