Electronic functionality in nanoscale materials: from discovery to design. This project will develop innovative multifunctional carbon/boron-nitride nanomaterials by devising new strategies to manipulate their electronic functionality. Outcomes will include technological breakthroughs leading to smart materials for energy storage, greenhouse gas emission reduction and nanoelectronics.
Exploring electronic functionality in low-dimensional carbon and boron-nitride nanomaterials via advanced theoretical modelling. This project will spawn innovative carbon/boron nitride materials for next-generation electronics devices by devising new strategies to manipulate and control electronic structure as well as charge/spin transport properties. Outcomes will include technological breakthroughs leading to truly smaller, faster and smarter electronics materials.
Non-precious fuel cell cathode catalysts from carbon-based nanohybrids: a computational to experimental quest. This joint computational-experimental project will address significant problems including high cost, limited availability and poor performance in traditional platinum-based fuel cell technology. The outcomes are expected to help address global energy problems through the development of inexpensive fuel cell catalysts based on carbon nanohybrids.
The bad metallic state in quantum materials. The project seeks to elucidate how an important quantum state of matter emerges from strong interactions between electrons. Quantum materials are a diverse class of materials whose unusual properties emerge from the strong interactions between electrons. Many have metallic phases with a low electrical conductivity (bad metals). The aim is to understand and characterise this quantum state of matter and how it emerges from the constituent electrons. An ....The bad metallic state in quantum materials. The project seeks to elucidate how an important quantum state of matter emerges from strong interactions between electrons. Quantum materials are a diverse class of materials whose unusual properties emerge from the strong interactions between electrons. Many have metallic phases with a low electrical conductivity (bad metals). The aim is to understand and characterise this quantum state of matter and how it emerges from the constituent electrons. An expected outcome will be falsification of specific theoretical models (based on techniques from string theory) and development of concepts that can be used to interpret experiments, including on ultra-cold atomic gases. Projected future benefits include new insights and concepts that may aid the design and synthesis of new materials for applications based on superconductivity, thermoelectricity and magnetoresistance.Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride heterostructures for solar hydrogen production. This project aims to develop a low cost and efficient photo-catalyst for splitting water into clean hydrogen fuel. Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals hetero-structures (stacked 2D crystals) can modulate optical absorption, charge separation and hydrogen evolution activity better than a single 2D material and thus produce hydrogen more efficiently. The approach will build on recent success in controlling elec ....Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride heterostructures for solar hydrogen production. This project aims to develop a low cost and efficient photo-catalyst for splitting water into clean hydrogen fuel. Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals hetero-structures (stacked 2D crystals) can modulate optical absorption, charge separation and hydrogen evolution activity better than a single 2D material and thus produce hydrogen more efficiently. The approach will build on recent success in controlling electron coupling at the hetero-interface. The materials and knowledge achieved from this project will advance the development of renewable energy technology, providing solutions to the global energy and environmental issues.Read moreRead less
Designing and Building Novel 2D Hybrid Materials. The aim of this project is to use computational and experimental techniques to discover and fabricate new hybrid materials. Single-layer (2-D) materials like graphene have gained prominence and new ones are constantly being reported. Hybrid materials built from combinations of 2-D layers are appearing but progress is slow. This project is designed to increase the rate of discovery and fabrication of hybrids. The outcome would be an extensive data ....Designing and Building Novel 2D Hybrid Materials. The aim of this project is to use computational and experimental techniques to discover and fabricate new hybrid materials. Single-layer (2-D) materials like graphene have gained prominence and new ones are constantly being reported. Hybrid materials built from combinations of 2-D layers are appearing but progress is slow. This project is designed to increase the rate of discovery and fabrication of hybrids. The outcome would be an extensive database of materials properties, clear direction on how to control material properties, and manufacturing protocols to build a wide range of new materials.Read moreRead less
Beyond the standard model of organic quantum spin liquids. This project aims to apply new insights about the magnetic interactions in molecular crystals to model their emergent quantum behaviours via state-of-the-art analytical and computational methods. It will focus on organic charge transfer salts that exhibit superconductivity, multiferroicity, and quantum spin liquids, as a result of the strong interactions between electrons. This will provide new approaches to modelling the electronic and ....Beyond the standard model of organic quantum spin liquids. This project aims to apply new insights about the magnetic interactions in molecular crystals to model their emergent quantum behaviours via state-of-the-art analytical and computational methods. It will focus on organic charge transfer salts that exhibit superconductivity, multiferroicity, and quantum spin liquids, as a result of the strong interactions between electrons. This will provide new approaches to modelling the electronic and magnetic properties of structurally complex materials. Many have widespread potential for applications, such as electricity transport, thermoelectric refrigeration, field sensing, spintronics, and in future classical and quantum computers.Read moreRead less
Simulating quantum states of matter: connecting theory to applications in science and technology. Quantum phenomena are ubiquitous and critical to the functioning of many modern technological devices, for example sensors and computer chips used in mobile phones. Although great strides have been made in recent decades in describing quantum phenomena theoretically, computational modelling is an essential ingredient to describe real experiments and devices. This project aims to develop the next gen ....Simulating quantum states of matter: connecting theory to applications in science and technology. Quantum phenomena are ubiquitous and critical to the functioning of many modern technological devices, for example sensors and computer chips used in mobile phones. Although great strides have been made in recent decades in describing quantum phenomena theoretically, computational modelling is an essential ingredient to describe real experiments and devices. This project aims to develop the next generation of computational tools aimed at two major themes: characterising topological states of matter, and modelling non-equilibrium phenomena. These tools will be invaluable for the design and modelling of quantum devices and novel materials and will enable the development of the next generation of technological devices.Read moreRead less
Trouble at the bottom: exploring the limits of Fermi liquid theory through dimensionless ratios. Ratios allow us to understand how big we expect something to be. This project will discover new ratios in materials that are difficult to understand, but have remarkable properties that could lead to dramatic new technologies if we understood them better.
Quantum many-body theory of electrical and thermal transport properties of strongly correlated electron materials. New advanced electronic materials conduct heat and electricity via novel mechanisms that must be described via quantum theory. Understanding and modelling these material properties may lead to design of better materials for use in environmentally friendly refrigerators and power generators that do not require mechanical parts.