Analysis, simulation, fabrication and characterization of reliable, robust and scalable compact cooling elements based on semiconductor nanostructures. Modern electronic, microelectronic and optoelectronic devices generally work better when they are cooler. We aim to develop a semiconductor nanostructure cooling element which directly integrates into existing devices. The solid-state cooling element will be reliable, robust, scalable and operate in any orientation. The basis of operation is ....Analysis, simulation, fabrication and characterization of reliable, robust and scalable compact cooling elements based on semiconductor nanostructures. Modern electronic, microelectronic and optoelectronic devices generally work better when they are cooler. We aim to develop a semiconductor nanostructure cooling element which directly integrates into existing devices. The solid-state cooling element will be reliable, robust, scalable and operate in any orientation. The basis of operation is thermionic emission - electrons are the working fluid. Our project combines (1) analysis and simulation, (2) fabrication of nanostructures and (3) experimental test-benching using optical and electrical methods. The outcome of this research has the potential to revolutionize cooling of modern electronic and photonic systems, from computer motherboards to mobile phones.Read moreRead less
Novel methods for enhancing room temperature figure of merit of thermoelectric/thermionic materials for refrigeration applications. With global warming and an increased awareness of climate change, devices such as thermoelectric modules can be part of the solution, particularly if their relative power and efficiency can be increased. The aim of this project is to bring together theoreticians, experimentalists, materials scientists, and industrial partners with complementary expertise to develop ....Novel methods for enhancing room temperature figure of merit of thermoelectric/thermionic materials for refrigeration applications. With global warming and an increased awareness of climate change, devices such as thermoelectric modules can be part of the solution, particularly if their relative power and efficiency can be increased. The aim of this project is to bring together theoreticians, experimentalists, materials scientists, and industrial partners with complementary expertise to develop new techniques and methods for fabricating novel thermoelectric/thermionic materials with high figure of merit, ZT, for solid state refrigeration applications. The success of the project will lead to a 3 to 5 fold increase in the market share of thermoelectric cooler and will have a significant impact on the Australian economy and reduce greenhouse emissions and global warming. Read moreRead less
Simulation and characterisation of opto-thermionic cooling devices. Opto-thermionic devices combine thermionic emission and laser cooling to achieve the maximum cooling power and highest thermal efficiency. These devices are ultra small, very reliable and fully integrable. Many important problems need to be solved to improve the performance of this new class of solid-state cooling devices. One is to understand and manipulate the electron-hole radiative recombination and minimize the Auger proces ....Simulation and characterisation of opto-thermionic cooling devices. Opto-thermionic devices combine thermionic emission and laser cooling to achieve the maximum cooling power and highest thermal efficiency. These devices are ultra small, very reliable and fully integrable. Many important problems need to be solved to improve the performance of this new class of solid-state cooling devices. One is to understand and manipulate the electron-hole radiative recombination and minimize the Auger process in reduced dimensionality devices such as quantum wells. Researchers at Wollongong and Lund will collaborate on theoretical analysis, computer simulation and electrical/optical measurements to solve this problem.Read moreRead less
Development of Solid-state cooling chips. The performance of modern electronic, microelectronic, optoelectronic and photonic devices improves as they are cooled. We aim to develop semiconductor cooling elements that can be directly integrated into existing circuits and devices. The new solid-state cooling elements will be reliable, robust, scalable and operate in any orientation. The proposed international collaboration combines the expertise of the Chinese Academy of Science in device fabricat ....Development of Solid-state cooling chips. The performance of modern electronic, microelectronic, optoelectronic and photonic devices improves as they are cooled. We aim to develop semiconductor cooling elements that can be directly integrated into existing circuits and devices. The new solid-state cooling elements will be reliable, robust, scalable and operate in any orientation. The proposed international collaboration combines the expertise of the Chinese Academy of Science in device fabrication with the expertise of the University of Wollongong in device characterisation and modelling. The outcome of this research has the potential to revolutionize cooling of diverse electronic systems, from computer motherboards to mobile phones.Read moreRead less
Simulating two-phase electrodynamic flows in droplet-based microfluidic circuit elements. The knowledge, data and analysis tools developed within this project will facilitate the economical production of electrodynamically controlled integrated droplet-based microfluidic devices for critical high-demand applications such as: genome sequencing; protein evolution, synthesis and crystallisation; micro-structured pharmaceuticals; disposable devices for biomedical analysis; portable point-of-entry (b ....Simulating two-phase electrodynamic flows in droplet-based microfluidic circuit elements. The knowledge, data and analysis tools developed within this project will facilitate the economical production of electrodynamically controlled integrated droplet-based microfluidic devices for critical high-demand applications such as: genome sequencing; protein evolution, synthesis and crystallisation; micro-structured pharmaceuticals; disposable devices for biomedical analysis; portable point-of-entry (biochem)security analysis devices. Hence this project is an investment in enabling technologies to benefit Australia's growing biotech, pharmaceutical and micro/nanotechnology sectors. Tangible community benefits (e.g., in improved diagnostic technologies, pharmaceuticals) will result.Read moreRead less
