Advanced Technology Institute
Welcome to the ATI
The ATI celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012, and we have much
to be proud of in terms of our achievements over the last decade.
Our ideals in setting up the ATI were outlined by Lord Sainsbury,
then Minister for Science and Technology, in his speech at the ATI’s
inauguration:
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to build the university’s science and engineering infrastructure, underpinning the quality of science in the UK which is a major
national asset,
to stimulate cross-disciplinary research within a multi-purpose facility capable of rapid redirection of use,
to train more scientists and engineers as a means to increase wealth creation and the quality of our lives,
to encourage young people in universities to work with schools and provide them with role models.
The overwhelming evidence suggests that these ideals have not only
been met but surpassed by our dedicated staff and student comprising
over 160 at present. I leave it to you to decide by which margin
we have surpassed these goals, but it is sufficient to say that I am
thankful and very proud of all of the efforts of our current and past ATI
members in achieving these ambitions.
Over the last four decades, the research groups who now make up
the ATI have been contributing to societal change through technology.
We were the first to introduce rapid thermal annealing together with
Professor Ravi Silva FREng
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SIMOX wafers to the world to maintain the unrelenting drive of CMOS
integrated technologies. We have given birth to the now ubiquitous
strain layer laser diode, which sits at the heart of every CD player, optical
communication system and bar code reader. We have made important
contributions to the nascent fields of silicon photonics and metamaterials, which have applications in optical chips and invisibility cloaks.
We introduced the concept of low temperature growth of carbon
nanotubes and low k dielectrics, which could form the basis of next
generation integrated circuits.
Innovation and excellence is at the heart of everything we do. The
ATI was set up to cultivate the best talent in science and technology
in a high-quality research environment with access to state of the
art laboratories. This is exemplified by the output at all levels by ATI
colleagues who are transforming the science and technology knowledge
base in the UK. We have been fortunate to have excellent support from
our industrial partners, Research Councils UK (RCUK), FP7 programmes
and the learned societies. Staff have helped to define the Key Stage 4
Nanotechnology syllabus at schools and run a highly successful MSc in
Nanotechnology and Nanodevices.
The world around us is changing rapidly, and the grand challenges
facing humanity require teams of critical mass able to redirect efforts
equally rapidly. Whether it is energy, IT, healthcare or manufacturing,
the ATI has the depth and breadth of expertise to provide real world
solutions.
Introduction
The Advanced Technology Institute was
formed in 2002 to create a one-stop
institute housing all of the University
of Surrey research activities in materials
and devices for future electronics and
photonics. Major facilities in fabrication
and characterisation of electronic devices,
previously dispersed around the University,
were co-located, substantially enhanced,
and complemented by new capabilities
notably in nanoscale fabrication,
plastic electronics, nanobiology and
biomedical sensors, and modelling,. The
ATI is an example of ‘under one roof’
multidisciplinary research, housing some
160 researchers made up of engineers,
physicists, materials scientists, biologists
and chemists. Approximately half of these
researchers are PhD students who will
drive the next generation of innovation
and technology. The ATI also supports a
large number of undergraduate research
projects and a taught MSc programme
in Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronic
Devices.
The ATI’s research portfolio has broadened
considerably since the outset in terms of
the materials and phenomena studied.
We are considered a centre of excellence
in the UK in the fields of Microelectronics
and Photonics. The ‘grand challenges’ in
energy (in particular photovoltaics and
LEDs), healthcare, information technology,
sustainable technology and more
generally technologies associated with
‘quality of life’ have been used as focal
points to assemble critical mass team
which can have real impact. The ATI’s
activities are divided into four research
groups: Nanoelectronics, Photonics, Ion
Beams and Theory and Computation.
Science and technology on the nanoscale,
technological applications of quantum
science and engineering, and conversion
of energy are some of the cross-cutting
themes uniting the groups.
Research at the ATI is multidisciplinary.
Research group members are members
of either the Department of Electronic
Engineering or the Department of
Physics, with academic staff taking full
teaching and administrative roles in
both departments. There are also joint
appointments with other departments
and faculties, and cross-campus
collaborations, such as a link with FHMS
where a joint nano-biotechnology
laboratory has been established. New
collaborations on distributed and selfpowered large area sensor networks are
being pursued.
