Single spin molecular microscope. This project aims to create a new tool for imaging and analysing material at the atomic level. The tool is based on individual quantum coherent spins in diamond which can be manipulated and optically read. The project expects to generate knowledge in quantum metrology and an understanding of molecular dynamics at the nanoscale. The expected outcome is a new type of device capable of imaging complex physical systems at the level of their individual constituent co ....Single spin molecular microscope. This project aims to create a new tool for imaging and analysing material at the atomic level. The tool is based on individual quantum coherent spins in diamond which can be manipulated and optically read. The project expects to generate knowledge in quantum metrology and an understanding of molecular dynamics at the nanoscale. The expected outcome is a new type of device capable of imaging complex physical systems at the level of their individual constituent components. This has significant benefits in improving designer materials, energy production, information storage, and drug design.Read moreRead less
Formation and manipulation of ferroelectric domains with ultrafast light. This project aims to study the fundamental processes governing interaction of ultrafast light pulses with an important class of ferroelectric materials. In particular, it will investigate the physics of light-induced ferroelectric domain reversal in various types of ferroelectrics. Project outcomes will lead to the development of a novel, ultrafast laser domain patterning technique for application in nonlinear photonics, o ....Formation and manipulation of ferroelectric domains with ultrafast light. This project aims to study the fundamental processes governing interaction of ultrafast light pulses with an important class of ferroelectric materials. In particular, it will investigate the physics of light-induced ferroelectric domain reversal in various types of ferroelectrics. Project outcomes will lead to the development of a novel, ultrafast laser domain patterning technique for application in nonlinear photonics, optical memories, and photovoltaics. This technique will be employed to create the first example of three-dimensional domain patterns for versatile wave interactions. This project expects to expand Australia's knowledge in ultrafast laser engineering of materials and contribute towards its rapid uptake by industries, with great potential for commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Exciton-mediated room-temperature superconductivity . Superconductivity is the ability of an electronic material to conduct electrical current without resistance. This property underpins many existing and proposed technological applications, ranging from medical imaging to low-energy electronics and quantum computing. In this project, we aim to demonstrate a highly unconventional route towards superconductivity at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, by exploiting collective behaviour of e ....Exciton-mediated room-temperature superconductivity . Superconductivity is the ability of an electronic material to conduct electrical current without resistance. This property underpins many existing and proposed technological applications, ranging from medical imaging to low-energy electronics and quantum computing. In this project, we aim to demonstrate a highly unconventional route towards superconductivity at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, by exploiting collective behaviour of excitons (electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor) strongly coupled to photons. This research should help to overcome the biggest challenge for the widespread applications of superconductors: the very low temperature or extreme pressure that the superconducting materials need to function.Read moreRead less
Revealing the atoms that control performance in photoactive perovskites. This project aims to develop new electron microscopy techniques that will unambiguously determine the elusive structures of photoactive perovskite compounds under static and operational conditions, while correlating crystal structure with solar cell device performance. Photoactive perovskites are promising photovoltaic materials, however, many are sensitive to air and irradiation. This has impeded a huge international resea ....Revealing the atoms that control performance in photoactive perovskites. This project aims to develop new electron microscopy techniques that will unambiguously determine the elusive structures of photoactive perovskite compounds under static and operational conditions, while correlating crystal structure with solar cell device performance. Photoactive perovskites are promising photovoltaic materials, however, many are sensitive to air and irradiation. This has impeded a huge international research effort to determine their structure reliably at the atomic scale. With these new techniques applied to leading compounds and devices, it is expected this project will reveal the structural effects controlling electrical properties and device performance and so enable the design of superior perovskite photovoltaics.Read moreRead less
Meta-microscopy of insect tissue: How nature grows bicontinuous nanosolids. Several butterfly species grow a complex nano-sculptured matrix whose chiral network structure confers remarkable optical properties, including jewel-like reflections. The formation process remains mysterious and a spectacular case of bottom-up self-assembly at far larger scales than accessible in the lab. The project aims to decipher this process, by (a) tomography of a species where arrested growth sites represent time ....Meta-microscopy of insect tissue: How nature grows bicontinuous nanosolids. Several butterfly species grow a complex nano-sculptured matrix whose chiral network structure confers remarkable optical properties, including jewel-like reflections. The formation process remains mysterious and a spectacular case of bottom-up self-assembly at far larger scales than accessible in the lab. The project aims to decipher this process, by (a) tomography of a species where arrested growth sites represent time-frozen snapshots of the development, and (b) by a combination of micron-resolved in-vivo microscopy of a developing butterfly wing with a growth model to infer nanometer-scale information. This insight will lead to blueprints for self-assembly strategies and shed light on function and form of inner-cellular membranes. Read moreRead less
