Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1.
Light Trapping Photovoltaics
Supervisor: Professor Werner Blau
Location: TCD
Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) into photovoltaic devices can play two
important roles. First, doing so provides a means to measure relevant physical (e.g.,
electronic, optical) properties of the CNTs themselves. Second, such devices have
great potential for applications. Many envisaged practical applications can be based
on dense Carbon Nanotube (CNT) carpets. Thus, a device structure of note is the
light-trapping design envisaged here. The CNTs are grown vertically in a pattern on
Si. The remainder of the device is fabricated with subsequent perovskite films
followed by a transparent conductive-oxide (TCO). The benefit is the multiple
scattering of the incident photons, thus ensuring nearly complete absorption in the
thin active layer. A simple planar device has one opportunity for a photon to be
absorbed and create an electron-hole pair. This design enhances the absorption by
light trapping. This does not take advantage of the PV effect of the CNTs
themselves, but relies on the high conductivity of the CNTs so that it acts simply as a
charge carrier. Its advantage here over conductors is its high aspect ratio, which
cannot be achieved currently with metals.
2.
All-Optical Switching
Supervisor: Professor Werner Blau
Location: TCD
Page 1 of 22
3.
Orientation of Nanocarbons in Composites
Supervisor: Professor Werner Blau
Location: TCD
4.
Plasmonics for enhanced light emitting devices
Supervisor: Professor Louise Bradley
Location: TCD
Current down conversion based light emitting diodes depend on radiative energy
transfer from the electrically pumped quantum well to the light emitting quantum
dots. Nonraditave energy transfer has the potential to be more efficient but suffers
from a very limited energy transfer distance. Work in the Bradley group has shown
that arrays of nanoscale metallic features can be used to increase the energy
transfer distance and efficiency. The principle has been validated in optically pumped
QW_QD devices. These plasmon-coupled systems can offer new functionalities and
improved performances in terms of light emission, colour conversion and light
harvesting. This project will extend this study to novel electrically contacted QW
devices. The plasmonic arrays will be fabricated using e-beam lithography or He-ion
lithography. The QDs are deposited using the spin coating technique.
Complementary photoluminescence (spectral and time-resolved) and
electroluminescence will be used to investigate the energy transfer for light emission
and light harvesting.
Page 2 of 22
5.
Energy transfer in novel optically activated nanostructures
Supervisor: Professor Louise Bradley
Location: TCD
New quantum dot structures such as the dot in a rod or balalaika shaped-quantum
dot have been recently synthesized by the Gun’ko group in the School of Chemistry.
This project will explore the concentration dependence of nonradiative energy
transfer between these novel structures in monolayer and bilayer structures. The
Layer-by-Layer technique will be used to fabricate the layered structures. The energy
transfer process will be characterized using absorption, photoluminescence
excitation, photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence
measurements. These techniques can be used to quantify the energy transfer rate
and efficiency. These novel quantum dots also exhibit signatures of chirality. Chirality
can be detected using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, with a difference in the
absorbance for left and right circularly polarised light evident for samples with chiral
molecules. The origin of the chirality will also be explored using a variety of
techniques techniques and the possibility to enhance the chirality in the presence of
enhanced of local electromagnetic field in proximity to plasmonic components will
also be investigated.
6.
Printed transistors from networks of nano-materials
Supervisor: Professor Jonathan Coleman
Location: TCD
Page 3 of 22
7.
Medical sensors from silver nano-platelet/polymer composites
Supervisor: Professor Jonathan Coleman
Location: TCD
Sensors which can measure strain, pressure and impact are becoming increasingly
important for applications such as wearable health monitors which can track blood
pressure and breathing. The simplest way to produce such sensors is to mix a
conductive nanomaterial with an elastomer (a very stretchy polymer). While the
nanomaterial renders the polymer conductive, deforming the polymer disrupts the
connections between nanoparticles thus increasing the composite resistance in
proportion to the deformation. However, such composites are generally too resistive
for most applications. This project will explore new, highly conductive, composites by
mixing silver nano-platelets (2D sheets of silver) with elastomers. The first step will
be to measure the composite conductivity as a function of silver content. Here we
would expect a sharp increase above some threshold silver content: the percolation
threshold. You will then deform the composites and measure how the resistance
changes with strain, leading to the sensor sensitivity. We expect the sensitivity to be
maximised at the percolation threshold, falling off at higher contents. The aim is to
find the optimum silver content where the both conductivity and sensitivity are
sufficiently high. Once this sweet spot is identified, you will print composite sensors
using inkjet printers with the aim of creating a wearable device.
