The role of structure in the formation and properties of glasses. This project aims to investigate the role of local atomic structure in the formation and mechanical properties of glasses by applying newly developed structure-determination methods. This project expects to establish why glasses form and how their structure gives rise to their undesirable, and limiting, brittle mechanical failure. The anticipated outcomes of this project are better ways to measure the atomic structure of disorder ....The role of structure in the formation and properties of glasses. This project aims to investigate the role of local atomic structure in the formation and mechanical properties of glasses by applying newly developed structure-determination methods. This project expects to establish why glasses form and how their structure gives rise to their undesirable, and limiting, brittle mechanical failure. The anticipated outcomes of this project are better ways to measure the atomic structure of disordered materials and the generation of more clear-cut structure-property relationships for glasses. This will provide significant benefit to Australian industries by enabling the design of better glass-forming systems and stronger, tougher glasses.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Fundamentals of Atomically Precise Manufacturing with Scanning Probe Microscopes. Over the past five years, Australian researchers have pioneered the development of a new method for fabricating electrical devices in silicon with atomic precision. By partnering with the world leader in nanotechnology manufacturing, these same researchers now have an opportunity to extend Australia's early lead in this area. The proposed research will lead to new capabilities for Australia within the ....Exploring the Fundamentals of Atomically Precise Manufacturing with Scanning Probe Microscopes. Over the past five years, Australian researchers have pioneered the development of a new method for fabricating electrical devices in silicon with atomic precision. By partnering with the world leader in nanotechnology manufacturing, these same researchers now have an opportunity to extend Australia's early lead in this area. The proposed research will lead to new capabilities for Australia within the growing field of electro-mechanical devices. It will strengthen and broaden Australia's leadership in atomic-scale device fabrication in silicon. It will assist world-leading Australian researchers to evaluate and prioritise the commercial potential of their technologies.Read moreRead less
Helium Atom Detection in Scanning Helium Microscopy. The development of an imaging helium atom detector based on carbon nanotubes would be world-first achievement and would place Australia at the forefront of technology in this field. The concurrent goal of understanding the contrast mechanisms that occur in helium atom scattering is also fundamental to the development of the scanning helium microscope. This project secures Australia's position at the forefront of atom microscopy by strategicall ....Helium Atom Detection in Scanning Helium Microscopy. The development of an imaging helium atom detector based on carbon nanotubes would be world-first achievement and would place Australia at the forefront of technology in this field. The concurrent goal of understanding the contrast mechanisms that occur in helium atom scattering is also fundamental to the development of the scanning helium microscope. This project secures Australia's position at the forefront of atom microscopy by strategically targeting the cutting-edge science critical for this emerging technology. A significant side-benefit of a nanotube based detector is that it could be incorporated into battery-operated portable gas sensors for use in environmental, industrial and even counter-terrorism applications.Read moreRead less
Diamond membranes for advanced manufacturing. This project aims to unlock the potential of diamond membrane devices in research and industry, by enabling the scalable manufacture of high quality diamond membrane samples. These will be packaged in a form that is easily transportable and with properties that are optimizable and functional for a variety of end-users. This project will allow the distribution of high quality base material to the academic and start-up markets. The expected outcome inc ....Diamond membranes for advanced manufacturing. This project aims to unlock the potential of diamond membrane devices in research and industry, by enabling the scalable manufacture of high quality diamond membrane samples. These will be packaged in a form that is easily transportable and with properties that are optimizable and functional for a variety of end-users. This project will allow the distribution of high quality base material to the academic and start-up markets. The expected outcome includes the development of products in healthcare and security such as infra-red frequency combs for gas-based chemical sensing and nanopore devices for new DNA sequencers.Read moreRead less
