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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101499
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,801.00
Summary
First-principles design and characterisation of topological materials. It has long been predicted that materials may contain special topological order. The recent discovery of topological insulators reveals the tip of the iceberg, but many theoretical hypotheses, such as the existence of the fractional Chern insulator and quantum spin liquid, remain elusive. This project aims to bridge the gap between conceptual models and real materials by using first-principles calculations. The plan is to ide ....First-principles design and characterisation of topological materials. It has long been predicted that materials may contain special topological order. The recent discovery of topological insulators reveals the tip of the iceberg, but many theoretical hypotheses, such as the existence of the fractional Chern insulator and quantum spin liquid, remain elusive. This project aims to bridge the gap between conceptual models and real materials by using first-principles calculations. The plan is to identify and engineer topological electronic bands in experimentally feasible materials, characterise existing quantum frustrated materials and connect these materials with minimal theoretical models. This project also aims to reveal further families of topological materials and clarify their physical properties.Read moreRead less
Rational Design of Novel Multiferroic Materials for Energy Harvesting and Energy Efficiency. Multiferroics are a class of fundamentally complex materials in which several ferroic orders (for example, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic) coexist. The coupling between their electric and magnetic degrees of freedom is controllable via stress and external fields, thus opening the possibility for breakthrough technological developments. By working at the frontier of complex nanostructured oxide materials ....Rational Design of Novel Multiferroic Materials for Energy Harvesting and Energy Efficiency. Multiferroics are a class of fundamentally complex materials in which several ferroic orders (for example, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic) coexist. The coupling between their electric and magnetic degrees of freedom is controllable via stress and external fields, thus opening the possibility for breakthrough technological developments. By working at the frontier of complex nanostructured oxide materials, this project aims to establish the rational basis for systematic design of novel artificially layered multiferroics, develop accurate and computationally affordable methods to simulate these materials under finite-temperature conditions, and exploit this knowledge to devise likely revolutionary photovoltaic, nanoelectronic and energy conversion applications.Read moreRead less
Novel 2-photon atom manipulation for ultra-nanoscale processing of diamond. There is intense interest in exploiting diamond's remarkable properties in many fields of science and technology, but fabricating and processing devices remains a major challenge. This project will build on previous work, using a recently discovered novel laser-induced surface phenomenon that enables, for the first time for any material, the exciting prospect of using light to manipulate surface atoms with atomic precis ....Novel 2-photon atom manipulation for ultra-nanoscale processing of diamond. There is intense interest in exploiting diamond's remarkable properties in many fields of science and technology, but fabricating and processing devices remains a major challenge. This project will build on previous work, using a recently discovered novel laser-induced surface phenomenon that enables, for the first time for any material, the exciting prospect of using light to manipulate surface atoms with atomic precision. This project aims to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning the optical interaction to reveal its full potential and use it to address key problems in diamond nano-device fabrication that lie beyond the reach of current techniques. It is expected that the outcomes will directly enhance Australia's current strengths in diamond-based quantum and photonic technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100167
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Electro-optical quantum transport in semiconductor microcavities. The project seeks to expand fundamental knowledge in the new area of exciton-polariton physics which has a range of practical applications. This project plans to connect fundamental study in quantum physics with application-oriented research involving elements of quantum engineering. The project plans to investigate the transport of exciton polaritons – hybrid light–matter particles that can propagate nearly as fast as light and a ....Electro-optical quantum transport in semiconductor microcavities. The project seeks to expand fundamental knowledge in the new area of exciton-polariton physics which has a range of practical applications. This project plans to connect fundamental study in quantum physics with application-oriented research involving elements of quantum engineering. The project plans to investigate the transport of exciton polaritons – hybrid light–matter particles that can propagate nearly as fast as light and are very robust. It may allow us to better understand fundamental features in physics and optics, and to model and construct optoelectronic devices such as quantum switchers, filters, transistors and detectors. The theory that the project aims to develop could be employed in different spheres of modern physics, chemistry, and medicine and biology.Read moreRead less
Electronic functionality in nanoscale materials: from discovery to design. This project will develop innovative multifunctional carbon/boron-nitride nanomaterials by devising new strategies to manipulate their electronic functionality. Outcomes will include technological breakthroughs leading to smart materials for energy storage, greenhouse gas emission reduction and nanoelectronics.
Exploring electronic functionality in low-dimensional carbon and boron-nitride nanomaterials via advanced theoretical modelling. This project will spawn innovative carbon/boron nitride materials for next-generation electronics devices by devising new strategies to manipulate and control electronic structure as well as charge/spin transport properties. Outcomes will include technological breakthroughs leading to truly smaller, faster and smarter electronics materials.
Mapping the family tree of carbon nanostructures: investigation of nanoscrolls and herringbones. New avenues of research in carbon science will be explored by defining a family tree of carbon nanostructures showing the relationship between forms. This project will investigate the properties of poorly unexplored relatives of the family; the results have the potential to impact on the choice of a material for a given application.
Mass transport in high entropy alloys. This project aims to understand mass transport in high entropy alloys. Alloys of 5 to 13 components have technologically attractive mechanical properties. A knowledge of mass transport could control their stabilities and optimise their properties. This project will develop an atomistic theory and a phenomenological method for rapidly performing experiments, and experiment on two key high entropy alloys. The outcome of this research will be an in-depth under ....Mass transport in high entropy alloys. This project aims to understand mass transport in high entropy alloys. Alloys of 5 to 13 components have technologically attractive mechanical properties. A knowledge of mass transport could control their stabilities and optimise their properties. This project will develop an atomistic theory and a phenomenological method for rapidly performing experiments, and experiment on two key high entropy alloys. The outcome of this research will be an in-depth understanding of mass transport that is expected to fast-track these alloys to commercial uptake.Read moreRead less
Topological effects and correlations in quantum materials. The project aims to advance the knowledge base that will support the development of novel quantum materials. Novel quantum materials, at the forefront of modern condensed matter physics, are qualitatively different from usual metals or semiconductors. The difference is due to their topological and correlation effects which create electron behaviour that creates highly unusual and useful material properties. The project aims to reveal the ....Topological effects and correlations in quantum materials. The project aims to advance the knowledge base that will support the development of novel quantum materials. Novel quantum materials, at the forefront of modern condensed matter physics, are qualitatively different from usual metals or semiconductors. The difference is due to their topological and correlation effects which create electron behaviour that creates highly unusual and useful material properties. The project aims to reveal the mechanisms behind the topological and correlation effects and develop methods to enhance and engineer desirable properties to facilitate creation of new materials. Expected project outcomes may be applicable to a range of fields, from creation of artificial quantum materials to novel methods of detection of dark matter.Read moreRead less