GRANULAR MATERIALS IN 3D: Structural, mechanical and dynamic properties from the grain-scale and beyond. Granular materials are the most abundant class of materials processed, stored or handled. They span from cereals to advanced-new-materials and, although simple in composition, their behaviour remains elusive. Through the unique combination of an advanced X-ray tomography facility and cutting-edge 3D network analysis and statistical mechanics approach, the structure, mechanics and dynamic be ....GRANULAR MATERIALS IN 3D: Structural, mechanical and dynamic properties from the grain-scale and beyond. Granular materials are the most abundant class of materials processed, stored or handled. They span from cereals to advanced-new-materials and, although simple in composition, their behaviour remains elusive. Through the unique combination of an advanced X-ray tomography facility and cutting-edge 3D network analysis and statistical mechanics approach, the structure, mechanics and dynamic behaviour of these systems will be explored at the grain-scale.
A greater understanding of this class of materials, which ranks second only to water on the scale of priorities of human activity, will have strong scientific, technological and economical impact in a wide range of fields from concrete to photonic-materials.Read moreRead less
Boron Nitride Nanotub Synthesis and Applications. Boron nitride (BN) nanotubes have an analogous structure to carbon nanotubes but offer many electronic and chemical properties. This project aims to synthesis BN nanotubes with controlled structures using a mechano-thermal method involving ball milling of boron powder at room temperature followed by thermal annealing in nitrogen gas. Systematic investigation will be conducted to clarify the fundamental formation mechanism related to various nano ....Boron Nitride Nanotub Synthesis and Applications. Boron nitride (BN) nanotubes have an analogous structure to carbon nanotubes but offer many electronic and chemical properties. This project aims to synthesis BN nanotubes with controlled structures using a mechano-thermal method involving ball milling of boron powder at room temperature followed by thermal annealing in nitrogen gas. Systematic investigation will be conducted to clarify the fundamental formation mechanism related to various nanostructures. New chemical, mechanical and thermal properties and possible applications will be explored. The outcomes of this research will be profoundly understanding of the controlled assembly of small atoms into nanosized tubules and an innovative synthesis technology.Read moreRead less
Swift Heavy Ion Tracks in Semiconductors and Insulators: New Insights using Synchrotron Scattering Experiments. The proposed research will broaden the domestic knowledge base and enhance the national research profile in an important cross-disciplinary and technologically-relevant field with a potential high impact in areas with considerable national activity. It will train young scientists, particularly in the use of two national facilities: the Australian Synchrotron and the ANU Heavy-Ion Accel ....Swift Heavy Ion Tracks in Semiconductors and Insulators: New Insights using Synchrotron Scattering Experiments. The proposed research will broaden the domestic knowledge base and enhance the national research profile in an important cross-disciplinary and technologically-relevant field with a potential high impact in areas with considerable national activity. It will train young scientists, particularly in the use of two national facilities: the Australian Synchrotron and the ANU Heavy-Ion Accelerator facility. Furthermore, domestic capabilities in materials characterization will be bolstered and the collaboration with overseas investigators will facilitate mutually beneficial transfer of expertise. The proposal is consistent with National Research Priority 3 and the Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science and Frontier Technologies. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354821
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Innovative Materials Production, Processing and Analysis Network. Materials science and engineering is decidedly interdisciplinary, covering a diverse spectrum of research from biology to construction, with an equally broad applications span encompassing all manufacturing industry. Australia has distinct strengths in materials but it has been difficult to promote sufficient interaction across discipline boundaries to fully exploit such strengths. The current network focuses on interdisciplinar ....Innovative Materials Production, Processing and Analysis Network. Materials science and engineering is decidedly interdisciplinary, covering a diverse spectrum of research from biology to construction, with an equally broad applications span encompassing all manufacturing industry. Australia has distinct strengths in materials but it has been difficult to promote sufficient interaction across discipline boundaries to fully exploit such strengths. The current network focuses on interdisciplinary materials interactions nationally by: i) bringing the materials community together at an annual workshop, ii) exposing PhD students and young researchers to cross-disciplinary research initiatives and facilities, iii) identifying common infrastructure needs, iv) linking with industry networks, eg AMTN, and to the international community.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
Theory and synthesis of self-assembled polyfunctional supramolecular fibres and associated soft materials. Liquid crystals (LCs) and molecular fibres are essential structural and functional components of living systems. A new class of hybrid materials, combining LC and fibrous aspects, will be developed, based on self-assembly of 'linactants', invented by the CI and colleagues.