The application-oriented ATI research
spans the range of experimental
and theoretical investigations, from
fundamental science to the demonstration
of prototype devices for applications.
There is strong collaboration with industry,
providing access to industrial expertise
and routes to exploitation of the research.
Four companies have spun out of the ATI,
contributing to the University’s aims of
generating employment and benefiting
the local and national economy. The
ATI can count over 150 PhD graduates,
over 1000 archival papers and over
1200 conference presentations since its
inception.
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Highlights and Achievements
Our researchers have generated high profile results across a range of activities. Below are some of the
highlights over the years and our contributions to the wider community and society.
In November 2008 our Ion Beam Centre
opened the world’s first vertical scanning
focussed nanobeam which is used to
analyse how radiation affects living cells.
This £1.5m project, underpinned by
a prestigious grant from The Wolfson
Foundation and supported by EPSRC, is
being carried out in collaboration with the
Gray Institute, Oxford University and the
Addenbrookes NHS Trust, University of
Cambridge. The activity is central to two
prestigious Basic Technology Grants for
which the IBC is a partner.
In 2002 the University of Surrey was
awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for
Higher and Further Education for the
pioneering work of Professor Alf Adams,
Professor Brian Sealy and their respective
research groups in recognition of its
outstanding work over three decades in
the fields of ion beam applications and
optoelectronic devices. In collaboration with
industry, the University’s work has
led to the development of many
technologies now regarded as
commonplace in the modern world, such
as CD and DVD players, the internet,
printers, microwave circuits for satellite
communications and light-emitting devices
for aircraft displays.
The UK is world-leading in carbon
electronics. Many new carbon-based
materials have been discovered, but their
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exploitation has not taken place in the UK.
The UK has a history of conducting the
initial work and its exploitation and impact
driven output being realised overseas.
We are changing this in the field of low
temperature growth of carbon nanotubes
(CNT) and low-k dielectrics. Our spinout
business Surrey NanoSystems Ltd, based
around key patents invented by Prof. Silva
and his team, began in 2007. Within the
last 5 years, Surrey NanoSystems has raised
tens of millions of dollars to commercialise
carbon based technologies, scaling-up
the growth of CNT and low temperature
deposited low-k dielectrics to meet the
international semiconductor roadmap.
Surrey NanoSystems is working with
semiconductor multinationals to include
the technology within the next-generation
IC manufacturing production lines, which
have a 2 year qualification cycle.
Educating the public, government and
future generations of researchers is an
essential duty of a publicly funded institute.
For example, ATI researchers worked with
the Science Museum in London (2006)
on their popular Nanotechnology exhibit,
using advanced nanofabrication facilities
to write messages on a single grain of
pollen. A mixed group of UK and Japanese
school students spent a week at the ATI
learning about nanotechnology and its
potential impact (2006 and 2008). Our
Outreach Officers, Dr Simon Henley and Dr
Vlad Stolojan, were involved in a variety of
activities including a very strong presence
at the British Science Festival (2009) with
tours, demos and experiments set out
during the week-long event. We also
had a strong presence at the Cheltenham
Science Festival (2011 & 2012), with events
organised through the ATI.
The remarkable ability of an electron to
exist in two places at once was controlled
in the most common electronic material
– silicon - for the first time. The research
findings - published in Nature by a UKDutch team from the University of Surrey,
University College London, Heriot-Watt
University in Edinburgh, and the FOM
Institute for Plasma Physics near Utrecht
- marked a significant step towards the
making of an affordable “quantum
computer”. Professor Ben Murdin and
co-workers used a far-infrared, very short,
high intensity pulse from the Dutch FELIX
laser to put an electron orbiting within
Highlights and Achievements
silicon into two states at once - a so-called
quantum superposition state. They then
demonstrated that the superposition state
could be controlled so that the electrons
emited a burst of light at a well-defined
time after the superposition was created.
The burst of light is called a photon echo;
and its observation proved full control over
the quantum state of the atoms. This work
was exhibited at the Royal Society Summer
Exhibition 2011 which attracted over
42,000 visitors.
