Materials Optimization and Interfacial Engineering of Cobalt and Europium Codoped ZnO for Multifunctional Spintronic Devices. Recent advances in new materials engineering holds a promise of surmounting the miniaturization limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin of electrons in semiconductors. Spin transistor is among a number of nanoscale devices that may revolutionize telecommunications, computing and daily life. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semico ....Materials Optimization and Interfacial Engineering of Cobalt and Europium Codoped ZnO for Multifunctional Spintronic Devices. Recent advances in new materials engineering holds a promise of surmounting the miniaturization limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin of electrons in semiconductors. Spin transistor is among a number of nanoscale devices that may revolutionize telecommunications, computing and daily life. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semiconductors; an international market will grow to US$1000bn per year in 2013. In a few years, the spin transistor will be on par with electronics. Success of this program will facilitate the development of spintronic materials and technologies, and also generated patents and intellectual properties, thus resulting in revenue for Australia through their commercialisations.Read moreRead less
Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides. With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transpar ....Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides. With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transparent conducting oxide materials for a rapidly growing set of applications. The new devices will directly improve our standard of living and additional economic benefits will come from commercialisation of the technology both here and overseas.Read moreRead less
Virtual acoustic sensors for active noise control systems. Traditional active noise control systems achieve the greatest noise reduction at the microphone error sensor(s). It is often desirable to achieve the maximum noise reduction remote from such sensors. Virtual sensing technology, the focus of this application, has the promise to replace traditional microphone sensing by projecting the zone of quiet away from the sensor microphones and directly into the ear of the user of the active noise c ....Virtual acoustic sensors for active noise control systems. Traditional active noise control systems achieve the greatest noise reduction at the microphone error sensor(s). It is often desirable to achieve the maximum noise reduction remote from such sensors. Virtual sensing technology, the focus of this application, has the promise to replace traditional microphone sensing by projecting the zone of quiet away from the sensor microphones and directly into the ear of the user of the active noise control system. This will revolutionise the sensing used in active noise control systems, and in doing so allow the realisation of active noise control in applications that have previously been infeasible.Read moreRead less
Current limiting mechanisms in magnesium diboride superconductors. Numerous important applications have already been identified for MgB2 wire: power transmission cables, fault current limiters, transformers and magnets for motors and generators, as well as MRI. The significant increase in current carrying capacity of one order of magnitude expected to result from the proposed program will enable MgB2 to replace presently existing low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and expensive high-temperat ....Current limiting mechanisms in magnesium diboride superconductors. Numerous important applications have already been identified for MgB2 wire: power transmission cables, fault current limiters, transformers and magnets for motors and generators, as well as MRI. The significant increase in current carrying capacity of one order of magnitude expected to result from the proposed program will enable MgB2 to replace presently existing low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and expensive high-temperature superconductors (HTS) in numerous important applications. MgB2 technology, coupled with renewable energy sources, has the potential to provide a long-term solution to the energy crisis and global warming threat.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
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
Atomic-Scale Identification of Amorphization and Relaxation Processes in Compound Semiconductors. We seek a fundamental understanding of the processes that govern implantation-induced structure, at the nanometer scale, in the compound semiconductors used in photonic device fabrication. Since implantation-induced disorder limits the performance of such devices, the proposed project is of substantial technological significance and national benefit. The Photon Science techniques of perturbed angu ....Atomic-Scale Identification of Amorphization and Relaxation Processes in Compound Semiconductors. We seek a fundamental understanding of the processes that govern implantation-induced structure, at the nanometer scale, in the compound semiconductors used in photonic device fabrication. Since implantation-induced disorder limits the performance of such devices, the proposed project is of substantial technological significance and national benefit. The Photon Science techniques of perturbed angular correlation and extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy will be used to identify the mechanism of amorphisation and relaxation in order to enable more effective exploitation of compound semiconductors in advanced telecommunications systems.Read moreRead less
Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) and Nano-electromechanical Systems (NEMS) Technologies for Temperature Sensitive Semiconductors and Smart Materials. The development of a generic MEMS/NEMS technology will place Australia at the forefront of MEMS science and technology and will form a platform for new and innovative products using new science developed from the capabilities to be established in this project. This project and the results it will generate will have significant impact in devel ....Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) and Nano-electromechanical Systems (NEMS) Technologies for Temperature Sensitive Semiconductors and Smart Materials. The development of a generic MEMS/NEMS technology will place Australia at the forefront of MEMS science and technology and will form a platform for new and innovative products using new science developed from the capabilities to be established in this project. This project and the results it will generate will have significant impact in developing technologies that can transform Australian industry in biomedical and agricultural instrumentation and will be key to future optoelectronic defence systems for surveillance, and chemical and biological threat warning. It will have the potential to establish new industries, as well as generate disruptive technologies directly relevant to several industry sectors already established in Australia.Read moreRead less