8.
Mechanics of nanotube-nanosheet composites.
Supervisor: Professor Jonathan Coleman
Location: TCD
Page 4 of 22
9.
Fresnel Lens in silicon nitride waveguides
Supervisor: Professor John Donegan
Location: TCD
Light travelling in waveguides excites various modes that are determined by the
waveguides size, material composition and refractive index. For many applications, it is
important to be able to focus light within the waveguide rather than using an external
optical lens system. A Fresnel lens is an optical device in which a pattern of holes in the
waveguide are designed to focus the light to a point. The pattern is determined by the
light wavelength and the focal length. In this project, we will look first at the diffraction of
light within the waveguide with a single slot and then we will look at the use of various
patterns in the focussing of the light. We will examine the side modes that are produced
in such a design and how interference effects can be used to minimise such side modes.
Our work will be based on the use of silicon nitride waveguides. The project will involve
the fabrication of the Fresnel lens structures, the analysis of waveguide modes and the
study of focussing properties of the lens.
10.
Novel plasmonic materials based on Au alloy materials
Supervisor: Professor John Donegan
Location: TCD
Gold (Au) and silver (Ag) are the key plasmonic elements exhibiting resonances in
the visible region of the spectrum. For several applications, these metallic structures
will be put under extreme conditions where they will be used at high temperature and
under high-intensity light. Recent studies show that the plasmonic materials degrade
rapidly in applications such as heat-assisted magnetic recording. Alloying the Au and
Ag with other elements including copper will be examined in this project. Alloying
generally improves the mechanical properties of metallic films and will be examined
in this project to see how high temperature and high optical intensity affect its
operation. In the project, films of different alloy composition will be deposited and
studies of degradation of the films under intense optical excitation will be carried out.
11.
Novel perovskite materials for photonic applications
Supervisor: Professor John Donegan
Location: TCD
There has been a very large amount of research work on the optical properties of
both organic and inorganic perovskite materials. The major application area is in
solar cells, but there are also many other applications where arrays of both lasers
and photodetectors are required. In this project, we will first synthesise a range of
perovskites materials in single crystal form. Next, these materials will be processed
into layer structures and an array of laser and photodetector devices will be
developed. We will study how the preparation conditions including thermal annealing
Page 5 of 22
can be used to improve the quantum efficiency of the devices. A study of the long
term stability of the materials and the devices will be carried out.
12.
Theory of optical topological insulators
Supervisor: Professor Paul Eastham
Location: TCD
Topological insulators are materials where the electrons orbit in knots. They behave
much like ordinary insulators, except at an edge, where there has to be a conducting
region. While this classification is now quite well understood for electrons, it should
apply to other waves too, and in particular to light. In this project you will develop and
analyze models of light propagating in structured materials, identify the structures
where the photonic states have non-trivial topology, and demonstrate the physical
consequences of this at an edge. This is a theoretical project which will require both
analytical work as well as the development of simulations using Mathematica and
other tools.
OR
13.
Physical properties of disordered networks
Supervisor: Mauro Ferreira
Location: TCD
Page 6 of 22
will be in charge of developing such models and will involve good analytical and
numerical skills.
14.
Computer simulations of foam-fibre dispersions
Supervisor: Stefan Hutzler
Location: TCD
Liquid foams are used in the production process of novel fibrous materials. A model
has recently been developed by the TCD Foams group for the flow of foam fibre
dispersions in two dimensions.
The aims of this project are firstly the introduction of fibre roughness into the model
and secondly its extension to three dimensions. The work will be carried out in close
collaboration with a PhD student.
VJ Langlois and S Hutzler, Dynamics of a flexible fibre in a sheared two-dimensional foam: numerical
simulations, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects (in press, 2017).
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927775717302315
15.
