Author: Andrew See

Congratulations to Dr Alessandro Rossi from the University of New South Wales who has been awarded the 2015 NMI prize for excellence in measurement research. Dr Rossi has been developing quantum dot-based single electron pump devices (fully fabricated within the ANFF-NSW laboratories) to serve as a metrological standard for electric current. Most recent results have achieved a current greater than 80 pA with an uncertainty of less than 30 parts per million – almost two orders of magnitude better performance than in any other silicon-based implementation.

With a total capital value of $3.28M, the new Epitaxial Growth Laboratory houses three state-of-the-art molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) systems allowing the growth of custom-designed materials – that is, crystal structures are grown one layer of atoms at a time with precise control of atomic concentrations according to a researcher’s design. MBE techniques enable novel technologies by allowing researchers to enhance performance levels of existing materials and create new materials not possible by any other methods.

One of the MBE systems in the new laboratory is dedicated to compound semiconductors, whilst the other two systems are capable of producing a wide range of oxides, nitrides and other complex materials. This capability will facilitate innovation in a range of high-impact and emerging research areas, including: quantum sciences and engineering; clean energy conversion technologies, such as solar cells, thermoelectrics and fuel cell technologies; advanced electronics and optoelectronics, such as Terahertz emitters and detectors; and new materials for spintronic devices, sensing and memory technologies.

The flagship tools in the laboratory were funded under the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) program, and the laboratory is operated via support from NCRIS. This support includes provision of highly skilled technical personnel to operate the complex machinery and provide expertise in material development to researchers.