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
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increas ....STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increases in performance. This project will characterize the structures of films grown by this new process, and relate them to both the processing conditions and device performance. A greater understanding of the relationship between processing, structure and properties will assist the commercial development of these devices.Read moreRead less
Inception of a Practical, Biomimetic, Flexible Photovoltaic Device. This project will design and synthesise new, complex, functional organic molecules and assemble them to create a new type of photovoltaic cell. This device will be designed using biomimetic principles to emulate many of the efficient photosynthetic solar energy conversion processes that occur in plants. A key feature is that near atomic-level control will be achieved over the entire device structure, facilitating the establish ....Inception of a Practical, Biomimetic, Flexible Photovoltaic Device. This project will design and synthesise new, complex, functional organic molecules and assemble them to create a new type of photovoltaic cell. This device will be designed using biomimetic principles to emulate many of the efficient photosynthetic solar energy conversion processes that occur in plants. A key feature is that near atomic-level control will be achieved over the entire device structure, facilitating the establishment of a clear path towards the commercial production of solar cells that are simultaneously highly efficient, long lasting, flexible, and very cheap to manufacture.Read moreRead less
Controlling light-harvesting with complex perylene arrays. This project aims to artificially mimic photosynthesis. A new class of dye coloured plastics will create a platform technology that could have many applications including enhanced biodiesel production from algae and 'smart' building materials enhancing electricity production from solar cells.
Polymer Band Gap Engineering. The development of fibre optic communication networks has enabled the provision of low cost long-distance telephony and the dramatic growth of the Internet. This project aims to develop polymeric materials that receive optical signals in the telecommunications (near IR) band. Such a capability would allow RPO to build low cost power monitoring into all its integrated optical devices and would massively enhance its market opportunities and chances of growth. Furtherm ....Polymer Band Gap Engineering. The development of fibre optic communication networks has enabled the provision of low cost long-distance telephony and the dramatic growth of the Internet. This project aims to develop polymeric materials that receive optical signals in the telecommunications (near IR) band. Such a capability would allow RPO to build low cost power monitoring into all its integrated optical devices and would massively enhance its market opportunities and chances of growth. Furthermore, this project lays the foundations for the development of an all-polymer optical chip, whose cost savings over the current technological strategies would revolutionise the photonics and information technology sector.Read moreRead less
Hot exciton dissociation in donor / acceptor organic solar cells: breaking the efficiency limit of organic photovoltaics. Australia will benefit from this project in several key areas with immediate impact. The development of an innovative solar cell architecture through the use of hot exiton dissociation will deliver a potential increase in the maximum achievable power conversion efficiency. The experimental results will significantly advance fundamental knowledge of organic solar cells. This ....Hot exciton dissociation in donor / acceptor organic solar cells: breaking the efficiency limit of organic photovoltaics. Australia will benefit from this project in several key areas with immediate impact. The development of an innovative solar cell architecture through the use of hot exiton dissociation will deliver a potential increase in the maximum achievable power conversion efficiency. The experimental results will significantly advance fundamental knowledge of organic solar cells. This has significant economic benefits by making these solar cells more affordable and also opening up the opportunity to use new materials unconstrained by existing proprietary interests. The training of personnel will contribute towards solving the biggest challenge facing the solar industry in Australia: lack of skilled personnel in a highly specialised industry.Read moreRead less
Low-cost, Lightweight and Liquid Helium-free Superconducting MRI Magnet. This project aims to develop a liquid-helium-free superconducting technology to address the need for more affordable MRI magnets that currently rely on expensive, limited supplies of liquid helium. This project expects to generate a world-first, much needed MRI systems to be operated in persistent mode without a power supply, to obtain high-resolution images and low-cost operation. The expected outcomes include a novel, lig ....Low-cost, Lightweight and Liquid Helium-free Superconducting MRI Magnet. This project aims to develop a liquid-helium-free superconducting technology to address the need for more affordable MRI magnets that currently rely on expensive, limited supplies of liquid helium. This project expects to generate a world-first, much needed MRI systems to be operated in persistent mode without a power supply, to obtain high-resolution images and low-cost operation. The expected outcomes include a novel, lightweight, easy-to-operate magnesium diboride superconducting MRI magnet prototype under persistent mode operation. This should provide significant benefits, including reducing the cost associated with conventional liquid helium-dependent technologies and ensuring Australia at the forefront of MRI development worldwide.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
Fabrication of Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) thick films. The recent discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in MgB2 has stimulated considerable interest in terms of both fundamental research and applications. The purpose of the proposed project is to conduct fundamental studies on the synthesis, structures and microstructures, and physical properties of doped and undoped MgB2 thick films. The ultimate goal of this study is to fabricate high quality MgB2 thick films on different substrates and to gai ....Fabrication of Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) thick films. The recent discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in MgB2 has stimulated considerable interest in terms of both fundamental research and applications. The purpose of the proposed project is to conduct fundamental studies on the synthesis, structures and microstructures, and physical properties of doped and undoped MgB2 thick films. The ultimate goal of this study is to fabricate high quality MgB2 thick films on different substrates and to gain a better understanding of their various properties with a view to device application.Read moreRead less