Negative refractive index metamaterials
offer the possibility of revolutionary
applications, such as subwavelength
focusing, invisibility cloaking and ‘trapped
rainbow’ stopping of light. At optical
frequencies, these materials suffer from
high dissipative losses due to the metallic
nature of their constituent metamolecules.
Researchers from the Theory and
Computation group at the ATI showed
that these obstacles can be overcome but
placing the gain medium in an area where
the field is maximum and exciting and
probing the metamaterial with ultrashort
optical pulses to avoid detrimental noise.
These results were published in Physical
Review Letters (2010) and Nature (2007).
ATI researchers at all levels, from PhD
student to Professor, have received
international awards for their research.
Professor Ravi Silva was elected as a Fellow
of the Royal Academy of Engineering for
his outstanding contributions to
nanotechnology (2008). Professor Stephen
Sweeney was awarded an EPSRC Leadership
Fellowship (2009). This Fellowship is the
key step in bringing together electronics
and photonics, reducing their carbon
footprint, and enabling radically new
technologies. The research will be highly
collaborative working with groups in North
America, Europe and Asia. Dr David Carey
(2002) and Dr Steven Clowes (2007) were
appointed EPSRC Advanced Research
Fellowships, while Dr Ross Hatton (2007)
and Dr Kosmas Tsakmakidis (2008) were
awarded Royal Academy of Engineering
EPSRC Fellowships. Dr Jeremy Sloan (2000)
and Dr Goran Mashanovich (2008) held
prestigious Royal Society Fellowships. Two
RCUK Fellows were appointed in 2006
in the area of nanodevices (Dr Simon
Henley) and nanocharacterisation (Dr Vlad
Stolojan). Dr David Cox is supported by an
NPL Strategic Fellowship. In 2011 Dr Radu
Sporea was awarded a Royal Academy
of Engineering Academic Fellowship. Dr
Lara Barazzuol won the Mercier award
for the best postgraduate student (2012)
in Biomedical Engineering (Worshipful
Company of Engineers).
We are particularly proud of the prizes won
by our PhD students and young researchers.
Wei-Mong ‘John’ Tsang was awarded the
biennial E.W. Muller ‘Outstanding Young
Scientist’ Award of the International Field
Emission Society in 2006, while Andrew
Smith won the ‘Young Scientist Award’ of
the European Materials Research Society
in 2005. Nanditha Dissanayake and his
colleagues were ‘runners-up’ for the
Obducat Prize (2006), and collaborative
PhD student Ling Liao was chosen as one
of the ‘TR35’ top innovators under the
age of 35 by MIT’s Technology Review
magazine. Iskandar Yahya won the Best
Student Presenter Award at the 2010 IEEE
International Conference on Semiconductor
Electronics in Malaysia, where he presented
fabrication and measurements of Carbon
Nanotube Field Effect Transistors (CNTFETs).
Nadir Hossain won a Royal Academy
of Engineering Student Development
Fellowship (2009) and also a SPIE education
scholarship. Michail Beliatis won a best
poster award for his poster at the E-MRS
Spring Meeting in Strasbourg (2009 &
2011). His work was titled “High precision
laser direct writing of nanoparticle vapor
sensors.”
Information Communication Systems and
Healthcare and Medical Diagnostics.
Professor Alf Adams gave a lecture entitled
“Semiconductor lasers take the strain” at
the Royal Society on February 2012. It’s
the first in a series of lectures named after
Professor Adams, a Distinguished Professor
of Physics at Surrey.
Professor Ben Murdin was awarded a
prestigious Royal Society Wolfson Research
Merit Award for his research on quantum
computing with atoms encased inside a
silicon chip (2012).
Professor Ravi Silva delivered the Kang
Tong Po Visiting Professorship public lecture
titled “Nanotechnology for Green Energy”
in 2009 and the Royal Society Clifford
Patterson Lecture on “Carbon Based
Electronics” in 2011.
