Phase change materials
Exploiting switchable electrical and optical properties of phase change materials for photonic, neuromorphic computing, displays and data storage technologies.
Research groups associated with phase change materials at Exeter
- Nano Engineering Science and Technoloy Group (NEST)
- Electromagnetic and Acoustic Materials (EMAG)
- Quantum Systems and Nanomaterials (QSN)
Contact us: metamaterials@exeter.ac.uk
CMRI staff associated with phase change materials at Exeter
Professors |
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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. |
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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. |
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Quantum Systems and Nanomaterials Our main research directions are
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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. |
Associate Professors |
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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. Nano Engineering Science and Technology Group |
Group facilities include:
- 6xCVD tube furnaces (from 1000-18000C)
- AIST AFM with CAFM, STM, EFM, MFM modes
- Bruker Advance X-ray diffractometer and reflectometer
- Bruker Veeco Innova AFM
- Bruker Veeco Innova SPM with CAFM, MFM, EFM and STM modes
- Carbolite Muffle furnace
- Cryogenic FTIR system ( to 30 micrometres)
- Electrochemistry (electroplating) work-station
- FCT (German) Hot-press (25 tonne, 22000C)
- Fisher Scientific Vis/UV spectrometer
- High-temperature furnace (12000C)
- Horiba/AIST TERS system (tip enhanced Raman Spectrometer)
- Janis CTI-22 closed-circuit He optical cryostat
- Jasco UV-VIS-NIR microspectrophotometer
- Jiplec Rapid Thermal Processing system (to 1200 C, 50 C/sec cooling rate)
- MDC cryogenic probe test-station
- Nanomaterials laboratories
- Nordiko (6") multi-target RF/DC sputter system
- Purpose-built (2") multi-target sputtering system
- Quantachrome Gas Sorption Analyser (BET)
- Solar cell testing work-station
- Special purpose laser laboratories
- TA Instruments Ltd Q600 TGA
- Thermomicroscope SPM with SThM, STM, EFM, MFM modes and liquid cell