Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to det ....Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to determine structure and interatomic bonding in much thicker nanostructures than hitherto possible. This should benefit academic and industrial researchers by giving them new tools to understand and design high-performance materials for applications ranging from catalysis to energy storage to next-generation electronics.Read moreRead less
Novel advances in sub-nanometer imaging. After two decades of research the first wave of applications in nanotechnology and nanobiology is breaking. Immediately key to further progress in both areas is the ability to characterise the structure of such systems and also their evolution on very short time scales. This research project places Australia at the forefront in this endeavour.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100739
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,958.00
Summary
Deterministic coherent diffractive imaging for the nanosciences. The technological trend towards nanoscale device fabrication demands picoscale measurements which will only be possible with the development of novel and advanced imaging techniques. This project will develop and implement cutting edge approaches to lensless imaging using both electrons and x-rays and will enable real-time imaging at the picoscale.
Imaging Symmetry – A New Mechanism for Revealing the Structure of Matter. This project aims to develop a revolutionary method for imaging atomic structures. In this method, the image contrast derives from the symmetry of the structure, measured at the picometre scale, using tiny electron probes. This new conceptual approach is expected to overcome some of the key limitations of existing electron microscopy methods by providing increased sensitivity and reduced radiation damage, thereby enabling ....Imaging Symmetry – A New Mechanism for Revealing the Structure of Matter. This project aims to develop a revolutionary method for imaging atomic structures. In this method, the image contrast derives from the symmetry of the structure, measured at the picometre scale, using tiny electron probes. This new conceptual approach is expected to overcome some of the key limitations of existing electron microscopy methods by providing increased sensitivity and reduced radiation damage, thereby enabling complex structures in technologically important materials to be determined. This should provide new ways to understand the properties of these materials advanced materials and engineer them for applications in the energy, transport, health, communications and other sectors of society. Read moreRead less
Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the deple ....Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the depletion of background spins in natural silicon and now aim to push the enrichment to greater extremes. We will integrate the extreme material into functional devices that use electrically detected electron spin resonance to probe exceptionally durable quantum states and open a near-term pathway to large-scale devices.Read moreRead less
Making every electron count in atomic resolution microscopy. The development of aberration-corrected electron microscopy, which allows individual atom imaging with unprecedented precision, was recognised by the 2011 Wolf Prize in Physics. However, only a very limited amount of the wealth of information obtainable from such microscopes is currently exploited. By collecting a maximal data set of electrons scattered in manifold different ways and using the fundamental theory of electron-specimen in ....Making every electron count in atomic resolution microscopy. The development of aberration-corrected electron microscopy, which allows individual atom imaging with unprecedented precision, was recognised by the 2011 Wolf Prize in Physics. However, only a very limited amount of the wealth of information obtainable from such microscopes is currently exploited. By collecting a maximal data set of electrons scattered in manifold different ways and using the fundamental theory of electron-specimen interaction, this project will realise the huge potential of this untapped data. This will improve the utility of scanning transmission electron microscopy far beyond its current level. Applying these new techniques will expand our understanding of the structure and function of advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Understanding how atomic-scale boundary conditions define the interaction of light with matter. Scientists are trying to mimic nature's ability to grow crystals into useful shapes. This project will measure the arrangement of atoms in a nanoparticle and see how this arrangement affects its colour. It will allow us to grow nanoparticles of the shape and colour we require for applications in medicine, sensing and electronics.
From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for thre ....From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for three-dimensional characterisation and simulations at the atomic-scale of embedded nanostructures. This should provide significant benefits for the improved design of light alloys, such as for the automotive and aerospace sectors, but also for high-tech materials whose function depends on precipitates. Read moreRead less
Interatomic bonding in aluminium alloys. This project proposes a new theory about the formation of strengthening precipitates in alloys. It will be tested using new techniques for measuring bonds between atoms and Australia's most advanced electron microscopes. It will remove the guesswork from the processing and design of commercial alloys.
Atomic Structure and Stability of Nanocrystal Facets. This project aims to provide a ‘toolkit’ to understand and grow nanocrystal shapes to achieve desired optical properties. The facets of a metal nanocrystal comprise just a few atoms, which are pivotal to its growth and properties. This project aims to develop methods to measure the location and stability of these atoms to understand the factors controlling their assembly and to understand their impact on the properties of the nanocrystal. It ....Atomic Structure and Stability of Nanocrystal Facets. This project aims to provide a ‘toolkit’ to understand and grow nanocrystal shapes to achieve desired optical properties. The facets of a metal nanocrystal comprise just a few atoms, which are pivotal to its growth and properties. This project aims to develop methods to measure the location and stability of these atoms to understand the factors controlling their assembly and to understand their impact on the properties of the nanocrystal. It plans to correlate atomic structure and corresponding optical excitations with unprecedented spatial and energy resolution. Combining these advances, the project aims to relate nanofacet chemistry, structure, stability and optical excitations to deliver a new understanding of optical properties and their control.Read moreRead less