Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms ....Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind the exceptional properties in ns SiC and to explore the possibility of realizing the two properties in the same ns SiC. The results obtained from this research will be very important for guiding the structural design of SiC with exceptional mechanical properties which will have a wide range of structural applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560705
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,000.00
Summary
Advanced Deformation Simulation Laboratory. For Australia to maintain its position as a world leader in the science of metals processing it must have the capability for state-of-the-art physical simulation. The present proposal is for the purchase and installation of two leading edge simulation tools: a high rate/short inter-pass hot deformation simulator and a hot equal channel angular extrusion press. Advanced hot deformation simulation is required for the development and optimisation of "fast ....Advanced Deformation Simulation Laboratory. For Australia to maintain its position as a world leader in the science of metals processing it must have the capability for state-of-the-art physical simulation. The present proposal is for the purchase and installation of two leading edge simulation tools: a high rate/short inter-pass hot deformation simulator and a hot equal channel angular extrusion press. Advanced hot deformation simulation is required for the development and optimisation of "fast" industrial processes and for understanding the complex microstructural reactions associated with them. High temperature extrusion is required for the development of ultra-fine and nano-grained light metals.Read moreRead less
Development of growth strategies to fabricate wide band gap ferromagnetic semiconductors for spin electronics applications. Spin Electronics technology will enable a revolutionary class of electronic devices. Gallium nitride (GaN) containing transition metals (TM) (eg Mn, Ni and Fe) is a very promising dilute magnetic semiconductor for practical spintronics applications as this material exhibits magnetic behaviour above room temperature. However, electronic and magnetic properties of this new cl ....Development of growth strategies to fabricate wide band gap ferromagnetic semiconductors for spin electronics applications. Spin Electronics technology will enable a revolutionary class of electronic devices. Gallium nitride (GaN) containing transition metals (TM) (eg Mn, Ni and Fe) is a very promising dilute magnetic semiconductor for practical spintronics applications as this material exhibits magnetic behaviour above room temperature. However, electronic and magnetic properties of this new class of semiconductors have not yet been optimised. This project aims to develop and test a new growth strategy, known as the co-doping method for the fabrication of high quality TM doped GaN. A broad range of complementary advanced spectroscopic techniques will be used to evaluate and refine this new fabrication method.Read moreRead less
THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS NANO-MATERIALS. We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in applications ....THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS NANO-MATERIALS. We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in applications as diverse as lithographic templates for electronic and optical devices, nano-porous membranes and photonic band gap materials. We shall verify our theoretical predictions by carrying out experiments on the various molecular architectures that we have studied theoretically.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Dynamics of Nanostructure Self-Organisation during Compound Semiconductor Epitaxy. The application of LEEM to GaAs and InAs will be a world first, positioning Australia at the forefront of nanoscale self-organisation, leading to important international recognition and publicity. The spectacular movies obtained will revolutionise our basic understanding of compound semiconductor self-organisation and facilitate an improved control over nanostructure fabrication using MBE. This will ....Exploring the Dynamics of Nanostructure Self-Organisation during Compound Semiconductor Epitaxy. The application of LEEM to GaAs and InAs will be a world first, positioning Australia at the forefront of nanoscale self-organisation, leading to important international recognition and publicity. The spectacular movies obtained will revolutionise our basic understanding of compound semiconductor self-organisation and facilitate an improved control over nanostructure fabrication using MBE. This will generate entirely new device structures relevant to the frontier technologies of photonics and quantum information processing. The project will provide high level training for post-graduate and honours students in nanoscale characterisation and synchrotron science.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and im ....Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and implementation of advanced nanoceramics and nanocomposites created by innovative nanotechnologies. The project will also contribute to other national research priorities such as materials and frontier technologies, reduction of atmospheric pollution, and decrease in the energy dependence of our country on oil.Read moreRead less
Fundamental roles of nano-particles in composite-fibre/epoxy-polymer (CF/EP) composites. There is a significant demand for value-added, innovative epoxy resins for various applications. Australia has a well established aerospace industry and world-leading expertise in synthesising and processing inorganic nano-particles. The outputs of this project will be beneficial to both material manufacturers and design engineers. Understanding the fundamental roles of functional nano-fillers will stimulate ....Fundamental roles of nano-particles in composite-fibre/epoxy-polymer (CF/EP) composites. There is a significant demand for value-added, innovative epoxy resins for various applications. Australia has a well established aerospace industry and world-leading expertise in synthesising and processing inorganic nano-particles. The outputs of this project will be beneficial to both material manufacturers and design engineers. Understanding the fundamental roles of functional nano-fillers will stimulate scientific and technological interests for future research and development of multifunctional engineering materials with improved properties and structures designed in the nano-scale. The project will give Australian researchers a technological edge over their competitors in materials science and engineering.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453879
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,163.00
Summary
Electron beam induced deposition and ablation nanofabrication facility. Electron beam induced deposition and ablation(EBIDA) is rapidly emerging as a new technology capable of fabricating three-dimensional nanostructures on nearly any substrate with very high precision. This proposal aims to establish a nanoscale EBIDA facility by integrating a specialized nanolithography attachment with an existing state-of-the-art 1nm resolution high current variable pressure scanning electron microscope. This ....Electron beam induced deposition and ablation nanofabrication facility. Electron beam induced deposition and ablation(EBIDA) is rapidly emerging as a new technology capable of fabricating three-dimensional nanostructures on nearly any substrate with very high precision. This proposal aims to establish a nanoscale EBIDA facility by integrating a specialized nanolithography attachment with an existing state-of-the-art 1nm resolution high current variable pressure scanning electron microscope. This combination of instrumentation will enable the high-speed production of conductive and insulating structures with 1-to-10nm dimensions. The unique facility will be used to manufacture and prototype novel nanoscale devices and structures and will enable measurement of their physical and chemical properties.Read moreRead less
New Types of Biomimetic Nanostructured Adhesives. Adhesives are one of the main ways in which we join materials, and have many advantages over other methods of joining. In this work we will make a new class of adhesive using nanotechnology that attempts to copy the very fine-haired feet of animals such as geckos who can stick to almost any surface, under most conditions. We will make these adhesives over large surface areas, and thus they will have commercial possibilities in a range of high tec ....New Types of Biomimetic Nanostructured Adhesives. Adhesives are one of the main ways in which we join materials, and have many advantages over other methods of joining. In this work we will make a new class of adhesive using nanotechnology that attempts to copy the very fine-haired feet of animals such as geckos who can stick to almost any surface, under most conditions. We will make these adhesives over large surface areas, and thus they will have commercial possibilities in a range of high technology industries, as well as in harsh environments. Because we will be able to manipulate the structure and observe property changes, it should also give us a greater insight into the adhesion mechanisms used by many small animals and bugs.Read moreRead less
Development of direct-write focussed electron beam processing techniques for nano-fabrication applications. The burgeoning disciplines of nanotechnology and biotechnology have the potential to deliver breakthroughs in science and engineering that will revolutionise many aspects of everyday life. Progress in these emerging fields, however, requires parallel advances in the techniques used to fabricate, manipulate and characterise materials and devices at the nanoscale. This project will provide s ....Development of direct-write focussed electron beam processing techniques for nano-fabrication applications. The burgeoning disciplines of nanotechnology and biotechnology have the potential to deliver breakthroughs in science and engineering that will revolutionise many aspects of everyday life. Progress in these emerging fields, however, requires parallel advances in the techniques used to fabricate, manipulate and characterise materials and devices at the nanoscale. This project will provide such enabling tools and fill a major gap in the research infrastructure urgently required by these exciting new technologies.Read moreRead less