Diamond glass: An all-carbon technology for neural networks and biosensing. This project aims to use plasma deposition to synthesise diamond glass with the highest purity and the most diamond-like character so that it meets the strict requirements for emerging device applications. The extreme properties of diamond glass arise from the diamond-like bonding of the majority of its atoms. This amorphous, wide bandgap semiconductor is also the hardest known glass. The maximum diamond-like content pos ....Diamond glass: An all-carbon technology for neural networks and biosensing. This project aims to use plasma deposition to synthesise diamond glass with the highest purity and the most diamond-like character so that it meets the strict requirements for emerging device applications. The extreme properties of diamond glass arise from the diamond-like bonding of the majority of its atoms. This amorphous, wide bandgap semiconductor is also the hardest known glass. The maximum diamond-like content possible in diamond glass coatings is unknown, so determining its ultimate performance is difficult. Expected applications include medical diagnostics, non-volatile memories and programmable chips.Read moreRead less
Rapid point-of-care detection of genomic variations for personalised medicine. Selecting treatment based on a person’s genetic profile can improve drug safety and efficacy, but the application is hampered by the inconvenience, slow result turnaround and high cost of current lab-based tests. Full implementation of personalised medicine in clinical practice requires a point-of-care testing system. This project aims to overcome the challenges involved in developing such a system by validating novel ....Rapid point-of-care detection of genomic variations for personalised medicine. Selecting treatment based on a person’s genetic profile can improve drug safety and efficacy, but the application is hampered by the inconvenience, slow result turnaround and high cost of current lab-based tests. Full implementation of personalised medicine in clinical practice requires a point-of-care testing system. This project aims to overcome the challenges involved in developing such a system by validating novel rapid genotyping methods and developing ultrasensitive real-time DNA detection that will be integrated on a single chip platform to facilitate a small, low cost and reliable test device. The technology will be readily adaptable to areas where prompt access to genomic information is valuable, such as disease diagnosis and risk prediction.Read moreRead less
A novel platform-technology for long-term subcutaneous neurophysiology. This project aims to develop a novel miniature device for subcutaneous and tetherless brain sensing. It addresses the lack of a device solution for brain-sensing that combines ultra-long-term reliable sensing capability and small dimensions for minimally-invasive procedures. We achieve this through our novel electrode architecture that significantly enhances the quality and reliability of recorded brain signals. We introduce ....A novel platform-technology for long-term subcutaneous neurophysiology. This project aims to develop a novel miniature device for subcutaneous and tetherless brain sensing. It addresses the lack of a device solution for brain-sensing that combines ultra-long-term reliable sensing capability and small dimensions for minimally-invasive procedures. We achieve this through our novel electrode architecture that significantly enhances the quality and reliability of recorded brain signals. We introduce a platform technology designed for subscalp anatomy with future use in various brain-machine interfacing applications relying on reliable, long-term and easy-to-implant systems. This project's device manufacturing, training, and intellectual property are expected to strengthen Australia's position in bioelectronics.Read moreRead less
Synthesis, characterisation, and applications of atomically thin layers of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. The project will explore the key fundamental properties of atomically-thin layers of functional materials made of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. By reducing the thickness of these materials to only a few atomic layers, the project will create novel electronic properties that are otherwise not exhibited. The aims are to understand layer-dependent changes to their p ....Synthesis, characterisation, and applications of atomically thin layers of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. The project will explore the key fundamental properties of atomically-thin layers of functional materials made of transition metal oxides and dichalcogenides. By reducing the thickness of these materials to only a few atomic layers, the project will create novel electronic properties that are otherwise not exhibited. The aims are to understand layer-dependent changes to their physical and chemical properties; to control and tune such properties by altering crystal structure and composition; and to investigate the effect of mixed-layer heterostructure configurations on these characteristics. The fundamental insights gained will serve as the driver for the next generation nanotechnology-enabled electronics and sensing systems.Read moreRead less
Multilayer thin film memristors: designing interfaces and defect states in perovskites for nanoscale multi-state memories. This project will explore memristive devices, a frontier electronic memory technology, where the memory element's behaviour depends on its prior electronic experiences. This project will attempt to understand the processes that govern the storage and recall of information, to realise functional materials and interfaces that maximise memristive performance.
