News Archive - 2012
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Next Generation Room Temperature Semiconductor Nuclear Radiation Detectors - December 2012
Semiconductor gamma-ray and X-ray detectors are being used increasingly in medicine, industry, astronomy and national security. Conventional semiconductor detectors are manufactured from germanium and silicon. Such materials have become less useful in many emerging applications due to their physical limitations such as low detection efficiency or their need to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Next generation nuclear radiation detectors are advanced sensors which utilise innovative technologies developed for the wide band-gap compound semiconductor industry and microelectronics. This research project is aimed at developing room-temperature operating nuclear radiation detectors based on cadmium manganese telluride (CdMnTe). Now in their second generation, major improvements in the performance of these detectors have been demonstrated. This research is paving the way for the realization of advanced CdMnTe sensors for use in nuclear medical imaging and accurate in-field radiological threat detection. Read more here.
ACT Facility Equipment & Capability Update - December 2012
It has been a while since we have reported on new equipment purchases, facility capability updates and year-end seemed like an ideal time to re-cap and bring everyone up-to-date. Read more here.
Plasmonic Nanowires - a Better Nanowire! - September 2012
Researchers at the Department of Electronic Materials Engineering (EME) at The Australian National University have been working on III-V semi-conductor nanowires that offer the possibility of achieving even higher density integration of optoelectronic devices (such as LEDs, lasers and photo-detectors) than current planar devices via the use of their inherent 3-dimesional type architecture. Read more here.
Digitalcore - Eureka! - September 2012
The ability to rapidly and efficiently analyse core samples for prospective oil and gas exploration operations using micro and nanotechnology is enabling more effective extraction of hydro-carbons. Digitalcore Pty Ltd has won the prestigious 2012 Eureka Prize for Commercialisation of Innovation for their efforts bringing this technology to the international oil and gas industry. Read more here.
User Satisfaction Survey Results for 2012 - August 2012
Each year we invite users of our facility to participate in a User Satisfaction Survey to gauge our effectiveness in three key areas – service, communication and accessibility. It also provides an opportunity for users to give valuable feedback through additional comments and suggestions to improve the overall experience of accessing this valuable research facility. Read the full report here - (PDF document).
On-chip Imaging Spectrometer Closer Than You Think - June 2012
Over the last 15 years the Micro-electronics Research Group (MRG) at the ANFF WA Node has established itself as a leader in MEMS based infrared sensors. The technologies under development are of significant interest to the industry sector with MRG recently securing a $1.5M research grant in this area with the majority of the funding originating with a Fortune 500 defense company in the USA. Another, similarly co-funded, grant of $1.5M has received excellent reviews, and is awaiting final decision by the funding body. This success is made possible by access to the world-class fabrication facilities at the WA node of the ANFF, as well as access to facilities at other ANFF nodes. Read more here.
Major US Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturer Engages with ANFF - June 2012
A leading US semiconductor equipment manufacturer has engaged with The Australian National University and the ANFF for advanced technology research and development. Department of Electronic Materials Engineering researchers at the ANU School of Physics & Engineering and ANFF staff have partnered with a multi-billion dollar leader in semiconductor equipment manufacture, Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), to help develop a new generation of non-volatile memory devices for portable electronics. Read more here.
New Top Down Approach for Fabrication of Nano-wires - March 2012
During the last half of 2011, the ANFF ACT Node (through EME) hosted a trainee student from Germany, Mareen Gläske. Mareen's work with the node staff focused on the research topic of GaAs nanowires. Normally nanowires are grown in MOCVD reactor on GaAs templates covered with gold colloidal particles - Mareen investigated another route using micro/nano-fabrication techniques to manufacture the nanowires. Read more here.
WA Node Director on the Australia Day 2012 Honours List - January 2012
ANFF Western Australia node director and Laureate Professor Lorenzo Faraone, was appointed a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day 2012. Read more here.