DROP DEFORMATION IN CONFINED MICROFLUIDIC GEOMETRIES. Increasingly, high technology applications in biotechnology and microtechnology industries need to process complex (non-Newtonian) fluids with dispersed particles/droplets in channels as small as several microns (microfluidics). A computational fluid dynamic model of non-Newtonian droplet deformation in microfluidic geometries will be developed, and validated using experimental measurements of the flow field in this project. The aim is to und ....DROP DEFORMATION IN CONFINED MICROFLUIDIC GEOMETRIES. Increasingly, high technology applications in biotechnology and microtechnology industries need to process complex (non-Newtonian) fluids with dispersed particles/droplets in channels as small as several microns (microfluidics). A computational fluid dynamic model of non-Newtonian droplet deformation in microfluidic geometries will be developed, and validated using experimental measurements of the flow field in this project. The aim is to understand and quantify factors influencing droplet deformation. Coupling non-Newtonian characteristics with microfluidic geometries will allow the continuous manufacture of micro-particles of specified size and shape for existing and new applications, and will provide guidance for further extending the process to nano-particle manufacture.Read moreRead less
Electro-viscous effects on pressure-driven liquid flow in microchannels. Australian biotechnology, information technology and food technology industries will benefit from the development of new tailored micro- and nano-fluidic devices for processing of non-Newtonian fluids. The efficiency of functional elements such as valves, pumps, mixers, reactors, heat exchangers can be optimised for specific fluids by understanding the coupling between the fluid properties, the device geometry, surface cha ....Electro-viscous effects on pressure-driven liquid flow in microchannels. Australian biotechnology, information technology and food technology industries will benefit from the development of new tailored micro- and nano-fluidic devices for processing of non-Newtonian fluids. The efficiency of functional elements such as valves, pumps, mixers, reactors, heat exchangers can be optimised for specific fluids by understanding the coupling between the fluid properties, the device geometry, surface charge, and the numerical predictions. This understanding will complement development in related projects on non-Newtonian drop and particle formation in microfluidic flows which envisage continuous particle manufacture for novel materials possessing programmable, enhanced functional properties.Read moreRead less
Ink jet microfluidic spray drier for making high quality microencapsulated bioactive particles and nanosized particles. The proposal addresses National Research Priority area 3 (Frontier Technology). This work will develop a new, simple and effective method for producing designer smart particles that have better functional properties as well as improved uniformity for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The project will train graduates who will be able to make a high-level con ....Ink jet microfluidic spray drier for making high quality microencapsulated bioactive particles and nanosized particles. The proposal addresses National Research Priority area 3 (Frontier Technology). This work will develop a new, simple and effective method for producing designer smart particles that have better functional properties as well as improved uniformity for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The project will train graduates who will be able to make a high-level contribution to these Australian industries. This will also mark a development in Australia¡¯s nanotechnology capability in the bio-area.Read moreRead less
The Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Micro-Chips by MEMS actuator: Parametric Study. This challenging project has the potential of introducing a new technology for cooling micro-devices. Since the computer industry is sensitive to innovation it is necessary to develop the theoretical and practical skill for manufacturing the cooling devices. This will help Australian industry to greatly enhance its capabilities in this very important area of economy. The present project is a rare combination ....The Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Micro-Chips by MEMS actuator: Parametric Study. This challenging project has the potential of introducing a new technology for cooling micro-devices. Since the computer industry is sensitive to innovation it is necessary to develop the theoretical and practical skill for manufacturing the cooling devices. This will help Australian industry to greatly enhance its capabilities in this very important area of economy. The present project is a rare combination of multi-disciplinary studies and will result in a better understanding of the complex thermal and fluid flow phenomena in micro channels, and the design and fabrication techniques for the next generation of micro-chips. Read moreRead less
Enhancement of heat transfer by micro-electro-mechanical devices: numerical and experimental study. The main goal of the present project is to approach a completely new concept for cooling electronic-micro-devices (EMD). We will integrate the cooling system in the EMD by mean of built micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The area of application is so innovative, that there is no engineering experience for modelling heat transfer at such small physical scales. The first goal of this project ....Enhancement of heat transfer by micro-electro-mechanical devices: numerical and experimental study. The main goal of the present project is to approach a completely new concept for cooling electronic-micro-devices (EMD). We will integrate the cooling system in the EMD by mean of built micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The area of application is so innovative, that there is no engineering experience for modelling heat transfer at such small physical scales. The first goal of this project is to fill this lack of knowledge and to validate the possible numerical procedure using experimental data obtained from experiments, also planned for the present project. Once a suitable procedure has been established for evaluating heat fluxes , we will optimized configurations for heat transfer enhancers in micro devices.Read moreRead less