Pulsed laser synthesis of functional nanomaterials
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Surrey
Department Name: Advanced Technology Institute
Abstract
On the nanometer scale (1000 times thinner than a human hair) the properties of materials can be very different to those we are familiar with. Nanotechnology is the utilisation of these, often superior, properties for the technological advancement of mankind and may be the driving force behind an industrial revolution in the 21st century, making commonplace a wide variety of high-tech devices - everything from miniature computers to labs on a chip that can rapidly screen people for explosive residues as they go through airport security. As nanotechnology ramps up over the next decade, expectations are high that demand for high-tech materials with length on the nanometer scale will skyrocket as well, leading to big profits. However, before these nanomaterials can become dominant in the marketplace cheap, low temperature, large-scale methods for production are required. Also, methods that involve the materials assembling themselves, rather than expensive and time consuming patterning, will become more important for commercial activities. Excimer lasers are a source of invisible, ultra-violet, light which deliver pulses with durations of around a hundred millionths of a second. These very short pulses still contain lots of energy, however, so the power supplied during the pulse can be similar to the output of a power station! Focused laser light with short wavelengths is absorbed in a thin surface region, for the majority of materials, allowing melting and vaporisation of a wide variety of materials placed at the focal point. This forms the basis of a very versatile material deposition and modification system. This research would concentrate on new techniques for using these high power, short pulsed, lasers for the production of technologically relevant nanomaterials, such as nanofoams, nanocoils and nanotubes.
Organisations
Publications
Abdel-Rahman M
(2012)
The X-ray detection performance of polycrystalline CVD diamond with pulsed laser deposited carbon electrodes
in Diamond and Related Materials
Alenezi MR
(2014)
From 1D and 2D ZnO nanostructures to 3D hierarchical structures with enhanced gas sensing properties.
in Nanoscale
Alenezi MR
(2014)
ZnO nanodisk based UV detectors with printed electrodes.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Alenezi MR
(2013)
Role of the Exposed Polar Facets in the Performance of Thermally and UV Activated ZnO Nanostructured Gas Sensors.
in The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces
Beliatis MJ
(2011)
Engineering the plasmon resonance of large area bimetallic nanoparticle films by laser nanostructuring for chemical sensors.
in Optics letters
Beliatis MJ
(2011)
Laser ablation direct writing of metal nanoparticles for hydrogen and humidity sensors.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Gandhi K
(2015)
Simultaneous optical and electrical modeling of plasmonic light trapping in thin-film amorphous silicon photovoltaic devices
in Journal of Photonics for Energy
Giusca CE
(2013)
Confined crystals of the smallest phase-change material.
in Nano letters
Han S
(2015)
ZnO hybrid photovoltaics with variable side-chain lengths of thienothiophene polymer
in Thin Solid Films
Description | Many outputs associated with the use of ZnO nanomaterials for sensors. Recent work on UV sensors for fire detectors and gas sensing has been showing promising results. |
Exploitation Route | Some of the work on X-ray detectors have been progressed as part of the EngD programme in setting up doctoral projects. Follow on EPSRC funding as a start up grant was also won by an academic. X-ray detector work has inspired new work on hybrid organic-inorganic X-ray detectors that work at very low dc bias. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Chemicals Electronics Energy Environment Healthcare Other |
Description | Examining the potential for X-ray detectors. These are continuing in the form of a Leverhulme grant which has been won on a competitive basis for £250k to pursue hybrid organic-inorganic low voltage X-ray detectors. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Other |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Impact Acceleration Account |
Amount | £14,600 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K503939/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2014 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | Knowledge Transfer Account |
Amount | £3,857,762 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H500189/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2009 |
End | 09/2012 |
Description | Pulsed laser deposited carbon electrodes for diamond radiation sensors |
Amount | £97,058 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I027327/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2011 |
End | 10/2012 |
Description | Strategic Equipment Grant |
Amount | £800,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/L02263X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2014 |