The ATI was awarded a £3.8m Knowledge
Transfer Account (KTA) grant; the
Nanotechnology and Photonics Platform
brought together a number of departments
sharing knowledge and expertise to solve
some of the complex industrial challenges,
namely Energy Generation and Supply,
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Facilities
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A core strength of the ATI is the wide range of facilities and capabilities that are co-located and
shared by a closely knit group of researchers who bring knowledge gained in one application
domain to bear on another. Some of the major facilities are described below.
1. Theory and Computation
The Theory and Computation group
provides insights in materials at the
nanoscale, through fundamental
modelling at the atomic, molecular
and nano-particle level. This predicts
interactions and especially aids
understanding of the complex light–
matter interactions critical to performance
in electronic devices such as solid-state
lasers, OLEDs, or organic photovoltaic cells.
The work of the Theory and Computing
group guides and informs the
understanding of the physics of the
materials and devices that are developed
by the other groups in the ATI. From
ab-initio calculations to the simulation
of plasmonic waveguides to the
development of quantum electrodynamic
theory for future quantum information
processing, we have a variety of advanced
computational tools used on dedicated
high performance computing platforms to
understand the nanoscale systems.
Contact
For further information on the capabilities
in the Theory and Computation group,
please contact Professor Michael Kearney,
m.j.kearney@surrey.ac.uk
extensive facilities for thermal processing,
extensive computer modelling and
simulation, and for electrical / optical
characterisation including inter alia CV/
IV, differential Hall effect carrier profiling,
4-point probe resistivity mapping,
electrical and optical spectroscopy.
Spectroscopy
For surface analysis we differ from SEMbased tools because many of our tools
can use an externally scanning microbeam
so that samples can be analysed in air,
giving the capability to analyse objects,
or objects that are too large, valuable or
fragile to be put into a vacuum system.
A new molecular mapping facility is in
development to allow ambient pressure
Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS)
with sub-micron resolution. This will
enhance our existing capabilities (RBS,
EBS, PIXE, NRA and ERD) for ion beam
analysis.
Cell biology
The unique vertical ion-beam allows
irradiation of live biological cells with
sub-micron targeting accuracy. This is
providing invaluable information on the
effects of radiation on cells, for example
informing the deployment of beam
therapies in cancer treatment.
2. The Ion Beam Centre
Facilities
There are three accelerators, two of which
are used primarily for ion implantation
and the third is used primarily for
analysis. Together with the unique vertical
scanning nanobeam these form the
core of the Ion Beam Centre (IBC). The
centre is a recognised European Centre of
Excellence and an EPSRC National Facility.
The accelerators are complemented by
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Ion implantation
For ion implantation we cover the energy
range from 2keV to 4MeV (2MeV H)
with over 70 ion species being available.
For small samples we can implant at
temperatures as low as 20K or as hot
as 1300K. We have full wafer implant
capability in the temperature range from
77K to 900K, wafer end stations can
be configured up to 200mm wafer and
are located in a class 100 clean room
environment. Larger samples of up to
40cm × 40cm can be implanted. Ion
implantation is provided as a service to
UK researchers under the EPSRC ticket
scheme, and to the wider community on
a commercial basis. The service includes
supporting small volume production and
routinely services wafer batches.
Contact
For further information on the extensive
facilities and services in the Ion Beam
Centre please contact Professor Russell
Gwilliam, r.gwilliam@surrey.ac.uk
3. Nanoelectronics Centre
The ATI has wide expertise in
nanotechnologies and carbon electronics.
This includes:
Materials Production
The ATI has capability in several areas of
materials production.
We are especially well-known for
patented process for Optically-driven
CVD of novel carbon materials. This gives
capability to grow materials at relatively
low bulk-substrate temperature compared
with competing CVD processes. This
enables growth of vertically-aligned
forests of carbon nanotubes at CMOS
compatible substrate temperature. It has
also resulted in a novel low-k dielectric
material that is gaining considerable
interest in commercialisation by Surrey
NanoSystems.
The future prospect of applying our
capabilities to large-area graphene growth
is especially exciting to us.
Facilities
In our Chemistry facility we work to
produce functional nanomaterials, such
as graphene-linked chemistries, decorated
nanotubes with interesting magnetic
properties, and engineered molecules for
enhanced electron or hole transport.
