The pace of modern technological development - from microelectronics to catalysts, to coatings - is driven by
fundamental breakthroughs in fabricating novel nano-structured materials. Such materials often promise unique or
enhanced physical characteristics, such as strong magnetisation or unusual reactivity. These characteristics will
derive from, but can also be compromised by, subtle, atomic-scale structural variations. In each case,
nano-resolved characterization is essential and full understanding of a material demands multiple state-of-the-art
experimental probes. The probes used in my research include beams of electrons, atoms, ions, and photons, as
well as physical devices such as the tip of an atomic force microscope. Each probe has its advantages and its
limitations and the best studies of nanostructured material combine the results from several probes in order to develop
a complete description.
A selection of my recent projects is given below. The uppermost projects derive from my time in Glasgow, whilst
some of those below are based on collaboration with colleagues in Cambridge, where more information can be found.
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I have recently installed a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system as part of my fellowship. PLD is a technique for
the deposition of thin-film materials of almost arbitrary composition, using an intense ultra-violet laser to ablate
a target material into a vaporised plume of atomic species that can be used to coat a nearby sample. Aside from being
very exciting to watch (the plasma created by the plume has colours that vary with material!), PLD is ideally suited
to the deposition of complex oxides. These oxide materials are of intense interest because - if synthesised correctly -
can support a number of useful properties such as ferromagnetism or ferroelectricity: properties that will be useful in,
for example, next-generation data-storage devices.
Watch this space for details as the project develops!
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