Experiments on foam drainage
Supervisor: Stefan Hutzler
Location: TCD
Once a foam is formed, liquid drains from it, driven by gravity. This mainly
experimental project will examine several aspects of foam drainage, including its role
in overall stability of the foam, foam fractionation (separation of surface active
material out of a bulk solution), and bubble rearrangements. The work, which will
also contribute to the setting-up of an apparatus for measurement of electrical
conductivity of a foam, will be carried out in close collaboration with a postdoctoral
researcher.
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16.
Pulsed laser deposition of nanoparticle films of titanium nitride
Supervisors: Professor James G Lunney and Professor Louise Bradley
Location: TCD
Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) provides a relatively simple and convenient method
for the preparation of thin films of functional materials for research. Both nanosecond
and femtosecond lasers can be used [1]. Previously we have used PLD to
nanoparticle films of silver and gold. These NP films display a plasmonic resonance
in the visible and can be used for optical application such as surface enhanced
Raman spectroscopy (SERS). We have also demonstrated that plasmonic silver can
be made using PLD at atmospheric pressure. This project will explore the feasibility
of using PLD to make NP films of titanium nitride, which also has a plasmonic
resonance in the visible, but is more is a more robust material for some applications
[2].
[1] I. Mirza, G. O’Connell, J. J. Wang and J. G. Lunney J G 2014 Comparison of
nanosecond and femtosecond pulsed laser deposition of silver nanoparticle films
Nanotechnology 25 265301
[2] V. N. Gururaj, J. L. Schroeder, X. Ni, A. V. Kildishev, T. D. sands and A. Boltasseva,
2012. Titanium nitride as a plasmonic materials for visible and near-infrared wavelengths
Optical Materials Express, 2 478.
17.
Magnetohydrodynamic heating and control of laser produced plasma
Supervisor: Professor James G Lunney
Location: TCD
[1} J. R. Creel, T. Donnelly and J. G. Lunney 2016 Heating and compression of a laser
produced plasma in a pulsed a magnetic field, Applied Physics Letters 109 071104.
Page 8 of 22
18.
A study of growth and magnetic properties of Au-capped Fe atomic-width
nanowire arrays self-assembled on a vicinal platinum single crystal surface.
Supervisor: Professor Cormac McGuinness
Location: TCD
[1] R. Cheng, K.Y. Guslienko, F.Y. Fradin, J.E. Pearson, H.F. Ding, D. Li, and S.D. Bader, Phys. Rev.
B 72, 014409 (2005).
[2] M.J. Duignan, J.P. Cunniffe, P.-A. Glans, E. Arenholz, C. McGuinness, and J.F. McGilp, Phys.
Status Solidi 253, 241 (2016).
Or
A study of in-situ and in-operando OFET device relevant thin films and their
application in diagnostics.
Supervisor: Professor Cormac McGuinness with Maria Daniela Angione
(AMBER/Chemistry)
Location: TCD
Advances, over the past two decades, in electronic and functional materials
development has seen Organic-Field Effect Transistors (OFET) devices emerging
as a powerful platform for applications in sensing and diagnostics [1]. OFETs have
been fabricated on SiO2/Si substrates having as electronic active layer
polythiophene-based organic semiconductors. Selectivity, sensitivity and single
molecule detection has been achieved through an ad hoc carbohydrates modification
Page 9 of 22
strategy of the organic semiconductor thin film. These glycosylated OFET devices
have demonstrated exceptional sensitivity to measure very small concentration of
swine flu virus (H1N1) with a strong effect on the OFET device I-V behaviour
following virus detection. A surface science investigation of the functional attachment
chemistry, influencing the sensitivity of these OFET devices, will proceed via
measurements from spin-coated thin films studied through both x-ray photoemission
spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Optical
surface science studies by reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) of these thin
films, obtained in situ and simultaneous with the photoemission data will be acquired.
These will be compared with RAS studies of these thin films and OFET devices
obtained in operando, i.e. while the OFET device is in operation, measuring the RAS
before, after and during the exposure to the H1N1 analyte. The design and
implementation of the optical setup for such an in-operando RAS measurement is
one of the key necessities and anticipated outcomes of the project. The student will
become skilled in many aspects of surface science, vacuum technology and
analytical techniques.