Nanoscale Patterning
Precise three-dimensional structuring
using our focussed ion beam (FIB), which
can be driven from CAD files to facilitate
sculpting of surfaces, such as paraboloic
microlens templates.
For two-dimensional patterning,
in collaboration with the Quantum
Detection group of NPL, the FIB has been
used to make the world’s most sensitive
sensors (low noise, dc nano-SQUIDs).
The nano-manipulation stage has been
used to place a single nano-particle of
iron in proximity to the nano-SQUID loop,
enabling fundamental studies of magnetic
properties.
Analytical tools
UHV multiprobe technology has been used
to image at atomic resolution, to obtain
precise surface chemical analysis and to
determine the electronic properties of
surfaces. AFM, ESEM and TEM are used
for nanoscale imaging and characterisation
alongside optical measurement techniques,
see Photonics section.
Applications (devices)
The aim of our research is ultimately to
produce technologies that lead to sale of
manufactured product.
We have particular interest in the
application of nanotechnology to energy
generation and storage and to the
efficient generation of light. For example,
we have developed organic photovoltaic
devices that have efficiencies that are
comparable with the best reported
anywhere. We have a newly developed
photocatalyst material that does not rely
on rare materials and is giving world-class
result, similar to performance of other
catalysts that rely on scarce materials.
We also employ nanoscale properties in
our Photonics research.
Contact
For further information on working with
the Nanoelectronics Centre group please
contact Professor Ravi Silva,
s.silva@surrey.ac.uk
4. Photonics
As the birthplace of the strained layer
laser, the Photonics group has a proud
history of innovation.
Lasers
The group operates a high-pressure centre
devoted to study of strained layer devices
under applied hydrostatic stress. This
stress is sufficient to modify the layers,
and so allows efficient optimisation of
grown multi-layer structures.
Recent highlights include pioneering
work in energy transfer using lasers; in
telecommunications lasers designed for
better system power efficiency; and in
detection of cryptosporidium in water.
Spintronics and Quantum Computing
The ATI’s Professor Ben Murdin leads
the multi-centre COMPASSS project
investigating atomic-scale spintronics in
silicon. This is a stepping post towards
the development of Quantum Computing
devices that offer the prospect of
achieving computational power that is
inaccessible to traditional architectures.
Ultra-fast studies
The ATI has particular interest in the
studies of the behaviour of excitons
— that is bound electron–hole pairs.
Understanding the generation of excitons,
the separation and transport of the
electrons and holes, and recombination
processes is fundamental to the
production of efficient photovoltaic and
light emitting devices.
Optical characterisation
A wide range of equipment is available
for studying materials using optical
technologies. This includes bench top
equipment such as UV–visible–nearinfrared spectroscopy and micro Raman
and also dedicated laboratories for
specialised studies of photoluminescence
and electroluminescence.
Contact
For further information on working
with the Photonics group please contact
Professor Stephen Sweeney, s.sweeney@
surrey.ac.uk
If you wish to explore any of options for
collaborating with the ATI or using our
facilities please contact Tony Corless, our
Business Development Manager at +44
(0)1483 689848 (t.corless@surrey.ac.uk).
The COMPASSS team has demonstrated
quantum superposition of electron orbits
in phosphorous doped silicon. In the
process they have also provided insights
on the behaviour of materials in the
extreme magnetic fields on the surface of
certain white dwarf and neutron stars.
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Grants and Awards
Research at the ATI is supported by competitively secured grants in excess of £40m since its
inception. We have won many grant awards funded by EPSRC, EU, the Royal Society, the Royal
Academy of Engineering, Leverhulme Trust, Wolfson Foundation, industry and charities.
The Ion Beam Centre (IBC) won a Marie
Curie ITN FP7 grant for training the next
generation of ion beam researchers
(SPRITE). This builds a I3 strong consortium,
which connects the top ion beam labs in
Europe and provides expertise and access
to facilities to the European Community
and associated member states. The IBC is
finalising the world’s first scanning ambient
pressure secondary ion mass spectroscopy
(MeV-SIMS) facility to be built, sponsored
by EPSRC. It will be capable of imaging
with sub-micron spatial resolution. The IBC
has been subcontracted by the Natural
History Museum to analyse selected
impact craters on a section of the Hubble
telescope to determine their origin as
orbital debris or micro-meteorites. The IBC
also has won contracts from the EU with
other metrology labs in the BIOQUART
project and with NPL and the Royal Surrey
County Hospital with a NIHR grant looking
at radiation treatment.
