Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their ....Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their collective behaviour. The project will investigate in detail the geometry, topology, materials science and statistical physics of networks, leading to design and characterization of robust self-assembled materials and complex systems.Read moreRead less
Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. ....Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. This project addresses these issues using model materials in thin-film and bulk-crystal forms. Capacitance dilatometry, optical, electron and scanning-probe microscopies, and x-ray techniques, will unlock an understanding of the physical and metallurgical conditions controlling these transformations.Read moreRead less
Application of First-principles Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering: Coatings, Catalysis, and Devices. The project addresses areas of high technological interest, namely the development of nitride-based materials for hard-coatings, spintronic (control and use of electron spin) and optoelectronic (in the blue/UV energy range) devices - as well as the area of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Using state-of-the-art methods it will lead to the developme ....Application of First-principles Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering: Coatings, Catalysis, and Devices. The project addresses areas of high technological interest, namely the development of nitride-based materials for hard-coatings, spintronic (control and use of electron spin) and optoelectronic (in the blue/UV energy range) devices - as well as the area of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Using state-of-the-art methods it will lead to the development of new materials and devices of relevance to industry.Read moreRead less
Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,476.00
Summary
Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device modul ....Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device module for a preconcentrator technology that will sorb explosive analytes, have low power requirements and be compatible with hand held explosives detectors. Security and law enforcement agencies should directly benefit from these findings, which would advance their safety and that of the community as a whole.Read moreRead less
Atomically thin superconductors. This project aims to explore two-dimensional superconducting materials and elucidate the origins of their superconductivity. High temperature superconductivity in single layer iron-based superconductors offers a platform for exploring superconductors with even higher critical temperature (Tc) and has aroused great hope of understanding the underlying mechanisms for high Tc superconductivity. This project is expected to introduce physics and materials, leading to ....Atomically thin superconductors. This project aims to explore two-dimensional superconducting materials and elucidate the origins of their superconductivity. High temperature superconductivity in single layer iron-based superconductors offers a platform for exploring superconductors with even higher critical temperature (Tc) and has aroused great hope of understanding the underlying mechanisms for high Tc superconductivity. This project is expected to introduce physics and materials, leading to a better understanding of the two-dimensional superconducting phenomenon and the discovery of physical phenomena for new electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Iron-based high-temperature topological superconductors. Because of topological non-trivial nature and zero resistance, topological superconductors are very promising in the application of future electronic devices. This project aims to achieve intrinsic and robust topological superconductors at high-temperature by engineering iron-based superconductors via precisely controlling the defects, chemical doping, interface and substrates. Expected outcomes of this project will include high-temperatur ....Iron-based high-temperature topological superconductors. Because of topological non-trivial nature and zero resistance, topological superconductors are very promising in the application of future electronic devices. This project aims to achieve intrinsic and robust topological superconductors at high-temperature by engineering iron-based superconductors via precisely controlling the defects, chemical doping, interface and substrates. Expected outcomes of this project will include high-temperature iron-based topological superconductors as new material platforms for the study of exotic properties of topological superconductivity and future application in high-temperature fault-tolerant quantum computing. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100219
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,174.00
Summary
Engineering of exotic electronic properties in atomically thin antimony. This project aims to introduce a new method of engineering electronic resistance properties of materials to reduce energy consumption in computation. Next-generation electronic devices require materials hosting current at near-zero resistance to reduce energy consumption and heat dissipation in computation. Using a novel air-stable topological material, the project will use band engineering techniques to enable the producti ....Engineering of exotic electronic properties in atomically thin antimony. This project aims to introduce a new method of engineering electronic resistance properties of materials to reduce energy consumption in computation. Next-generation electronic devices require materials hosting current at near-zero resistance to reduce energy consumption and heat dissipation in computation. Using a novel air-stable topological material, the project will use band engineering techniques to enable the production of near-zero resistance electronic material. This project will advance the knowledge required for exploring and designing materials with novel electronic properties. The advanced materials engineering techniques and exotic phase of matter identified in this project will support the development of next-generation electronic device technologies.Read moreRead less
Topotactic Control of Magnetism in Multiferroic and Skyrmion Materials. The engineering and utilisation of multiferroic and skyrmion materials is currently receiving tremendous attention as they offer a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics and high density data storage. One bottleneck for applications is the precise control of magnetism in single phase materials. The project is expected to deliver insight into synthes ....Topotactic Control of Magnetism in Multiferroic and Skyrmion Materials. The engineering and utilisation of multiferroic and skyrmion materials is currently receiving tremendous attention as they offer a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics and high density data storage. One bottleneck for applications is the precise control of magnetism in single phase materials. The project is expected to deliver insight into synthesis and properties of new topotactic magnetic materials. The utilization of topotactic transitions (reversible stoichiometric changes in materials that lead to changes in the crystal structure) can be seen as a new concept for designing controllable multiferroic and skyrmion host materials for future nanoelectronics.Read moreRead less
Magnetic skyrmion materials for next generation spintronic-based devices. Magnetic skyrmions are a novel class of materials with unique spin arrangement, making them suitable for the next generation of information processing and storage with ultrahigh density and extremely low energy consumption. This project aims to establish Australia as a world authority in the field of magnetic skyrmions and their applications, by developing ground-breaking materials and advanced technologies. The expected o ....Magnetic skyrmion materials for next generation spintronic-based devices. Magnetic skyrmions are a novel class of materials with unique spin arrangement, making them suitable for the next generation of information processing and storage with ultrahigh density and extremely low energy consumption. This project aims to establish Australia as a world authority in the field of magnetic skyrmions and their applications, by developing ground-breaking materials and advanced technologies. The expected outcomes of this project include the creation of new functional materials, leading to a better understanding of the skyrmions and producing a foundation for the future development of novel information storage devices.Read moreRead less