Ultrafast photonic hammer: A new strategy to synthesise super-dense super-hard nanomaterials. We will develop a new way for laboratory synthesis of new classes of super-hard and super-dense materials at and above the extremely high temperature and density range currently accessible only in nuclear explosions. The ability of ultra-fast laser-induced phase transformations will be exploited aiming to form materials with exotic properties, which are theoretically predicted, but has not experimental ....Ultrafast photonic hammer: A new strategy to synthesise super-dense super-hard nanomaterials. We will develop a new way for laboratory synthesis of new classes of super-hard and super-dense materials at and above the extremely high temperature and density range currently accessible only in nuclear explosions. The ability of ultra-fast laser-induced phase transformations will be exploited aiming to form materials with exotic properties, which are theoretically predicted, but has not experimentally confirmed yet. Our new approach will have a profound interdisciplinary impact. The project will deliver underpinning knowledge, foremost practical expertise, and the prominent training of young researchers to secure Australia's international position among the leaders in the rapidly growing and competitive field of nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Foundation studies of ion-beam nanotechnology. The impact of a single fast atom with sensitive materials leaves a path of latent damage with a diameter of around 10 nm. This latent damage can be developed to create nanostructures in a novel technique called ion beam nanomachining. We propose to create a method for using single atom impacts to produce nanomachined structures with novel physical and optical properties. This will be done by use of an active substrate that functions as a detector s ....Foundation studies of ion-beam nanotechnology. The impact of a single fast atom with sensitive materials leaves a path of latent damage with a diameter of around 10 nm. This latent damage can be developed to create nanostructures in a novel technique called ion beam nanomachining. We propose to create a method for using single atom impacts to produce nanomachined structures with novel physical and optical properties. This will be done by use of an active substrate that functions as a detector sensitive to single ion impacts. We propose to study the fundamental principles of this method.Read moreRead less
Diamond Quantum Dots Fabricated By Ion Implantation. For centuries scientists have been fascinated by the 'alchemy' of transforming carbon into diamond. This project aims to fabricate diamond nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix by direct carbon ion implantation followed by thermal annealing. Unlike other methods of making diamond, the coalescence of carbon into diamond occurs under heating in a conventional furnace and does not require the application of high external pressures or any pre-ex ....Diamond Quantum Dots Fabricated By Ion Implantation. For centuries scientists have been fascinated by the 'alchemy' of transforming carbon into diamond. This project aims to fabricate diamond nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix by direct carbon ion implantation followed by thermal annealing. Unlike other methods of making diamond, the coalescence of carbon into diamond occurs under heating in a conventional furnace and does not require the application of high external pressures or any pre-existing diamond template. We outline a scheme to exploit the properties of these crystals for novel applications in quantum devices.Read moreRead less
Tailored quantum structures. Using real-time movies, the project will image how quantum structures form and tailor their electronic properties by controlling their shape. Such designer nanostructures have potential applications in optoelectronics, quantum computing and quantum cryptography.
Optical-spin coupling in the nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond. Australia has made investment in the developing area of quantum information processing where information is stored and processed by manipulating the spin states in solids. One of the most promising materials for this purpose is diamond incorporating nitrogen-vacancy colour centres. The appeal with this material is that the processing can be faster and components smaller as the spins can be controlled by laser beams. This project in ....Optical-spin coupling in the nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond. Australia has made investment in the developing area of quantum information processing where information is stored and processed by manipulating the spin states in solids. One of the most promising materials for this purpose is diamond incorporating nitrogen-vacancy colour centres. The appeal with this material is that the processing can be faster and components smaller as the spins can be controlled by laser beams. This project investigates the control of spin with light to obtain optimum performance.Read moreRead less
Three Dimensional Integrated Circuits. Pushing the boundaries of current silicon fabrication technology, this proposal will investigate the possibilities of new 3D architectures to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of world-wide research into atomic-scale electronics. It creates an important link to the latest technologies in atomistic device modelling in the US, developed at Texas Instruments. More importantly, by anticipating the problems that electronic device manufacturers are c ....Three Dimensional Integrated Circuits. Pushing the boundaries of current silicon fabrication technology, this proposal will investigate the possibilities of new 3D architectures to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of world-wide research into atomic-scale electronics. It creates an important link to the latest technologies in atomistic device modelling in the US, developed at Texas Instruments. More importantly, by anticipating the problems that electronic device manufacturers are currently facing, and will face over their long-term horizons, the proposed research also seeks to provide Australia with a chance to lift its involvement in the multi-trillion dollar global semiconductor industry.Read moreRead less