Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics. Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on polymer sola ....Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics. Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on polymer solar cells in order to maximise the efficiency of the cells and build prototype nanoscale polymer devices. This will lead to the improvement in devices delivering sustainable energy production - a technology which has the promise of producing energy cheaply from sunlight.Read moreRead less
Preparation and analysis of amorphous GaN thin films. Researchers in New Zealand have developed novel processing techniques to prepare amorphous and partially crystalline gallium nitride thin films with potential application as green-blue-UV opto-electronic devices. However, characterization of the film structure using electron microscopy is essential to understand the relationship between processing conditions and opto-electronic properties. The aim of this project is to draw together specialis ....Preparation and analysis of amorphous GaN thin films. Researchers in New Zealand have developed novel processing techniques to prepare amorphous and partially crystalline gallium nitride thin films with potential application as green-blue-UV opto-electronic devices. However, characterization of the film structure using electron microscopy is essential to understand the relationship between processing conditions and opto-electronic properties. The aim of this project is to draw together specialist expertise and equipment that allows integration of microscopy into the development of these films. Australian researchers will gain access to specialized preparation and testing facilities in New Zealand, whilst researchers from New Zealand will perform structural analysis of these films in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775729
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Improved understanding of nanoscale materials - structure, composition, crystallography and defects revealed by electron imaging and analysis at high spatial resolution. Modern materials scientists and engineers are driven by world-wide competition to develop new technology and manufactured devices. The trend has for some time been towards miniaturisation and one of the main challenges lies in effectively characterising nanostructures that are produced as a key step in research and development o ....Improved understanding of nanoscale materials - structure, composition, crystallography and defects revealed by electron imaging and analysis at high spatial resolution. Modern materials scientists and engineers are driven by world-wide competition to develop new technology and manufactured devices. The trend has for some time been towards miniaturisation and one of the main challenges lies in effectively characterising nanostructures that are produced as a key step in research and development of advanced materials. The proposed electron microscope and detectors will provide a state-of-the-art analytical facility to support the cross-disciplinary materials science and nanotechnology research at the Australian National University. It will also provide an important training facility for students and early-career researchers and will be available to investigators from other Australian institutions.Read moreRead less
Optical Nano-plasmonics. There is much current interest and excitement in nano-optics, where light interacts with features on its own scale or finer than it. One way of achieving strong interactions between light and finely structured systems is to incorporate metallic elements, and use the resonances called surface plasmons which arise due to electric currents flowing on the metal. We will develop accurate ways of calculating the properties of these plasmons for a range of metal-dielectric syst ....Optical Nano-plasmonics. There is much current interest and excitement in nano-optics, where light interacts with features on its own scale or finer than it. One way of achieving strong interactions between light and finely structured systems is to incorporate metallic elements, and use the resonances called surface plasmons which arise due to electric currents flowing on the metal. We will develop accurate ways of calculating the properties of these plasmons for a range of metal-dielectric systems, in order to design highly miniaturized structures which can manipulate light for applications in optical sensors and related devices.Read moreRead less
Dual wavelength quantum dot light detectors. This project aims to develop technologies to fabricate advanced electronic materials based on gallium antimonide (GaSb), to explore their physics and use them in improved optoelectronic devices.
GaSb technology is in its infancy, therefore basic and applied research is needed to utilise these materials to their full potential for long wavelength photonic devices with unique promise in military and civilian applications: fire detection, missile and ....Dual wavelength quantum dot light detectors. This project aims to develop technologies to fabricate advanced electronic materials based on gallium antimonide (GaSb), to explore their physics and use them in improved optoelectronic devices.
GaSb technology is in its infancy, therefore basic and applied research is needed to utilise these materials to their full potential for long wavelength photonic devices with unique promise in military and civilian applications: fire detection, missile and surveillance systems, environmental monitoring, biology and medicine.
As an outcome, growth protocols for innovative device structures will be established, the structures' behaviour assessed and device fabrication and characterisation carried out and reported.
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Optoelectronic properties of low-dimensional semiconductor systems and semiconductor nanostructures under terahertz free-electron laser radiation. The recent application of terahertz (THz) free-electron lasers (FELs) to scientific investigation into low-dimensional semiconductor systems and semiconductor nanostructures has opened up a new field of research in semiconductor optoelectronics. This project will conduct a joint experimental and theoretical study of how these novel systems interact w ....Optoelectronic properties of low-dimensional semiconductor systems and semiconductor nanostructures under terahertz free-electron laser radiation. The recent application of terahertz (THz) free-electron lasers (FELs) to scientific investigation into low-dimensional semiconductor systems and semiconductor nanostructures has opened up a new field of research in semiconductor optoelectronics. This project will conduct a joint experimental and theoretical study of how these novel systems interact with intense THz laser fields. Experimentally, we plan to use Beijing FELs in China to study optoelectronic properties in GaAs-and GaN based systems. Theoretically, we intend developing fundamental new approaches to theory of electron interactions with intense laser fields in semiconductors and relating theoretical results to experiments and experimental findings.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Ultra-low temperature facility for optical experiments. Ultra-low temperature facility for optical experiments:
The project aims to establish a state-of-the-art facility to conduct optics and photonics experiments at ultra-low temperatures, by integrating an optical-access cryogen-free dilution refrigerator into an optics laboratory. Near absolute zero temperature, complex materials and engineered nanoscale devices exhibit striking quantum mechanical behaviour. Experimental access to photonics ....Ultra-low temperature facility for optical experiments. Ultra-low temperature facility for optical experiments:
The project aims to establish a state-of-the-art facility to conduct optics and photonics experiments at ultra-low temperatures, by integrating an optical-access cryogen-free dilution refrigerator into an optics laboratory. Near absolute zero temperature, complex materials and engineered nanoscale devices exhibit striking quantum mechanical behaviour. Experimental access to photonics at millikelvin temperatures would enable a coherent quantum-mechanical interface between spins, charges, phonons and photons. This unique facility may help in designing the next generation of information, communication and metrology devices, such as quantum computers, single-photon sources and detectors, and nanoscale quantum-enhanced sensors.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Optical solitons on a photonic chip: unprecedented light control at the nanoscale. Solitons, waves that maintain their shape as they travel, exist in systems as diverse as water waves, molecular biology, and optics. This project explores previously unobservable light propagation regimes in two-dimensional periodic media, photonic crystals. These studies provide unprecedented control of light-matter interaction at the nanoscale.
Deep-ultraviolet light source by frequency doubling of blue or green light for disinfection. Current ultraviolet light sources are inefficient and often bulky. By an alternative approach, in which the wavelength of blue or green light is halved, this project will design and build compact, efficient sources of ultraviolet light, which can be used for disinfection and sterilization. Such devices can be fabricated by Australian industry in Australia.