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
Development of high performance second generation superconductors. Robust, high performance high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire underpins a worldwide opportunity to revolutionize the electric power grid, transportation, electronics and many other industries with a new generation of high efficiency, compact, and environmentally friendly electrical equipment. This program combines our expertise in superconductor thin-film fabrication and characterization and expertise of a local industrial ....Development of high performance second generation superconductors. Robust, high performance high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire underpins a worldwide opportunity to revolutionize the electric power grid, transportation, electronics and many other industries with a new generation of high efficiency, compact, and environmentally friendly electrical equipment. This program combines our expertise in superconductor thin-film fabrication and characterization and expertise of a local industrial partner in the development of superconducting wires. The success of the proposed project will bring benefit to local industry and employment, and significantly enhance the international competitiveness in HTS of Australian industry.Read moreRead less
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
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561240
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$121,510.00
Summary
Combined reactor for the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) of amorphous layers of silicon, silicon nitride and silicon oxide, and for Reactive Ion Etching. Our small, but very productive group (up to 30 publications per Discovery grant) has reached critical mass (8 people), and the acquisition of essential infrastructure is peremptory. Without the proposed plasma reactor our strong international impact (10 papers, one invited, at the 2003 world conference on photovoltaics) will ....Combined reactor for the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) of amorphous layers of silicon, silicon nitride and silicon oxide, and for Reactive Ion Etching. Our small, but very productive group (up to 30 publications per Discovery grant) has reached critical mass (8 people), and the acquisition of essential infrastructure is peremptory. Without the proposed plasma reactor our strong international impact (10 papers, one invited, at the 2003 world conference on photovoltaics) will wane. This machine permits to deposit thin layers of silicon nitride and amorphous silicon and is a versatile tool for investigating silicon materials for photovoltaics and microelectronics. Such reactors have become an essential tool for silicon solar cell work. Most laboratories across the world have at least one, including UNSW, but access to the latter is impractical.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
Compact high voltage superconducting fault current limiter employing a new core architecture and novel magnetic materials. The proposed project is an example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Fault current limiters are designed to protect electricity grids. The integration of superconductors in fault current limiting applications allows for this protection to be achieved in an energy efficient ma ....Compact high voltage superconducting fault current limiter employing a new core architecture and novel magnetic materials. The proposed project is an example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Fault current limiters are designed to protect electricity grids. The integration of superconductors in fault current limiting applications allows for this protection to be achieved in an energy efficient manner, since negligible impedance is applied to the network during the un-faulted state. Effective and efficient protection of the electricity network is of national interest, with any failure affecting industry and individuals. The proposed research team is in a leading position to develop the potential of this technology for both national networks and a world market.Read moreRead less
Development of Magnesium Diboride Superconductor Wires with High Upper Critical Field for MRI Applications. The aim of the program is to demonstrate the superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) wires with improved upper critical field (Hc2,) appropriate for large-scale applications. The basic idea will be based on the two-gap superconductivity to add well-distributed impurities which will act as scatterers, increasing resistivity, and thus Hc2. The core innovation of this proposal is based on t ....Development of Magnesium Diboride Superconductor Wires with High Upper Critical Field for MRI Applications. The aim of the program is to demonstrate the superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) wires with improved upper critical field (Hc2,) appropriate for large-scale applications. The basic idea will be based on the two-gap superconductivity to add well-distributed impurities which will act as scatterers, increasing resistivity, and thus Hc2. The core innovation of this proposal is based on the recent breakthrough in MgB2 that was made by the CIs through nano-SiC particle doping, which achieved a record high Hc2 in bulk form and enhancement of critical current density, Jc, in magnetic fields by an order of magnitude. The expected outcome is the development of superconducting MgB2 wires and coils with high Hc2 and Jc for MRI applications.Read moreRead less