Or
Oxygen vacancies in titanium dioxide are of interest as their spatial distribution can
be manipulated by electric fields giving rise to hysteretic current-voltage behaviours,
dubbed memristance, an effect which can serve as the basis for non-volatile
memories [1]. Oxygen vacancies in titanium dioxide bulk or thin-film samples can be
produced by high temperature annealing in vacuum. Voltages across small length
scales give very high electric fields and can cause oxygen anions to electromigrate
towards an anode with the vacancy in the lattice migrating in the opposite direction.
At high-temperature the energy barrier against vacancy diffusion is overcome
through thermal energy and electromigration across large length scales with small
electric fields is possible. In this experiment an ultra-high vacuum purpose built
electromigration chamber will be used to produce vacancies, manipulate vacancies
and produce inhomogeneous oxygen vacancy distributions that will freeze out as
temperature is reduced. The student will investigate the resultant I-V behaviour in
both bulk titanium dioxide crystals and in thin films of titanium dioxide, some of the
latter of which are to be doped with other transition metals. The spatial distribution of
vacancies in these electromigrated TiO2 materials will be probed by optical methods,
x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) methods and by electron-beam based
cathodoluminescence (CL) methods available at electron microscopes in the
Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (AML). The student will become skilled in many
aspects of surface science, vacuum technology and analytical techniques.
Page 10 of 22
[1] D.B. Strukov, G.S. Snider, D.R. Stewart, and R.S. Williams, Nature 453, 80 (2008).
Or
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are a strong candidate for use as a future source of
environmentally stable renewable energy. The basic operation of SOFCs requires
only the input of air as a source of oxygen, which undergoes an oxygen reduction
reaction (ORR) catalysed by the cathode electrode. This ORR can be expressed in
simple terms as a dissociation/reduction interaction between gaseous oxygen and
the cathode surface, which converts O2 into negatively charged oxygen ions.
However, the high operational temperature (>800 °C) required for current, state of
the art, SOFC cathodes has been identified as the major barrier to widespread
SOFC use. As such, a research goal is to improve SOFC efficiency by identifying
alternative cathode materials capable of catalysing the ORR at lower temperatures.
Promising results have recently been achieved, with manganese/ruthenium cathode
surfaces showing evidence for ORR at temperatures as low as 500 °C.
To further the understanding of this behaviour monolayers (ML) or several
monolayers of manganese on a single crystal Ru(0001) surface, their oxidation to
MnO and the subsequent reduction to Mn and the temperature dependence of this
will be studied. Mn layers are known to grow pseuodmorphically with the underlying
Ru surface until islanding occurs after 6 ML. This investigation will occur via ultra-
high vacuum (UHV) surface science analysis techniques, inclusive of x-ray and
ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopies (XPS and UPS), and low energy electron
diffraction (LEED) as part of a fully in-situ growth and analysis experimental
procedure. The three stage procedure will involve the cleaning and preparation of a
clean Ru(0001) surface, the in-situ growth of Mn layers on that surface, controlled
O2 exposure to oxidise, followed by high temperature UHV annealing cycles to
ascertain the lowest temperature at which the oxygen reduction reaction can be
achieved. Crucially, all stages of sample cleaning, sample growth, O2 catalysis and
sample analysis will be performed in-situ within a UHV environment with XPS and
UPS at each step to evaluate the validity of the d-band model of catalysis to this
Mn/Ru system and to evaluate the result for differing thin films (<6ML) and thicker
islanded growths. Results from the single crystal Ru(0001) surfaces will be
compared to those previously obtained from Mn on Ru thin films generated by
atomic-layer-deposition. In addition a manganese/ruthenium bimetallic alloy may be
studied. The student will become skilled in many aspects of surface science, vacuum
technology and analytical techniques.
Or
Page 11 of 22
Calculation of the electronic structure, valence band and core level spectra
and transport in differing metal porphyrin incorporated graphene nanoribbons.
