Silicon Photonics and Third Generation Photovoltaics. The Fellowship would be used to launch a major new initiative addressing one of the key challenges facing microelectronics, the incorporation of optical functions into high density silicon integrated circuits, as well as accelerating development of a "third" generation of photovoltaic solar cells using similar techniques. This third generation thin-film technology would be capable of fundamentally higher energy conversion efficiency than ear ....Silicon Photonics and Third Generation Photovoltaics. The Fellowship would be used to launch a major new initiative addressing one of the key challenges facing microelectronics, the incorporation of optical functions into high density silicon integrated circuits, as well as accelerating development of a "third" generation of photovoltaic solar cells using similar techniques. This third generation thin-film technology would be capable of fundamentally higher energy conversion efficiency than earlier generations, at low cost. In both cases, the targeted outcome over the period of the Fellowship is to develop technology to the stage where it can be commercially evaluated, in a way likely to maximise Australian benefits.Read moreRead less
Design Methodology for Low- and Ultra-Low Power Integrated Circuits. This project will develop low-power and ultra low-power technology that is applicable to wide range of products and electronic devices. The results will benefit many areas, for example, wireless sensors employed in environmental monitoring, bio and life monitoring, bio-sensors to improve patient care, reduce medical costs, implantable devices and bio-interfaces that will enhance the quality of life and public health. This proje ....Design Methodology for Low- and Ultra-Low Power Integrated Circuits. This project will develop low-power and ultra low-power technology that is applicable to wide range of products and electronic devices. The results will benefit many areas, for example, wireless sensors employed in environmental monitoring, bio and life monitoring, bio-sensors to improve patient care, reduce medical costs, implantable devices and bio-interfaces that will enhance the quality of life and public health. This project will benefit Australia by developing frontier technologies with a strong potential for global impact. Bringing these solutions to the public and realizing their financial benefits will add a valuable component of economic diversity to the country in addition to positioning Australia as a leader in this field.Read moreRead less
ADVANCED PHYSICS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SILICON MATERIALS AND DEVICES. Silicon, the semiconductor material that has revolutionised modern society through Microelectronics, is also at the centre of Photovoltaics, the technology that permits harvesting the energy from the sun to improve the quality of life and sustain it beyond the limitations of fossil fuel resources. By improving our understanding of the fundamental properties of silicon and advancing the solar cell devices made from it, this p ....ADVANCED PHYSICS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SILICON MATERIALS AND DEVICES. Silicon, the semiconductor material that has revolutionised modern society through Microelectronics, is also at the centre of Photovoltaics, the technology that permits harvesting the energy from the sun to improve the quality of life and sustain it beyond the limitations of fossil fuel resources. By improving our understanding of the fundamental properties of silicon and advancing the solar cell devices made from it, this project aims to increase Australia's presence in the vast field of Microlectronics and maintain its leading position in solar energy technologies.Read moreRead less
Improving silicon grain boundaries by linking electronic material quality and device manufacturing conditions. This project develops our recent findings for improving silicon grain boundaries in electronic devices such as cheap solar cells, active matrix displays, thin-film transistors, etc. The performance of such devices and their applications have been limited mainly because no simple link between manufacturing conditions and device quality has been found. However, we recently verified a phys ....Improving silicon grain boundaries by linking electronic material quality and device manufacturing conditions. This project develops our recent findings for improving silicon grain boundaries in electronic devices such as cheap solar cells, active matrix displays, thin-film transistors, etc. The performance of such devices and their applications have been limited mainly because no simple link between manufacturing conditions and device quality has been found. However, we recently verified a physical model description of grain boundaries on a broad range of devices, and this allows us to find such a link and to address prevailing problems from a new perspective. This will improve both the understanding and the manufacturing of such devices.Read moreRead less
Efficient signal processing using short word-length techniques. It is expected that the research will lead to significant reductions in cost and computational overheads for signal processing systems in general. These cost/speed enhancements have implications for radar, communications, audio, speech, video, aerospace, defence and biomedical engineering. In the last few decades, developments in enhancing the speed of processing signals has been clearly seen to impinge greatly on the lives of all c ....Efficient signal processing using short word-length techniques. It is expected that the research will lead to significant reductions in cost and computational overheads for signal processing systems in general. These cost/speed enhancements have implications for radar, communications, audio, speech, video, aerospace, defence and biomedical engineering. In the last few decades, developments in enhancing the speed of processing signals has been clearly seen to impinge greatly on the lives of all citizens and so positive outcomes from the research can be expected to translate into increased quality of life for the whole country.Read moreRead less
