Studies on Nanocomposite Coatings: Processing, Characterisation and Properties. Superhard nanocomposite coatings are relatively new materials that have found many applications in the manufacturing industries. The main objectives of this project are: (a)development and optimisation of fabrication techniques for a range of novel superhard nano-composites; (b) fundamental understanding of the relationships between residual stress, microstructure and composition; and (c) evaluations of fracture-mech ....Studies on Nanocomposite Coatings: Processing, Characterisation and Properties. Superhard nanocomposite coatings are relatively new materials that have found many applications in the manufacturing industries. The main objectives of this project are: (a)development and optimisation of fabrication techniques for a range of novel superhard nano-composites; (b) fundamental understanding of the relationships between residual stress, microstructure and composition; and (c) evaluations of fracture-mechanical properties including wear-resistance. Major research outcomes are improved basic knowledge of these novel nanocomposite coatings leading to optimal processing of superhard nano-materials.Read moreRead less
Soft modes in glasses: chemical control of relaxation and mechanical response. The unusual dynamical and mechanical properties of viscous liquids and glasses underpins many existing and emerging technologies, from lubrication to the strength and fragility of bulk metallic glasses. An improved understanding of how macroscopic properties such as viscous flow, ductility and fracture emerge from the microscopic interactions between atoms and molecules will provide the enabling scientific knowledge f ....Soft modes in glasses: chemical control of relaxation and mechanical response. The unusual dynamical and mechanical properties of viscous liquids and glasses underpins many existing and emerging technologies, from lubrication to the strength and fragility of bulk metallic glasses. An improved understanding of how macroscopic properties such as viscous flow, ductility and fracture emerge from the microscopic interactions between atoms and molecules will provide the enabling scientific knowledge for exploiting the properties of such materials on the nanoscale. National expertise in this area will help establish and strengthen international collaboration with leading research institutes in the field.Read moreRead less
Left-handed metamaterials and negative refraction. This project will establish and support the first team in Australia working in the field of left-handed metamaterials, artificial materials in which waves behave in a unique and counter-intuitive way. The project will promote this new field, enhance its rapid development, and facilitate emerging novel technologies in Australia. It will also lead to close international collaborations with active theoretical and experimental groups, and bring impo ....Left-handed metamaterials and negative refraction. This project will establish and support the first team in Australia working in the field of left-handed metamaterials, artificial materials in which waves behave in a unique and counter-intuitive way. The project will promote this new field, enhance its rapid development, and facilitate emerging novel technologies in Australia. It will also lead to close international collaborations with active theoretical and experimental groups, and bring important expertise to Australia. We believe our initial efforts of purely fundamental nature and extensive collaboration with the overseas groups will have a significant impact on the development of this field and related novel technologies in Australia, attracting strong interest from industry.Read moreRead less
Electron Momentum Spectroscopy of Correlated Nanoscale Structures. Electron correlations play a vital role in determining the electronic properties of condensed matter and nanoscale structures. The most fundamental electronic property of a material is its spectral momentum density and this depends critically on electron correlations. It can be measured uniquely by electron momentum spectroscopy, even for amorphous and disordered materials. We will use our new world-leading electron momentum s ....Electron Momentum Spectroscopy of Correlated Nanoscale Structures. Electron correlations play a vital role in determining the electronic properties of condensed matter and nanoscale structures. The most fundamental electronic property of a material is its spectral momentum density and this depends critically on electron correlations. It can be measured uniquely by electron momentum spectroscopy, even for amorphous and disordered materials. We will use our new world-leading electron momentum spectrometer to measure the electronic structure of nanometer thick samples of correlated systems, such as alloys, superconductors, and reduced dimensional structures. These measurements will be used to test theories developed to describe the behaviour of these nanoscale structures.Read moreRead less
High Resolution Imaging and Analysis of Embedded Interfaces and Interface Phase Transitions in Interface-Dominated Nanomaterials. Heterogeneous nanostructured materials and assemblies offer unique structure-property relationships, dominated by the internal interfaces they contain. This interdisciplinary research project will combine novel techniques based on high-resolution phase-retrieval x-ray diffraction and imaging, with complementary analytical electron microscopy and atom probe analysis, i ....High Resolution Imaging and Analysis of Embedded Interfaces and Interface Phase Transitions in Interface-Dominated Nanomaterials. Heterogeneous nanostructured materials and assemblies offer unique structure-property relationships, dominated by the internal interfaces they contain. This interdisciplinary research project will combine novel techniques based on high-resolution phase-retrieval x-ray diffraction and imaging, with complementary analytical electron microscopy and atom probe analysis, in a coordinated study of the structure and properties of embedded interfaces in strategic bi-crystals and nanostructures. It promises new techniques for the study of such defects, and a breakthrough in the understanding of the structural transitions that occur in embedded interfaces as a function of local changes in composition and temperature.Read moreRead less
High Energy Heavy Ions in Materials Science. The outcome of this project is to develop a more accurate predictor of the rate of energy loss of high energy heavy ions in solids which will have profound implications in the use of these particles in ion implantation, materials analysis and medical physics applications. It will contribute to the development of new high technology materials and to the application of high energy ions to medical treatment procedures.