Many-Electron Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Materials Studied by Electron Momentum Spectroscopy. Electron momentum spectroscopy is a technique that resembles playing pool with electrons. This technique, largely developed in Australia, determines the binding energy and velocity distribution of electrons in matter. This distribution, closely related to the quantum mechanical wave function of the electrons, can be compared directly with calculations of the electronic structure. Such a compa ....Many-Electron Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Materials Studied by Electron Momentum Spectroscopy. Electron momentum spectroscopy is a technique that resembles playing pool with electrons. This technique, largely developed in Australia, determines the binding energy and velocity distribution of electrons in matter. This distribution, closely related to the quantum mechanical wave function of the electrons, can be compared directly with calculations of the electronic structure. Such a comparison helps establish which theory approaches nature most closely, and thus improves our understanding of the electronic structure. This understanding helps to predict the properties of materials, and hence this knowledge will facilitate the design of materials with desirable properties.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100197
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,102,947.00
Summary
Cryogenic Scanning Microwave Measurement Facility for Quantum Materials. This proposal addresses a major experimental capacity gap in Australian infrastructure for research and development of novel electronic materials and nanoscale quantum devices for future technologies. It will establish Australia's first non-contact, non-destructive, cryogenic scanning microwave microscopy facility for advanced materials characterization enabling new studies of these materials in the 2 to 300 Kelvin temperat ....Cryogenic Scanning Microwave Measurement Facility for Quantum Materials. This proposal addresses a major experimental capacity gap in Australian infrastructure for research and development of novel electronic materials and nanoscale quantum devices for future technologies. It will establish Australia's first non-contact, non-destructive, cryogenic scanning microwave microscopy facility for advanced materials characterization enabling new studies of these materials in the 2 to 300 Kelvin temperature range. The facility will provide crucial new information for the development of future quantum materials, enhancing our international competitiveness in the development of next-generation electronic materials and device technologies.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of n-type silicon for solar cells. This project will lead to an improved understanding of impurities in silicon, especially several emerging low-cost n-type silicon materials made especially for solar cells. This knowledge will enable the negative effects of these impurities to be eliminated or reduced, thus yielding higher efficiency modules that produce solar electricity at a lower cost. The potential benefits to Australia, which already has an established silicon solar ....Unlocking the potential of n-type silicon for solar cells. This project will lead to an improved understanding of impurities in silicon, especially several emerging low-cost n-type silicon materials made especially for solar cells. This knowledge will enable the negative effects of these impurities to be eliminated or reduced, thus yielding higher efficiency modules that produce solar electricity at a lower cost. The potential benefits to Australia, which already has an established silicon solar cell industry, are large. They include increased employment in well-paid high-technology jobs, increased export earnings, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. These benefits could grow rapidly, in line with the global photovoltaic industry growth rate of more than 30% per year.Read moreRead less
Ion-beam synthesis of functional oxides for next generation memory devices. This project seeks to explore a low-temperature approach to stoichiometry control using direct oxide synthesis and defect-engineering based on ion-implantation, a routine semiconductor fabrication process. This has the potential to improve device manufacturability and functionality. In thin film form, transition metal oxides can be subjected to intense electric fields and exhibit characteristic resistance changes suitabl ....Ion-beam synthesis of functional oxides for next generation memory devices. This project seeks to explore a low-temperature approach to stoichiometry control using direct oxide synthesis and defect-engineering based on ion-implantation, a routine semiconductor fabrication process. This has the potential to improve device manufacturability and functionality. In thin film form, transition metal oxides can be subjected to intense electric fields and exhibit characteristic resistance changes suitable for non-volatile memory applications. However, their electrical response depends critically on stoichiometry and this must be precisely engineered for optimal device performance. This project aims to develop next-generation memory devices as a replacement for current flash memory. The proposed technology uses resistance changes in functional-oxides to store information, and offers the potential for smaller and faster memory.Read moreRead less