Novel silicon photonic devices harnessing new leakage behaviour. The continuing advance of microprocessor performance requires vast quantities of data to be transferred between on-chip processor cores and to the outside world. The transfer of data via metal wires cannot meet this demand due to limited bandwidth and astonishing heat generation. Low-loss photonic transport integrated onto the silicon chip offers a solution. With this project we will explore harnessing a newly discovered phenomenon ....Novel silicon photonic devices harnessing new leakage behaviour. The continuing advance of microprocessor performance requires vast quantities of data to be transferred between on-chip processor cores and to the outside world. The transfer of data via metal wires cannot meet this demand due to limited bandwidth and astonishing heat generation. Low-loss photonic transport integrated onto the silicon chip offers a solution. With this project we will explore harnessing a newly discovered phenomenon in silicon photonics to achieve devices such as electrically pumped lasers and wavelength routers. The project will collaborate closely with researchers in the USA, but will focus on research of designs that can be created in Australia and licensed to major industry across the globe.
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DNA Directed Nanofabrication - A novel, universal, highly parallel bottom-up assembly approach. This proposal aims to provide a nanofabrication method that has the potential to strongly impact every aspect of science - from fundamental research to commercial applications by providing a universal, simple low-cost tool to build nanostructures to order. The basic properties of these structures will be studied prior to their integration into new applications. We will be providing a solution to a b ....DNA Directed Nanofabrication - A novel, universal, highly parallel bottom-up assembly approach. This proposal aims to provide a nanofabrication method that has the potential to strongly impact every aspect of science - from fundamental research to commercial applications by providing a universal, simple low-cost tool to build nanostructures to order. The basic properties of these structures will be studied prior to their integration into new applications. We will be providing a solution to a bottleneck that currently limits the scientific advancement and commercial exploitation of nanotechnology. Our proposal describes a 'Nanoassembly' technique, considered by the ARC as Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries (ARC priority area 3). Read moreRead less
Unravelling structure-function relationships in high mobility donor-acceptor co-polymers. This project seeks to understand the high-performance of a new generation of semiconducting plastics. This research will enable the development of low-cost printed electronics such as flexible displays and sensors.
Quantum transport in carbon-based materials. Carbon-based molecular materials will play an important role to frontier nanoelectronics industries. Building on our existing expertise and infrastructure for nanoscience, and employing new facilities at the Australian synchrotron, we aim to develop a unique approach to molecular-scale quantum device engineering utilising pure-carbon materials. New protocols for materials control of electronic structure at the molecular level will be developed to demo ....Quantum transport in carbon-based materials. Carbon-based molecular materials will play an important role to frontier nanoelectronics industries. Building on our existing expertise and infrastructure for nanoscience, and employing new facilities at the Australian synchrotron, we aim to develop a unique approach to molecular-scale quantum device engineering utilising pure-carbon materials. New protocols for materials control of electronic structure at the molecular level will be developed to demonstrate carbon as a quantum material, a high profile objective that will place Australia at the forefront of a new area of surface and device science. Read moreRead less
Template-Directed Growth and Assembly of Nanoscale Graphitic Carbon Structures. The various nanometre-scale forms of graphitic carbon have been strong candidates for use as novel building blocks in electronic, opto-electronic and electro-mechanical devices. However, their development has been hampered by a lack of control of the type, quality and homogeneity of structures produced by conventional methods.
This project aims to fabricate and characterise thin films of ordered, high-quality carbon ....Template-Directed Growth and Assembly of Nanoscale Graphitic Carbon Structures. The various nanometre-scale forms of graphitic carbon have been strong candidates for use as novel building blocks in electronic, opto-electronic and electro-mechanical devices. However, their development has been hampered by a lack of control of the type, quality and homogeneity of structures produced by conventional methods.
This project aims to fabricate and characterise thin films of ordered, high-quality carbon nanostructures. A novel synthesis route, involving the controlled deposition of carbon onto template substrates, is proposed. The products will be studied with near-atomic resolution to understand their formation mechanisms, and hence approach the goal of elaborating carbon-based nanodevices.
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