Development of SmCo-based High Temperature Permanent Magnets: Microstructure and Coercivity Mechanism. This project is to develop high performance permanent magnets for elevated temperature applications. Microstructure and magnetic properties will be examined using atom probe, TEM, XRD and magnetometry. The specific atom probe is the state-of-the-art technique for the characterization of nanostructure and falls in the designated National Research Priority 3, PG2 Frontier Technologies (nanotechno ....Development of SmCo-based High Temperature Permanent Magnets: Microstructure and Coercivity Mechanism. This project is to develop high performance permanent magnets for elevated temperature applications. Microstructure and magnetic properties will be examined using atom probe, TEM, XRD and magnetometry. The specific atom probe is the state-of-the-art technique for the characterization of nanostructure and falls in the designated National Research Priority 3, PG2 Frontier Technologies (nanotechnology). The magnet alloys concerned are an example of Advanced Materials (NRP3, PG3), possessing the best performance amongst such functional materials. The expertise gained in the use of the atom probe technique in this project will have broader applications in the study of nanostructured materials and other metal alloy problems within Australia.Read moreRead less
Engineering the kinetic stability of alloys for advanced stainless material development. A framework for understanding and designing metals and alloys with kinetic stability in mind will allow for discovery and breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation. This work has potential benefits for multiple industry sectors, with the ultimate intent of developing advanced materials for use in transport, construction, energy generation and medicine; all sectors of which can improve our qua ....Engineering the kinetic stability of alloys for advanced stainless material development. A framework for understanding and designing metals and alloys with kinetic stability in mind will allow for discovery and breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation. This work has potential benefits for multiple industry sectors, with the ultimate intent of developing advanced materials for use in transport, construction, energy generation and medicine; all sectors of which can improve our quality of life, whilst also addressing the multi-billion dollars of loss attributed to metallic corrosion each year. Such work will also benefit Australia through the development of a strategic international capability in a highly interdisciplinary field.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
Development of new technology for coated conductors able to carry "over-critical" current densities. The superconductivity phenomenon has extremely attractive feature, that superconductors can carry non-dissipative currents, enabling us to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. The new advanced method suggested in this project might give a new, fresh and inexpensive boost to not only domestic superconducting industry, but also worldwide. The development of new high performance superconductor te ....Development of new technology for coated conductors able to carry "over-critical" current densities. The superconductivity phenomenon has extremely attractive feature, that superconductors can carry non-dissipative currents, enabling us to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. The new advanced method suggested in this project might give a new, fresh and inexpensive boost to not only domestic superconducting industry, but also worldwide. The development of new high performance superconductor technology would significantly promote fundamental understanding and knowledge of the poorly investigated "long-range" magnetic interaction between magnetic and superconducting materials. The University of Wollongong would lead the world research community in this practically important and scientifically intriguing area.Read moreRead less