Understanding helium induced nanostructure formation. This project addresses the interaction dynamics of high-flux helium particles with materials that drives surface nanowire growth. These dynamics are important to nuclear reactor materials and to developing new nanotechnology materials for high energy density lithium-ion battery anodes and water splitting catalysts. Through model and experiment, this project expects to generate new knowledge of processes that drive sub-surface nano-bubble form ....Understanding helium induced nanostructure formation. This project addresses the interaction dynamics of high-flux helium particles with materials that drives surface nanowire growth. These dynamics are important to nuclear reactor materials and to developing new nanotechnology materials for high energy density lithium-ion battery anodes and water splitting catalysts. Through model and experiment, this project expects to generate new knowledge of processes that drive sub-surface nano-bubble formation and surface nanowire growth in materials exposed to helium particles. This project will result in improved understanding of material degradation during nuclear reactor operation and will make a new contribution to high-value manufacturing capabilities for next generation energy systems.Read moreRead less
Quantum microscopy meets photovoltaics: new tools for solar cell research. This project aims to create an innovative platform to characterise solar cells, based on recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable direct imaging of the current flow in operating photovoltaic devices, providing a new window into key processes such as charge collection and recombination. The platform will be applied to a range of industry-relevant photovoltaic materials and devices. Anticipated outcomes ....Quantum microscopy meets photovoltaics: new tools for solar cell research. This project aims to create an innovative platform to characterise solar cells, based on recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable direct imaging of the current flow in operating photovoltaic devices, providing a new window into key processes such as charge collection and recombination. The platform will be applied to a range of industry-relevant photovoltaic materials and devices. Anticipated outcomes include new insights into recombination processes and the effect of device degradation, which could facilitate optimisation of the power conversion efficiency and reliability of next-generation solar cells. Additional benefits include new instruments and methods that may find use in the solar cell manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Exploiting shear to form new structures of carbon. This project aims to create new, technologically-interesting, materials by combining shear (sliding forces) with high pressure. The work will use both modelling and experiments to understand the pathways to form new materials such as a different form of diamond that is predicted to be harder than regular diamond. Such a material could be used in coatings for cutting tools or ultra-low-scratch surfaces. Expected outcomes include both an understan ....Exploiting shear to form new structures of carbon. This project aims to create new, technologically-interesting, materials by combining shear (sliding forces) with high pressure. The work will use both modelling and experiments to understand the pathways to form new materials such as a different form of diamond that is predicted to be harder than regular diamond. Such a material could be used in coatings for cutting tools or ultra-low-scratch surfaces. Expected outcomes include both an understanding of the importance of shear in the study of high-pressure science, and as a tool to manufacture new functional materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100086
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,250.00
Summary
A platform for probing nanoscale magnetic states under multiple actuations. The proposed facility offers unique capabilities to investigate the interactions of spin with charge and lattice under external stimuli of light illumination, mechanical stress and voltage bias at various temperatures in a wide range of functional materials. Precise laser magnetometry and video-rate Kerr microscopy are integrated in a single magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) system. This platform also aims to provide opti ....A platform for probing nanoscale magnetic states under multiple actuations. The proposed facility offers unique capabilities to investigate the interactions of spin with charge and lattice under external stimuli of light illumination, mechanical stress and voltage bias at various temperatures in a wide range of functional materials. Precise laser magnetometry and video-rate Kerr microscopy are integrated in a single magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) system. This platform also aims to provide optical magnetic circular dichroism (OMCD) to assess electronic structures of semiconductors and biomedical materials. It will facilitate multidisciplinary research collaborations between academics and industries to advance next-generation spintronics, optoelectronics, energy conversion and storage, and biomedical technologies.Read moreRead less