It is fair to say that any material can be regarded as electronic material, as it might have good/bad electrical conductivity, absence/presence of magnetic properties, high/low dielectric constant, etc. These materials can be in form of bulk, thin film or even single crystals. Such variety of materials and compounds is in principle limitless and thus very promising to discover and develop new materials with very peculiar electro-magnetic properties. Spintronic and electronic materials group concentrates its research in both research areas: fundamental and applied. Below are some of the research projects conducted by the group:
ARC Discovery Projects
|
| Exploration for new materials for spintronics |
| Project ID: |
DP0558753 |
| Years Funded: |
2005-2009 |
| Chief Investigator: |
X. L. Wang |
| Project Description: |
| The scope for use of spintronic materials in practical applications will be enormous and there will be a huge market for spintronic devices. In fact, giant magnetoresistance spintronic materials are already used in practical applications such as magnetic recording and storage devices. The success of this project will certainly lead to a discovery of novel magnetic semiconductor spintronic materials and better understanding of spin dependent magnetic interactions. It will enhance the international competitiveness and export power of Australian industry in the areas of information technology, quantum computing, magnetic recording and magneto-electronics. |
| |
| Development of novel high efficiency thermoelectric oxides for high temperature power generation |
| Project ID: |
DP0879714 |
| Years Funded: |
2008-2010 |
| Chief Investigator: |
G. Peleckis |
| Project Description: |
| Thermoelectric materials are considered as a key factor in clean energy production, based on the conversion of waste heat emitted by power plants and automobiles to electricity. A series of novel high performance Co-based oxide thermoelectric materials will be developed by this project using nanotechnology and advanced material processing techniques. Significant improvement of the heat-to-electricity conversion factor is expected to result from the proposed program. The novel thermoelectric oxides with high thermoelectric performance will be practically used for high temperature power generation. This will provide a long-term solution to the global warming threat through decreasing amounts of waste heat presently generated. |
| |
| Development of novel ferroelectric magnetic materials for multi-functional applications |
| Project ID: |
DP0665873 |
| Years Funded: |
2008-2012 |
| Chief Investigators: |
X. L. Wang, Z. X. Cheng |
| Partner Investigators: |
T. Shrout, W. Wen, K. Yamaura, K. Liss, R. O. Piltz |
| Project Description: |
| Ferroelectric magnets having simultaneous ferroeletricity and ferromagnetism is an area of emerging scientific interest. This project is to develop novel ferroelectric magnetic materials for multifunctional applications and falls into National Research Priority, Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. This project will provide trainings for postgraduate students and develop patentable science and technologies. The scope for use of the novel multifunctional materials will be enormous with great markets in the fields of magneto-electronics, magnetic electromechanical industrial devices. It will benefit Australian manufacturing industry in the long term. |
| |
| Frustrated magnets: a new platform for multiferroic materials |
| Project ID: |
DP0987190 |
| Years Funded: |
2009-2011 |
| Chief Investigators: |
X. L. Wang, Z. X. Cheng, D. Chen |
| Partner Investigators: |
T. Kimura, F. Klose |
| Project Description: |
| Ferroelectric materials with simultaneous ferroelectricity and ferro-magnetism are one of the most important new emerging fields in the materials science and condensed matter physics communities. Novel magneto-electronic devices based on new multiferroic materials will open up a huge market for these devices, which are expected to have a huge impact on modern science and daily life. The purpose of this project is to make Australia one of the leading countries in this field and to work with colleagues inside Australia and around the world to move this field forward for mutual benefit. |
| |
| Manipulation of spin by electric field |
| Project ID: |
FT0990391 |
| Years Funded: |
2009-2013 |
| Chief Investigator: |
Z. X. Cheng |
| Project Description: |
| Spin manipulation is one of the most challenging topics in the new emerging spintronics technology. This project will develop a novel solution for the problem of spin manipulation and falls into the National Research Priority: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. This project will provide training for postgraduate students and develop patentable science and technologies. The successful accomplishment of this project will consolidate the knowledge and technology background that is needed for Australia to develop the next generation of spin-base electronics. In the long term, spin-based electronics with high efficiency and very low energy consumption will benefit the Australian manufacturing industry. |
| |
ARC Linkage Projects
|
| Novel methods for enhancing room temperature figure of merit of thermoelectric / thermionic materials for refrigeration applications |
| Project ID: |
LP0882282 |
| Years Funded: |
2008-2010 |
| Chief Investigators: |
C. Zhang, X. L. Wang, G. Wang |
| Partner Investigators: |
T. Toyoda |
| Project Description: |
| With global warming and an increased awareness of climate change, devices such as thermoelectric modules can be part of the solution, particularly if their relative power and efficiency can be increased. The aim of this project is to bring together theoreticians, experimentalists, materials scientists, and industrial partners with complementary expertise to develop new techniques and methods for fabricating novel thermoelectric/thermionic materials with high figure of merit, ZT, for solid state refrigeration applications. The success of the project will lead to a 3 to 5 fold increase in the market share of thermoelectric cooler and will have a significant impact on the Australian economy and reduce greenhouse emissions and global warming. |
| |
ARC Linkage International Projects
|
| Development of nano-structured thermoelectric materials for power generation from heat |
| Project ID: |
LX0881969 |
| Years Funded: |
2008-2010 |
| Chief Investigators: |
S. X. Dou, Y. Zhao, G. Peleckis |
| Partner Investigators: |
X. Xi, G. Ramanath, Q. J. Li |
| Project Description: |
| To make thermoelectric technology attractive for practical power generation purposes, new high efficiencymaterials have to be developed. Our fabricated nanostructured thermoelectric materials will have improved performance due to the peculiarities in electrical and thermal transport. The novel thermoelectric materials and constructed prototype devices with high thermoelectric performance will be practically used for various power generation purposes. This offers a long-term solution to the global warming threat through decreasing amounts of waste heat presently generated. It will also strengthen Australia's position in world-wide research on thermoelectricity. |
