Platform Renewal Proposal: MULTIFUNCTIONAL OXIDES MATERIALS TO DEVICES

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Materials

Abstract

The original objectives of the Platform grant were:1. development of new materials2. characterisation3. theory and modelling development4. device developmentOur achivements against these objectives were:1 Microwave dielectric ceramics / Niobates / Pb Free pezoelectrics based on silver niobate / multiferroic/magnetoelectric materials including BiFeO32 First characterisation of BiFeO3 at microwave frequencies, rigorous models to determine properties in thin ferroelectric films, scanning evanescent wave microscopy3 Density Functional Perturbation Theory, mode matching for accurate values of loss and permittivity4 Devices / piezoelectrically tuned dielectric resonator filters Extra Outputs not anticipated: Development and patenting of core-less transformers (no ferromagnetic core at all) using layered pcb geometry.The Forward LookIn the new Platform the objectives are:1 To use the Platform flexibility to carry out speculative and adventurous research2 To develop thin film multilayers with particular emphasis on interfaces3 To develop novel devices, prototypes and applications4 To ensure that the expertise is maintained and that key postdoctoral staff can develop their careers and move to more senior positionsThe areas of research that we intend to explore are:* Fundamental chemistry of functional ceramicsThere is a need to focus on and understand the chemistry, crystal structure and physical properties of ceramics. This knowledge is vital as a reference point for the production of thin films, which are after all made from bulk ceramics targets. We will concentrate on three main groups of ceramics:I. Microwave dielectrics: II. Piezoelectrics: III. Multiferroics / magnetoelectrics: This builds on the group's expertise in the solid state chemistry and reactions of electronic and magnetic ceramics.* Thin functional oxide films / advanced characterisation methodsThe future trend will be towards nanoscale structures. Our core areas of research are: Materials development; thin film deposition; structural and electrical characterisation; device development. The future strategy requires extra expertise in the area of TEM (Professor McComb), electron holography (Harrison). * New device structures to test material propertiesWhilst a material's structural and electrical properties can and will be tested during development, a very useful method of testing a material is to assess its performance in a prototype device. This enables us to evaluate the different influences on performance. We will examine ultra High Q structures and frequency agile devices* Modelling of structures using density functional theoryLinear scaling DFT codes will faciltiate the study of the electrical properties of large superlattices and multilayered thin-films. The influence of substitutions and defects in bulk ceramic systems will also be accessible as will be the properties of large unit-cell crystals such as spinels and ferrites. Modelling will also complement the advanced characterisation techniques and fundamental solid-state chemistry areas of research.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description The research in the context of the UK and Global portfolio
Notable World Firsts from the team:
• Room temperature MASER: World's first demonstration of solid state, room temperature, Earth's field maser
• First observation of the effect of a single grain boundary on the microwave dielectric loss7
• First theory and experimental demonstration that aperiodic Bragg layers would lead to extraordinarily high Q factor in dielectric microwave resonator structures14.
• Highest Q factor ever recorded at room temperature in microwave resonator (Q=600,000 at 30GHz)15
• First identification of cell-specific differentiation in engineered bone with micro-Raman spectroscopy .
• New method for diagnosing anaemia using microwaves resonators paves the way for very rapid and inexpensive blood testing 13
• Ultrasensitive plasmonic technology for disease biomarkers such as HIV at concentrations as low as 1×10-18 g ml-1 .
• Best long term frequency stability ever obtained with a single source based on a macroscopic resonator .

Over the last 6 years members of the team have
• Published 249 refereed journal papers that have attracted almost 4000 citations.
• Graduated 43 PhD Students
• Made over 200 invited/ Keynote presentations
• Won a total of 26 medals and awards
• Held 12 editorships
• Carried out 6 international reviews
• Contributed to policy via contributions in meetings and documents for BIS and the Physical Sciences SAT (chair),
• Contributed to the community (chair of Tomorrow's Engineer, Chair of MRS Spring meeting,
• "Formulator" of National Measurement System's Quantum Metrology Programme 2007-2010
Exploitation Route The Platform grant supported Toby Basey-Fisher to work on dielectric resonators for liquid sensing . This enabled us to take a new direction and indeed a spin out company, Eva Diagnostics, was formed as a consequence of the work http://www.evadiagnostics.com/. This research led to a capability of measuring anaemia and moreover distinguishing which type of anaemia in a simple, rapid and accurate test. The potential impact of early diagnosis of anaemia is huge. Anaemia affects a quarter of the world's population and in anaemia endemic nations GDP is estimated to be reduced by 4% and this is an astonishing $2 trillion .
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Electronics

Energy