Professor Ben Murdin is leading the
largest EPSRC photonics grant awarded
in responsive mode. In a joint Surrey-UCL
programme entitled Coherent Optical
and Microwave Physics in Atomic-Scale
Spintronics in Silicon (COMPASSS), they
will develop methods for encoding
information in a single electron, orbiting
a single impurity atom in a silicon crystal.
The technology for manipulating that
information with terahertz speed by
its magnetic connection with adjacent
impurity electrons will also be developed.
The experiments will be carried out using
the Free-Electron Laser FELIX facility in
The Netherlands. The EPSRC recently
conducted a mid-project review and
strongly recommended the continuation
of funding of the programme grant.
Professor Stephen Sweeney has been
awarded funding as part of the National
Science Foundation (USA) Materials
World scheme and EPSRC. The project
brings together leading researchers from
Surrey with partners in the USA, Canada
and Germany to investigate a new
class of semiconductor materials which
incorporate Bismuth. His EU-funded
FP7 BIANCHO project, develops dilute
nitride and nitride-bismide alloys for the
development of temperature insensitive
telecommunications components. This
project is in collaboration with partners in
the UK, Ireland, Germany and Lithuania.
Working with colleagues in the Robens
Institute and DelAgua Ltd., Professor
Sweeney is developing photonics-based
technology for the detection of water and
food-borne contaminants such as e.coli
and cryptosporidium in a Technology
Strategy Board funded programme.
Professor Ravi Silva and colleagues are
working with energy giant E.ON as part of
their world wide competition ‘Application
of Nanotechnology in the Energy
Business’. The three year project aims to
utilise the nanotechnological expertise of
the institute in the design, fabrication and
characterisation of the organic-inorganic
hybrid solar cells. Further progress on
organic-graphene-nanocarbon hybrids
for device applications are being pursued,
funded by DSTL. The scaling up of
organic electronics to industry acceptable
processes will be undertaken as part of
the SMARTONICS FP7 project.
We have also been successful in being
awarded prestigious research fellowships:
EPSRC Leadership Fellowship (Professor
Stephen Sweeney), EPSRC Advanced
Research Fellowship (Dr Steven Clowes),
Royal Academy of Engineering Academic
Fellowship (Dr Radu Sporea), Royal Society
Wolfson Merit Award (Professor Ben
Murdin) and EPSRC Doctoral Prizes
(Dr Juerong Li, Dr Imalka Jayawardena
and Dr Michail Beliatis).
Industrial and collaborative:
Collaborative activities on solar energy transfer (Astrium, £277k)
Global modelling of LDMOS devices (Freescale Semiconductor Inc,
£150k)
Evaluation of Novel Surface Modified Semiconductor Nanowire
(Merck Chemicals Ltd, £70k)
Hybrid Photovoltaics of the Future: Inorganics-in-organics (E-On, £900k)
GaN SSPA Development Programme (Astrium SAS, £158k)
TSB QuickTest project (with DelAgua, £841k)
Modelling of Delta Doped Diamond Transistors (Diamond Microwave
Devices Ltd, £110k)
Extended Temperature Optoelectronics 1 & 2 (TSB, £370k)
Moisture Barrier Layer Coatings (EADS, £142k)
Advanced Nanofabrication Techniques (National Physical Laboratory,
£350k)
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Grants and Awards
Research Fellowships:
Royal Academy of Engineering Academic Fellowship (£450k)
EPSRC Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship (£120k)
EPSRC Leadership Fellowship (£1m)
RCUK Academic Fellowships (£250k)
Research Councils
The Surrey Ion Beam Centre (£4.17m)
MeV Ion Nanobeams: Nanotechnology for the 21st Century (£256k)
COMPASSS (£2.6m)
The Non Scaling Fixed Field Alternating Gradient (NS-FFAG) Accelerator
(£383k)
European Metrology Research Programme: Solid-State Lighting (£100k)
New Developments on ToF-SIMS Surface Mass Spectrometry with AFTIR
