Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability ....Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability and band gap tunability across the required range, enabled by quantum confinement. The outcome is the development of integrated self-powered IoT devices potentially impacting Advanced Manufacturing growth in Energy, Cyber Security, Food and Agribusiness, as all of these will ultimately rely on networked smart devices.Read moreRead less
Interaction of light with tissues: A hyper-spectral approach . This project aims to address an important problem of noncontact assessment of tissue including skin and cartilage. By using extremely wide spectrum – between the terahertz and the near infrared – the effects of scattering and absorption arising from the variation of tissue properties from macro- to nano-scale will be explored. Spatial variations of tissue properties will be addressed in model and experiment by combining spectroscopy ....Interaction of light with tissues: A hyper-spectral approach . This project aims to address an important problem of noncontact assessment of tissue including skin and cartilage. By using extremely wide spectrum – between the terahertz and the near infrared – the effects of scattering and absorption arising from the variation of tissue properties from macro- to nano-scale will be explored. Spatial variations of tissue properties will be addressed in model and experiment by combining spectroscopy with the novel terahertz and mid-infrared Scanning Near field Optical Microscopy. The outcomes will advance fundamental understanding of light interaction with multi-layered tissues. This will provide a tool for advancing bioengineering research, terahertz technology, and development in biomedical devices.Read moreRead less
Tunable metamaterials for terahertz and infrared applications. This project proposes novel low-cost miniature devices for spectroscopic, spatial, and temporal manipulation of infrared and terahertz waves, which are important for security and short range communication applications. By enabling the modulation of infrared and terahertz signals, the intended outcome is a platform for imaging applications, detection of chemical composition of objects, and future high-bandwidth communications. Using m ....Tunable metamaterials for terahertz and infrared applications. This project proposes novel low-cost miniature devices for spectroscopic, spatial, and temporal manipulation of infrared and terahertz waves, which are important for security and short range communication applications. By enabling the modulation of infrared and terahertz signals, the intended outcome is a platform for imaging applications, detection of chemical composition of objects, and future high-bandwidth communications. Using microfabrication techniques, the project plans to create metamaterials integrated with micro-electro-mechanical systems, which dynamically vary their electromagnetic properties. This technology would enable the creation of new devices that can controllably absorb, reflect or transmit infrared and terahertz signals.Read moreRead less
Biologically-inspired detection, pursuit and interception of moving objects by unmanned aircraft systems. Although it is well known that aggressive honeybees are very effective at detecting, pursuing and intercepting moving targets, this behaviour has never been studied quantitatively. This project will use high-speed video cinematography to investigate this behaviour, to develop visual algorithms for the detection of moving targets, and to create dynamical models of the mechanisms that control ....Biologically-inspired detection, pursuit and interception of moving objects by unmanned aircraft systems. Although it is well known that aggressive honeybees are very effective at detecting, pursuing and intercepting moving targets, this behaviour has never been studied quantitatively. This project will use high-speed video cinematography to investigate this behaviour, to develop visual algorithms for the detection of moving targets, and to create dynamical models of the mechanisms that control pursuit. The resulting algorithms will be incorporated into unmanned aerial vehicles for detecting, monitoring and tracking other objects in the sky, and their performance will be evaluated. The results will provide a better understanding of the biological basis of pursuit behaviour, as well as lead to novel technologies for aerial surveillance and safety.Read moreRead less
Engineering the Next Generation of Terahertz Laser Imaging Systems. This project aims to develop terahertz imaging systems based on quantum cascade lasers suitable for characterisation of skin, with major implications for early skin cancer detection. Despite advances in treatment regimes, the most significant predictor of skin cancer survivability remains early detection. The project’s approach uses the semiconductor laser in the optical-feedback interferometer configuration, and is designed to ....Engineering the Next Generation of Terahertz Laser Imaging Systems. This project aims to develop terahertz imaging systems based on quantum cascade lasers suitable for characterisation of skin, with major implications for early skin cancer detection. Despite advances in treatment regimes, the most significant predictor of skin cancer survivability remains early detection. The project’s approach uses the semiconductor laser in the optical-feedback interferometer configuration, and is designed to afford significant advantages over conventional terahertz imaging platforms. The project plans to explore new semiconductor physics of a quantum cascade laser under optical feedback, engineer the semiconductor laser-based platform for medical diagnostic applications, and develop supporting numerical techniques.Read moreRead less
Strategies for mid-air collision avoidance in aircraft: lessons from bird flight. Birds seldom collide with each other and other objects, despite the high speeds at which they fly in complex environments. This project will examine how birds sense and avoid impending collisions, and will use these results to design novel strategies for the detection and avoidance of aircraft mid-air collisions.
Engineering the Next Generation of Broadband Terahertz Technologies. This project proposes a new broadband, high-power, laser technology for THz sensing. This semiconductor laser based THz technology is crucial for a wide range of applications requiring the acquisition of THz spectral signatures of materials and high-frame rate hyper-spectral THz imaging. We propose two pathways to engineer this novel THz technology: using a tuneable, coupled-cavity quantum cascade semiconductor laser and by c ....Engineering the Next Generation of Broadband Terahertz Technologies. This project proposes a new broadband, high-power, laser technology for THz sensing. This semiconductor laser based THz technology is crucial for a wide range of applications requiring the acquisition of THz spectral signatures of materials and high-frame rate hyper-spectral THz imaging. We propose two pathways to engineer this novel THz technology: using a tuneable, coupled-cavity quantum cascade semiconductor laser and by creating the broad emission spectra through active mode locking in a THz semiconductor laser. The THz laser coupled with the self-detection technique is the key to realising this, and will be explored both in model and experiment.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL160100089
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,600,796.00
Summary
In situ electron microscopy toward new materials and applications. In situ electron microscopy toward new materials and applications. This project aims to develop materials for structural and green energy applications, using spatially-resolved, dynamic in situ transmission electron microscopy to research fundamental mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties of diverse nanostructures. These techniques measure nanomaterial (one-dimensional nanotubes and n ....In situ electron microscopy toward new materials and applications. In situ electron microscopy toward new materials and applications. This project aims to develop materials for structural and green energy applications, using spatially-resolved, dynamic in situ transmission electron microscopy to research fundamental mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties of diverse nanostructures. These techniques measure nanomaterial (one-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires and two-dimensional graphene-like nanosheets) response to external stimuli, including mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal stimuli. Anticipated outcomes are new ultralight and superstrong structural composites and ‘green-energy’ nanomaterials, such as solar cells, touch panels, batteries, supercapacitors, field-effect transistors, light sensors and displays.Read moreRead less
Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enable ....Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enabled the recent commercialisation of SiC transistors. It is expected that the material advantages of SiC can be fully exploited by a new device structure and a new fabrication process.Read moreRead less
Fundamental processes in organic photodetectors - towards next generation imaging and sensing systems. Photodetectors are central components in displays, imaging devices and sensors. The project aims to develop the next generation of photodetectors based upon organic semiconductors with the potential to be extremely cheap, recyclable, mechanically flexible and even biocompatible.