(Computational)
Supervisor: Professor Cormac McGuinness
Location: TCD
This project will use appropriate Density Functional Theory (DFT) codes to simulate
the electronic structure of transition metal porphyrins incorporated into graphene
nanoribbons. Transition metal porphyrins accommodate a range of divalent metal
ions at the center of the porphyrin macrocycle giving differing band-gaps and
differing optical responses with metal ions ranging from Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cr and Mg,
and give rise to e.g. heme and chlorophyll. Self-assembled graphene nano-ribbons
can be obtained through on-surface synthesis with the thermal dehalogenation,
polymeric assembly and cyclodehrogenation of precursor molecules such as di-
bromo-bi-anthracene into a 7-carbon atom wide armchair graphene nanoribbon [1].
Brominated porphyrin molecules can participate in this self-assembly giving rise to
molecular nanostructures like that shown in figure 1. The electronic bandstructure of
such a molecular nanostructure will be calculated for a variety of differing transition
metal (M) species in the functionalised graphene nanoribbon. The valence band
occupied density of states (DOS) and the core-level binding energies will be
computed for future comparison to measurements of these systems obtained
through valence band photoemission (UPS) and core–level x-ray photoemission
(XPS) respectively in laboratory or of the electronic bandstructure at synchrotron
radiation based ARPES experiments. A desirable end goal would be the calculation
of the electronic transport of the molecular nanostructure for voltages applied across
its ends and the dependence of this transport on either the type or number of metal
porphyrins incorporated within the nanostructure. Physical insight, experience with
unix/linux, some programming or scripting ability and careful thought will be required
for this project.
[1] J. Cai, P. Ruffieux, R. Jaafar, M. Bieri, T. Braun, S. Blankenburg, M. Muoth, A.P. Seitsonen, M.
Saleh, X. Feng, K. Müllen, and R. Fasel, Nature 466, 470 (2010).
R R R
N N N N N N
Br Br Br M Br M M
N N N N N N
n n n
R R R
Figure 1: A scheme for integrating a transition metal porphyrin molecule into a self-assembled
graphene nanoribbon composed from pre-cursor molecules of di-bromo-bi-anthracene (on left in
blue) and di-brominated transition metal porphyrins (on left in red) into a porphyrin integrated
h ibb l l t t ( i ht)
Page 12 of 22
19.
The comparability of total-energies calculated using self-consistent quantum-
mechanical simulation in the DFT+U formalism
Supervisor: Professor David O’Regan
Location: TCD
20.
Application of geometric correction methods to accelerate quantum electronic
structure calculations
Supervisor: Professor David O’Regan
Location: TCD
21.
Quantum-mechanical simulation of magneto-optical spectroscopy
Supervisor: Professor David O’Regan
Location: TCD
Page 14 of 22
22.
Quantum many-body theory of Van der Waals forces
Supervisor: Professor Charles Patterson
Location: TCD
Quantum physics tells us that any system of particles has a zero point energy
associated with quantum fluctuations of the system. For electrons in molecules or
solids the zero point energy associated with fluctuations in the electron density
causes Van der Waals forces between molecules. These fluctuations are not
included in mean field theories of electrons such as Hartrree-Fock or density
functional theories. They are included in many-body theories such as the random
phase approximation (RPA). In this project you will learn some many-body theory
and some computational physics. There will be opportunities to learn about (and do)
some high performance computing code development too. The project will be to
investigate Van der Waals forces between pairs of small molecules such as benzene
and to relate the computed forces and potential energies to available experimental
data.
23.
Quantum theory of excitonic interactions in molecules
Supervisor: Professor Charles Patterson
Location: TCD
24.
High Entropy Magnetic Alloys
Supervisor: Professor Stefano Sanvito
Location: TCD
References
[1] Bernd Gludovatz et al., A fracture-resistant high-entropy alloy for cryogenic applications,
Science 345, 1153 (2016).
[2] X. Lim, Metal Mixology, Nature 533, 306 (2016).
25.
High-Field Point Contact Andreev Reflection from Zero-Moment Half Metals
Supervisor: Professor Plamen Stamenov
Location: TCD
The project will involve the experimental investigation of a relatively new class of
magnetic materials – the Zero-Moment Half-Metals (ZMHM), using their prototype
Mn2-xRuxGa, in a thin film form. ZMHMs have the potential to offer the rather unique
for spin electronics combination of high bulk spin polarisation, stray field immunity
and intrinsically high resonance and switching frequencies. Nano-scale memory
elements and terahertz oscillators are only two examples of possible applications.