(£227k)
Light-matter systems out of equilibrium: from random lasers to circuit
quantum electrodynamics (£256k)
Ambient Pressure Mass Spectrometry at the Sub Micron Scale (£1.25m)
Laser Induced Beams of Radiation and their Application (LIBRA) –
(£385k)
Near Infrared Single Photon Detection using Ge-on-Si (£252k)
Silicon Emission Technologies Based on Nanocrystals (£273k)
Amorphous Chalcogenide-Based Optoelectronic Platform for Next
Generation Optoelectronic Technologies (£403k)
CDT-LIte Applications of Next Generation Accelerators (£1.9m)
Exploring Short Wavelength Limits for High Performance Quantum
Cascade Lasers (£174k)
Silicon-based Nanospintronics (£160k)
From Nanowires to Printed Electronics (£100k)
New High-performance Avalanche Photodiodes Based on the Unique
Properties of Dilute Nitrides (£232k)
Materials Engineering to Optimise the Spin Dependent Transport
between Ferromagnetic Metals and Narrow Gap Semiconductors (£221k)
Optical Orientation of Spins in Semiconductors Using the FELIX and
FELBE Free-Electron Laser Facilities (£178k)
Irradiation Damage Technology for Manufacturable Superconducting
Devices (£161k)
Materials World Network: III-V Bismide Materials for IR and Mid-IR
Semiconductors (£251k)
KTA Platform grant (£3.8m)
Nanotube Nonlinear Waveguides for Next Generation Electrophotonics
(£224k)
CDT Applications of next generation accelerators (NIHR, £250k)
Non-Magnetic Semiconductor Spintronics (£595k)
EPSRC First Grant (£120k)
EU:
Support of Public and Industrial Research Using Ion Beam Technology
(SPIRIT) – (EU-FP7, £1m)
Metrology for Solid-State Lightning (EU-EURAMET, £260k)
SMARTONICS (EU, £450k)
MCITN PARTNER (EU-Marie Curie, £356k)
SILAMPS (EU-FP7, £1.43m)
SPRITE (EU, 997 euros)
BIANCHO (EU-FP7, £303K)
Independent Charities:
Direct magnetic measurement of excitonic induced magnetization in
colloidal nanocrystals (Leverhulme)
Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award
Partnership Grants:
Extended Temperature Optoelectronics 1 & 2 (TSB, £370k)
Advanced Nanofabrication Techniques (National Physical Laboratory,
£350k)
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Research at the ATI
Photonics
Research at the ATI is grouped into four research groups/centres, focusing on nanoelectronics,
photonics, ion beams, and theory and advanced computation. Of course, many projects span these
boundaries and include participants from more than one group.
Historically our great successes have centred around improvement
of the performance and wavelength coverage of semiconductor
laser devices, and developing new materials for lasers. The
invention and development of strained layer semiconductor
lasers, now ubiquitous in information technologies, made by our
Emeritus Professor of Physics Alf Adams, FRS, has been recognised
as being one of the top 10 UK scientific discoveries in the last 60
years. The focus of our research now is firstly on improving realworld devices such as lasers for optical communications, which is
essential hardware for ultra-high speed optical communications;
secondly on finding new applications for these technologies; and
thirdly on research and development on next generation materials
and devices with new properties.
The Group’s work now includes investigations into the microscopic
physics of electrons and photons in new, but technologically
relevant, structures where the electronic and optical properties
of ‘designer semiconductors’ are engineered on the length scale
of an electron or photon wavelength. We investigate ‘electron
boxes’ (from quantum wells to quantum dots), ‘optical boxes’
(microcavities and vertical-cavity lasers), and new materials such as
dilute nitride and bismide semiconductors. Major advances have
been made by the Group in measuring the energy bands of key
‘photonic’ semiconductors, and then in designing, characterising
and optimising optoelectronic devices.