III-V nitrides for advanced device applications. We seek to develop the fundamental science and technology necessary for an all-Australian nitride device capability for modern microwave applications. Significant advances in basic understanding of material properties will be made to meet critical technology needs. We will establish an innovative procedure for accurate analysis of oxygen and hydrogen in gallium nitride. Cathodoluminescence, Raman and absorption studies, combined with methods of el ....III-V nitrides for advanced device applications. We seek to develop the fundamental science and technology necessary for an all-Australian nitride device capability for modern microwave applications. Significant advances in basic understanding of material properties will be made to meet critical technology needs. We will establish an innovative procedure for accurate analysis of oxygen and hydrogen in gallium nitride. Cathodoluminescence, Raman and absorption studies, combined with methods of elemental analysis will be used to resolve a wide range of technologically important problems such as the efficiency of doping, compensation and contact processing technologies in GaN.Read moreRead less
Development of room temperature diluted magnetic semiconductors for spintronics devices application. Semiconductor spintronics is very likely to have a significant impact on future generations of devices. Until recently, Australian research groups have played a minor role in the field. The proposed program will lead to new discoveries or fundamental advances within semiconductor spintronics or have substantial impact on the progress in this field. The accomplishments of this project can great ....Development of room temperature diluted magnetic semiconductors for spintronics devices application. Semiconductor spintronics is very likely to have a significant impact on future generations of devices. Until recently, Australian research groups have played a minor role in the field. The proposed program will lead to new discoveries or fundamental advances within semiconductor spintronics or have substantial impact on the progress in this field. The accomplishments of this project can greatly increase the scientific understanding of diluted magnetic semiconductors and expand Australia's knowledge base in research in these materials. This program can also be an education platform to provide a number of scientific talents for Australia by intensively training high quality postgraduates at the international level.Read moreRead less
Microelectronic Applications of Improved Silicon Light Emission. While semiconductor silicon chips have been the workhorse of the microelectronics revolution, more complex semiconductor materials have driven the communications revolution. Australian developments during 2001 have largely dispelled the myth that silicon is fundamentally a poor emitter of light. This project aims to build on this work by developing silicon light emitters suitable for integration into high density integrated circu ....Microelectronic Applications of Improved Silicon Light Emission. While semiconductor silicon chips have been the workhorse of the microelectronics revolution, more complex semiconductor materials have driven the communications revolution. Australian developments during 2001 have largely dispelled the myth that silicon is fundamentally a poor emitter of light. This project aims to build on this work by developing silicon light emitters suitable for integration into high density integrated circuits, adding a new dimension to the capabilities of these circuits, driving microelectronics and the information age to the next stage of development.Read moreRead less
Centre for Advanced Silicon Photovoltaics and Photonics. Silicon photovoltaics (Si PV) is a priority area within the Photon Science and Technology category. Multiple studies have identified PV solar electricity as the most promising option for a sustainable energy future, with Australia already at the forefront internationally in Si PV. The applicants recently have shown that insights from PV also may provide the key to the successful development of active Si photonic devices for integration i ....Centre for Advanced Silicon Photovoltaics and Photonics. Silicon photovoltaics (Si PV) is a priority area within the Photon Science and Technology category. Multiple studies have identified PV solar electricity as the most promising option for a sustainable energy future, with Australia already at the forefront internationally in Si PV. The applicants recently have shown that insights from PV also may provide the key to the successful development of active Si photonic devices for integration into microelectronics. The Centre's aims and expected outcomes are to strengthen this technological lead in Si PV while pioneering the development of active Si photonic devices for microelectronic integration, with economic, cultural and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Graphene based nanostructures for high performance devices. Graphene sheets are the building blocks of graphite and a huge variety of carbon based nanostructures. Stacked graphene sheets have the unique property of the highest known thermal conductivity. By manipulating graphene sheets into three-dimensional channels and interconnects, vastly increased heat fluxes can be extracted from sensitive nanoscale devices such as microprocessors and micro electro mechanical systems. The potential of stac ....Graphene based nanostructures for high performance devices. Graphene sheets are the building blocks of graphite and a huge variety of carbon based nanostructures. Stacked graphene sheets have the unique property of the highest known thermal conductivity. By manipulating graphene sheets into three-dimensional channels and interconnects, vastly increased heat fluxes can be extracted from sensitive nanoscale devices such as microprocessors and micro electro mechanical systems. The potential of stacks of graphene as electrical contacts and interconnects will also be explored. By combining thermal and electrical functions, graphene will allow more efficient use of the valuable space on future devices. The outcome will be more efficient nanoscale devices to meet ever increasing performance demands.Read moreRead less