Phase change materials

Professors

Prof Monica Craciun

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

My research expertise spans across applied research in nanotechnology, electronic and optoelectronic devices to fundamental research in nanoscience (quantum phenomena, molecular electronics, nano electronics, spintronics) and materials science.
In particular, I am currently focused on the study of 2D materials such as graphene, functionalized graphene and layered dichalcogenides (e.g. MoS2, WS2), and of their hybrids with other emerging materials (e.g. organic semiconductors, perovskites). The aim is to create new materials and devices with unique electronic and optoelectronic properties not available in any other systems. In particular, we explore novel devices that can be used in emerging technologies such as electronic textiles, multifunctional smart coatings, or in a new generation of highly efficient solar cells and light emitting devices.

Nano Engineering Science and Technology Group

Prof Robert Hicken

Magnetic and spintronic materials and devices

The spin angular momentum of the electron underlies the magnetism of materials with permanent magnetic order and is manipulated in spintronic devices. The non-volatility of magnetic order, and the resulting energy efficiency of magnetic and spintronic devices, is highly attractive for information technology. We use a combination of electrical, microwave, optical and x-ray measurement techniques to study new materials that can be controlled at the nanoscale and down to femtosecond timescales to provide improved device functionality.

Electromagnetic and Acoustic Materials

Prof Saverio Russo

Quantum Systems and Nanomaterials

My research group is pioneering the novel science found in nano-systems. In particular, we are currently studying the electrical properties of graphene materials, which are just one or few carbon atom thick with honeycomb structure. In these materials charge carriers have a record high mobility at room temperature and behave as massless Dirac fermions.

Our main research directions are

• Graphene-based flexible and transparent electronic devices.
• Novel technologies for fabricating suspended and double gated graphene transistors to access the electric field tuneable low-energy band structure in few-layer graphene and the electro-mechanical properties.
• Search for highly conductive and transparent materials.
• Superconducting-graphene hybrid structures.

Prof C David Wright

Active/Reconfigurable Metasurfaces; phase-change materials

Conventional metamaterials and metasurfaces (the 2D form of metamaterials) are ‘fixed-by-design’, with performance determined by the form of their resonating structures and the properties of the materials of which they are made. Far greater functionality and application would be available if we could develop active versions, i.e. metamaterials whose response can be dynamically adapted, tuned or reconfigured. At Exeter we are doing just this, using chalcogenide phase-change materials to deliver active optical metasurfaces that can work from the UV right out to the THz, and with applications ranging from LiDAR to multispectral imaging, optoelectronic displays, chemical sensing and much more.

Nano Engineering Science and Technology Group

Associate Professors

Dr Mustafa Aziz

Magnetic materials and transducers

The magnetic response of magnetic materials due to the interaction with electromagnetic fields is influenced by the magnetic properties, shape and size of the magnetic structure. Controlling the shape and size of the magnetic structure or constituents offer enhanced magnetic response, tuning capability and improved material aspects (mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical) for manufacturing and industrial applications. Magnetic and elastic waves can also be generated in magnetic materials using designed electromagnetic and bias field transdurcers for non-destructive testing of magnetic structures, and for signal transmission, storage and processing.