Page 16 of 22
2.0 0
Fe / Nb Ni / Nb Co / Nb Cu / Nb
T = 6.80(5) K T = 2.50(5) K T = 3.00(5) K T = 4.20(5) K
∆T * = 1.7(8) K ∆T * = 3.5(8) K ∆T * = 3.0(8) K ∆T * = 0.0(8) K
1.8 ∆1* = 1.19(2) meV ∆1* = 1.40(5) meV ∆1* = 1.45(5) meV ∆1* = 1.26(1) meV
10
∆2 = 1.5(2) meV ∆2 = 1.5(2) meV ∆2 = 1.5(2) meV ∆2 = 1.5(2) meV
Z *= 0.21(9) Z *= 0.26(9) Z *= 0.00(1)
1.6 P * = 0.45(3) P * = 0.45(9)
Z *= 0.39(9)
P * = 0.42(9) P * = 0.00(1) 20
1.4 30
1.2 40
Pc (%)
G /GN
1.0 50
0.0 100
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Applied Bias (∆)
References:
G. E. Blonder, M. Tinkham, and T. M. Klapwijk, Phys. Rev. B 25, 4515 (1982).
I. I. Mazin, A. A. Golubov, and B. Nadgorny, Journ. Appl. Phys. 89, 7576 (2001).
G. T.Woods, R. J. Soulen, I. Mazin, B. Nadgorny, M. S. Osofsky, J. Sanders, H. Srikanth, W. F.
Egelho, and R. Datla, Phys. Rev. B 70, 154416 (2004).
26.
Development of High-speed Parallel Readout Interface to Toggle Magnetic
Random Access Memory (TMRAM) Arrays for use as Magnetic Sensors with
Sub-Micron Resolution for Detection of Nanowires
Supervisor: Professor Plamen Stamenov
Location: TCD
Spin-Valves (SVs) and Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) are, in their simplest
forms, sandwiches of two conducting and magnetic layers, separated by a
nonmagnetic conductor or a nonmagnetic insulator, respectively. Their primary uses
in spin electronics have been concentrated in the area of external magnetic field
sensing. Another strand of spin electronics, however, relies on large arrays of SVs or
MTJs, designed particularly to be insensitive towards the external magnetic field, as
the storage elements in the so-called Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM).
The two branches of the same field have, so far, had little interaction, but to the
optimisation of the very SVs and MTJs used. The development of arrays of magnetic
sensors should take the best of both worlds and provide useful measurement
platforms for fields like magnetic bio-marking and imaging magnetometry.
Following a successful project (2016/17) the work will involve the interfacing to an
already characterised commercial MRAM – 1 Mb EverspinTM . The magnetic field
source – a small vector electromagnet is also already in place and characterised.
Once the rotational field evolution aquisitoin times are brought to about 0.1 – 0.3 s
per complete array acquisition, tests will be undertaken to quantify the response to
micron-sized magnetic nanowires, placed on the sensitive area of the test chips. The
working signal-to-noise ratio and the imaging throughput of the new acquisition
scheme will be then objectively verified. Images of the stray field of actual nanowires
will be compared to quasi-analytical models.
Page 17 of 22
27.
An ab-initio calculation of electron energy loss spectroscopy for localized
irradiation effect of Co3O4 nanostructures
Supervisor: Professor Hongzhou Zhang
Location: TCD
[1] http://feffproject.org/
[2] Pearson, D.H., C.C. Ahn, and B. Fultz, White lines and \textit{d} -electron occupancies for the 3
\textit{d} and 4 \textit{d} transition metals. Physical Review B, 1993. 47(14): p. 8471-8478.
28.
Simulation of Helium-ion Images
Supervisor: Professor Hongzhou Zhang
Location: TCD
29.
