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
Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) -compatible ultra-high response piezoelectric thin films for efficient energy harvesting. Optimised piezoelectric thin films as precursors to realising silicon-based energy harvesting technology will result from this project. These ultra-high response films will be used to efficiently generate electrical energy from environmental mechanical energy sources, such as acoustic vibrations and biorhythms. Hurdles currently faced in realising energy harves ....Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) -compatible ultra-high response piezoelectric thin films for efficient energy harvesting. Optimised piezoelectric thin films as precursors to realising silicon-based energy harvesting technology will result from this project. These ultra-high response films will be used to efficiently generate electrical energy from environmental mechanical energy sources, such as acoustic vibrations and biorhythms. Hurdles currently faced in realising energy harvesting technology will be overcome using this novel approach. This technology can be used to effectively operate low power portable devices and implantable bioelectronics. Energy harvesting with piezoelectric thin films will be a scientific breakthrough, critical in making Australia a leader in alternative energy technologies, complementing expertise in solar and fuel cells.Read moreRead less
Active Vibration Control of a Cricket Bat using Piezoelectric-based Smart Materials Technology. Improvement of sporting equipment performance of late has largely ignored the game of cricket. Using the combined disciplines of advanced materials and control technologies, it is anticipated that the traditional cricket bat can be vastly improved while keeping to bat modification guidelines as specified in the rules of the game. This project involves the dynamic study of the bat using established e ....Active Vibration Control of a Cricket Bat using Piezoelectric-based Smart Materials Technology. Improvement of sporting equipment performance of late has largely ignored the game of cricket. Using the combined disciplines of advanced materials and control technologies, it is anticipated that the traditional cricket bat can be vastly improved while keeping to bat modification guidelines as specified in the rules of the game. This project involves the dynamic study of the bat using established experimental techniques. Once the various regions of high strain rates are determined, smart materials technologies will be used to reduce the transient vibrations transmitted to the batsman. The effect of this monitoring and control is to increase the comfort level and hence, effectiveness of the batsman.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354735
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian Network on Microelectronics, Optoelectronics and Microelectromechanical Systems. The Network will encompass semiconductor microelectronics, optoelectronics, sensors and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Fundamental research in these areas enables the technological advances that underpin rapidly developing industries such as information and telecommunications technologies, defence, aerospace, medicine, and remote sensing. Exciting challenges exist in designing new devices that exp ....Australian Network on Microelectronics, Optoelectronics and Microelectromechanical Systems. The Network will encompass semiconductor microelectronics, optoelectronics, sensors and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Fundamental research in these areas enables the technological advances that underpin rapidly developing industries such as information and telecommunications technologies, defence, aerospace, medicine, and remote sensing. Exciting challenges exist in designing new devices that exploit unique semiconductor systems and technologies. By sharing capabilities and resources (both capital and human), the network will enable the issues associated with such novel materials and devices to be addressed in a targeted manner. The network will also guarantee the ongoing future of research in the area by actively involving early career researchers and postgraduate students.Read moreRead less
Studying Discretisation Behaviours in Variable Structure Control Systems. Variable structure control is a technology that helps build very simple and effective switching control devices for dealing with environmental uncertainties, which are widely used, for example, in industrial control systems/processes. The outcomes from this research will help the understanding of control performance deterioration due to discretisation and developing effective measures for protection from possible ill beha ....Studying Discretisation Behaviours in Variable Structure Control Systems. Variable structure control is a technology that helps build very simple and effective switching control devices for dealing with environmental uncertainties, which are widely used, for example, in industrial control systems/processes. The outcomes from this research will help the understanding of control performance deterioration due to discretisation and developing effective measures for protection from possible ill behaviours of these control devices. This research will place Australia in the forefront of the development of this new technology, resulting in enhanced reliability of control devices, improved productivity and cost saving for industries, and consequent improvement in quality of life.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238960
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,000.00
Summary
High Performance Semiconductor Micromachining Facility. The purpose of this project is to make available to the Australian semiconductor research community a facility to undertake specialist deposition and etching tasks needed for fabrication of next generation solar cells, microelectronics, optronics, and micro-electromechanical systems. The facility will have the flexibility to allow independent control of major process parameters, allowing development of new fabrication technologies which wi ....High Performance Semiconductor Micromachining Facility. The purpose of this project is to make available to the Australian semiconductor research community a facility to undertake specialist deposition and etching tasks needed for fabrication of next generation solar cells, microelectronics, optronics, and micro-electromechanical systems. The facility will have the flexibility to allow independent control of major process parameters, allowing development of new fabrication technologies which will be generic to a wide range of semiconductor materials. In particular, the facility will be unique in its ability to perform processes at low temperatures, and under conditions that allow optimisation of the deposition and etching processes, without compromising the performance of delicate devices or exceeding the maximum process temperature limitations found in many mainstream semiconductor materials technologies.Read moreRead less
ARC Nanotechnology Research Network. The field of nano scale science, engineering and technology (in short nanotechnology) is just emerging and it is predicted to make a major impact in all technologies and areas of society. Australian Nanotechnology Network intends to harness the combined Australian capability to enable Australia to take a leading role in this rapidly growing field.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347464
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
Setting up an integrated wirebonding and testing facility for MEMS applications. This project intends to setup an integrated wire bonding and testing facility suitable for Micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) applications. Wire bonding is an essential step for making the contacts of any micro device with external power supply or signal conditioning circuitry. The contact pads for such devices vary in size from 0.050 mm x 0.050 mm to few 100s of micrometers. The proposed facility will be requi ....Setting up an integrated wirebonding and testing facility for MEMS applications. This project intends to setup an integrated wire bonding and testing facility suitable for Micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) applications. Wire bonding is an essential step for making the contacts of any micro device with external power supply or signal conditioning circuitry. The contact pads for such devices vary in size from 0.050 mm x 0.050 mm to few 100s of micrometers. The proposed facility will be required for making contacts either using thermal or ultrasonic methods with complete automatic stages. The electrical contacts are used to drive or monitor MEMS, Polymer micro devices and nano- fluidic systems. This facility will be used for different applications including photonics and communication devices (RMIT), flexi circuits and microwave devices (DSTO) and micro/nano fluidic systems (SUT). This will be the only advanced integrated facility in Victoria, which will have the wire bonding(ball & wedge), die bonding and bond testing facilities together.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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Tailoring the optical properties of matter with Sol-Gel: innovative optical materials for 3D photonic crystals with complete photonic band-gap. The success of this project will allow for improvement of existing technologies in diverse fields, from optics to green energy production. Realization of 3D complete Photonic Band-Gap (PBG) structures is the first step toward full optic-based data processing systems, which will be one of the most revolutionary achievements in technology after introductio ....Tailoring the optical properties of matter with Sol-Gel: innovative optical materials for 3D photonic crystals with complete photonic band-gap. The success of this project will allow for improvement of existing technologies in diverse fields, from optics to green energy production. Realization of 3D complete Photonic Band-Gap (PBG) structures is the first step toward full optic-based data processing systems, which will be one of the most revolutionary achievements in technology after introduction of electronic-based processors. Improvement of energy conversion efficiency of existing solar cells and polymer-based solar cells will be achievable thanks to implementation of PhCs as high-reflective layers. The establishment of scaleable protocols for production of high quality materials for photonics will put Australia among the leading countries in the future photonic-devices market.Read moreRead less