Complex Interfaces and Solid-State Precipitation in Advanced Materials. Solid-state precipitates are key features of the microstructures of many natural and artificial materials and govern their properties. Yet understanding, let alone designing, the microstructures of materials remains a formidable challenge. The recent discovery of a new class of embedded interfaces in aluminium alloys offers the prospect of determining the atomic-scale mechanisms of precipitation. This project aims to apply t ....Complex Interfaces and Solid-State Precipitation in Advanced Materials. Solid-state precipitates are key features of the microstructures of many natural and artificial materials and govern their properties. Yet understanding, let alone designing, the microstructures of materials remains a formidable challenge. The recent discovery of a new class of embedded interfaces in aluminium alloys offers the prospect of determining the atomic-scale mechanisms of precipitation. This project aims to apply the latest microscopy and computational techniques synergistically to characterise such interfaces and develop atomic-scale mechanisms of nucleation and growth in model alloy systems. It is expected that this work will constitute a major step towards practical control of solid-state precipitation in technologically important materials.Read moreRead less
Locating Atoms by Observing Crystallographic Phase. Atomic structures are determined by measuring how they scatter radiation. However half of the necessary information, the crystallographic phase, cannot be measured from the scattered intensity. For a century the only option has been to deduce the phase via the statistical analysis of thousands of intensity measurements. This project aims to develop a method to determine atomic structures from the direct observation of phase. From a handful of o ....Locating Atoms by Observing Crystallographic Phase. Atomic structures are determined by measuring how they scatter radiation. However half of the necessary information, the crystallographic phase, cannot be measured from the scattered intensity. For a century the only option has been to deduce the phase via the statistical analysis of thousands of intensity measurements. This project aims to develop a method to determine atomic structures from the direct observation of phase. From a handful of observations and no formal measurements, atoms can be located with picometre precision. It is predicted that this method will be direct, rapid and unequivocal, sensitive to light atoms and applicable to nanostructures, which will represent a paradigm shift in crystallography.Read moreRead less
Imaging defects at atomic resolution via state-of-the-art atomic force microscopy and petascale simulations. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) promises to deliver resolution of individual atoms on surfaces and therefore, in principle, is capable of observing surface defects. However, the image obtained is a convolution of many complex interactions. Thus the key questions are what is being actually observed when we see something with “atomic resolution” in AFM and can point defects be really detected ....Imaging defects at atomic resolution via state-of-the-art atomic force microscopy and petascale simulations. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) promises to deliver resolution of individual atoms on surfaces and therefore, in principle, is capable of observing surface defects. However, the image obtained is a convolution of many complex interactions. Thus the key questions are what is being actually observed when we see something with “atomic resolution” in AFM and can point defects be really detected? The aim of this proposal is to combine state-of-the-art experimental AFM techniques with computer simulations that are capable of generating AFM images to answer these questions. Our ability to harness the potential of AFM for many applications in areas such as nanoscience and crystal engineering hinges on being able to correctly interpret AFM images.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
A prototype Scanning Helium Atom Microscope (SHeM) for soft materials. The scanning helium atom microscope (SHeM) has been a tantalising prospect since the birth of quantum physics. The SHeM would have unparalleled resolution and would be completely non-damaging; potentially revolutionising the imaging of soft delicate materials. This project will develop the first SHeM instrument in Australia to study soft matter.
Phonon based condensed matter imaging. This project will exploit observations of phonon-based chemical contrast in the SHeM to determine the physics that underpins the imaging mechanism and use them to probe vibrational processes in condensed matter imaging. Imaging is an essential tool for the discovery, application and fabrication of new materials, structures and devices. However, many delicate structures are irrevocably degraded and changed when imaged using conventional microscopy. This team ....Phonon based condensed matter imaging. This project will exploit observations of phonon-based chemical contrast in the SHeM to determine the physics that underpins the imaging mechanism and use them to probe vibrational processes in condensed matter imaging. Imaging is an essential tool for the discovery, application and fabrication of new materials, structures and devices. However, many delicate structures are irrevocably degraded and changed when imaged using conventional microscopy. This team recently invented the scanning helium atom microscope (SHeM), which can image surfaces non-destructively with nanoscale resolution. They will use the SHeM to determine the new fundamental physics that underpins the imaging mechanism. Outcomes include turning SHeM into a tool that materials and biological scientists can use in laboratories worldwide.Read moreRead less
Chemical mapping of materials at the atomic scale. This project will develop a method for measuring the chemical composition of technologically important nanomaterials. This capability will provide Australian scientists with an advanced method for the characterisation of materials and will help them to develop new and better materials for future applications.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Scanning auger microscope facility for elemental imaging and characterisation of surfaces and interfaces. This project will establish a scanning auger microprobe facility as part of the Australian microscopy and microanalysis research facility. It will provide advanced characterisation and ultra-high resolution imaging of elemental species on surfaces, for researchers working in the areas of nano- and green technologies, and minerals processing.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100235
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Interfacial mapping facility. New electronic materials and devices impact on everyday life in areas such as photovoltaics, biotechnology and healthcare. This facility will provide researchers with the unique capability of mapping both the structure and electronic properties of materials on the nanoscale. It will be an essential tool for developing new electronics based on nanotechnology.
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundame ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundamental advances in understanding details of immune responses in health and disease. The Centre will enable Australia to be an international leader in biological imaging, to train next
generation interdisciplinary scientists, and to provide new insights for combating common diseases that afflict society.Read moreRead less