Helium-ion beam for nanofabrication
Supervisor: Professor Hongzhou Zhang
Location: TCD
The precise creation of surface structure is crucial to the future of the
nanotechnology. High resolution Ion beam machining is one of the key enabling
methodologies allowing for the creation of 10nm fine structures. However as the
demands for finer structures begin to approach the maximum capabilities of current
machinery alternatives must be investigated. The Helium-ion Microscope with its sub
nm spot size and milling capabilities shows excellent promise in this area. The
Page 18 of 22
milling rate of the HIM is a factor of a hundred times slower than the commonly used
Focused-ion beam system. This low removal rate allows for more controlled amounts
of material to be removed resulting in finer etching, while beam damage and
contamination must be evaluated. In this project, we will study the milling process of
the HIM with an objective of understanding its capability and limitation in nanoscale
fabrication.
30.
Optical properties of Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Quantum Dots
Supervisor: Professor P.N. Ajayan
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
Recent advances in the development of atomically thin layers of van der Waals
bonded solids have opened up new possibilities for the exploration of 2D physics as
well as for materials for applications. Among them, semiconductor transition metal
dichalcogenides, MX2 (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se), have bandgaps in the near-infrared
to the visible region, in contrast to the zero bandgap of graphene. In the monolayer
limit, these materials have been shown to possess direct bandgaps, a property well
suited for photonics and optoelectronics applications. This project will investigate
their optical properties with particular emphasis on additional lateral nanoscale
confinement which will further alter the electronic and hence optical properties.
31.
2D topological insulators for thermoelectric applications
Supervisor: Professor David Carroll
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC, USA
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
Page 19 of 22
32.
High performance organic light sources based on magnetic control of exciton
lifetimes
Supervisor: Professor David Carroll
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC, USA
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
33.
Solar-thermal technologies utilizing spectral splitting
Supervisor: Professor David Carroll
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC, USA
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
As everyone knows, the big problem with photovoltaics is that they do not work at
night (or on very cloudy days). The Carroll group has developed a number of hybrid
systems that create electrical energy from BOTH the sun and ambient heat. But
what are the limitations of these approaches? This project hopes to show that
thermodynamic considerations lead naturally to avenues of efficient and cost
effective PV-T.
34.
Photocurrent spectra of organic semiconductors
Supervisor: Professor Andreas Opitz
Location: Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
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35.
Development of novel photodetectors (hardware, simulation)
Supervisor: Professor Heiko Lacker
Location: Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
36.
X-ray spectroscopy of oligothiophene molecules and crystals
Supervisor: Professor Claudia Draxl and Professor Caterina Cocchi
Location: Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
37.
Printing processes in organic electronics
Supervisor: Patrick Barkowski
Location: Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
Page 21 of 22
38.
Experiment and theory on the atomic structure of matter and on 2D and 3D
imaging with electrons and photons
Supervisor: Professor Christoph Koch
Location: Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Local TCD Contact: Professor Werner Blau
The AG Structure Reserach and Electron Microscopy offers a number of topics that
can be tailored to fit either a Master thesis or a Bachelor thesis. The spectrum of
available projects is very broad and involves experiment and theory for explore the
atomic structure of matter by electron microscopy (imaging, diffraction, and
spectroscopy with electrons in the transmission electron microscope [TEM], or the
scanning electron microscope [SEM]), but also the development of new techniques
for measuring three-dimensional objects with electrons or light. A selection of
available projects can be found here: https://www.physik.hu-
berlin.de/en/sem/StudentProjects But, depending on personal interests, more
projects are also available. The language can freely be chosen to be either German,
or English. Some of these projects are more theoretical and involve quite a bit of
programming (Matlab, Python, or C/C++) while others are more focused on hands-
on experiments, either at the electron microscope, or various optical microscopes.
39.
Updated 2nd May
Electrical conductivity of compressed granular media
Supervisor: Professor Matthias Mobius
Location: TCD
In this project you will investigate how the electrical conductivity of a granular
packing of conducting spheres changes with compression. As the pressure
increases, the coordination number of the particles increases as well as the contact
areas which leads to a decrease in electrical resistance of the packing. This effect
has been exploited in carbon microphones for example. Here, you will study a
macroscopic model system made from ball bearings. Analogous experiments will be
performed with rods and disks. How does the shape of the particles affect the
changes in the electrical resistance due to compression?
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