8
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Research at the ATI
Photonics
Our interest in group IV photonics covers
both near- and mid-infrared wavelength
regions. Taking advantage of Surrey
expertise in ion implantation allowed
us to demonstrate the first roomtemperature silicon-based light-emitting
diode (published in Nature).
The Group has had a long and very
successful collaboration with companies
including Intel, QinetiQ, Philips, EADSAstrium, CIP, Infineon and IBM. Also, the
first silicon photonics company in the
world, Bookham Technology Plc (now
Oclaro), was founded by a former Surrey
student, Dr Andrew Rickman, OBE, and
Bookham’s work for the first several years
was based on the original work at Surrey.
A Surrey specialty is the use of hydrostatic
pressure as a diagnostic tool to vary the
lattice constant of crystals in a controlled
manner, mimicking the effect of changing
composition. Using this system we have
learnt how to improve new mid-infrared
antimonide laser diodes for chemical
sensing and pollution monitoring. The
first high pressure investigation of
the quantum cascade laser has been
performed and we identified the main
factors affecting efficiency.
Another major activity uses the ultrafast
laser facility at Surrey to study dynamics
on the femtosecond (10-15 s) time scale,
a regime where important physical,
electronic, chemical and biological
processes occur. The spectral-temporal
dynamics of optical gain and coherent
pulse propagation in semiconductors,
and optical nonlinearities in carbon
nanotubes, are amongst the phenomena
studied. Coherent and incoherent
control of pulsed emission from
semiconductor laser diodes has been
studied theoretically and experimentally,
with potential applications in optical
clocks. Femtosecond measurement of the
dynamics of excitons in carbon nanotubes
led to predictions of how well these
nanotubes would perform as light sources
and optical switches. The ultrafast laser as
well as other laser systems withi the ATI
can be used in conjunction with an optical
access 7 Tesla magnet for the study of
spin related phenomenon. Recently, we
have demonstrated magnetic field control
of electron spin relaxation mechanisms
in a number of semiconductor
heterostructures.
We have demonstrated that the quantum
spin of the electron can be controlled in
semiconductors on a terahertz time-scale
at room temperature for the first time.
In addition to our own ultrafast laser, we
are major users of the short pulse laser
facility FELIX in the Netherlands. Using
FELIX, we are investigating quantum
coherence effects in candidates for
‘quantum bits’, the building blocks for
‘quantum computing’. A £7m EPSRC
grant COMPASSS has been awarded to
a consortium led by Surrey to develop
methods for encoding (and manipulating)
quantum information in a superposition
state of a single electron, orbiting a single
impurity atom in a silicon crystal. The
preliminary work has been published in
Nature.
Recent highlights:
•Research covers the wavelength range
from UV to THz
•State-of-the-art facilities for modelling
and characterisation of III-V and group
IV photonics devices
•Prestigious EPSRC Advanced Research
and EPSRC Leadership, Research
Fellowships awarded to Photonics
group members
•Quantum superposition of electron
orbits in phosphorous doped silicon
demonstrated for the first time (results
reported in Nature)
•Development of efficient photovoltaics
for laser power transfer applications
•Development of entirely new classes of
photonic materials containing bismuth
and nitrogen.
The group is actively involved in Photonics
activities focussing on energy generation
and reduction. The £2 million EU-FP7
BIANCHO project aims to reduce the
energy demands of internet hardware
(lasers, amplifiers and modulators)
through the development of high
temperature stable and efficient new
materials containing bismuth and
nitrogen. Our work with EADS-Astrium
on high efficient photovoltaics or laserbased energy delivery has attracted
much attention and offers an interesting
method of delivering energy where it is
most needed.
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
9
Research
Nanoelectronics
Nanotechnology is about the design, manipulation and fabrication of mechanical, biological, optical
and electronic devices/systems utilising the smallest building blocks available: atoms and molecules.
The Nanoelectronics Centre (NEC) takes
a twin-track approach towards this goal
using both fundamental and applied
research placing it at the forefront of
those taking innovative technology into
the future. Leading experts from a diverse
range of scientific backgrounds, backed
by state-of-the-art research equipment
and facilities, are currently designing
materials, devices and systems based on
and using nanotechnology to address the
grand challenges faced by society.
An example of our leading materialsbased research is in the use of carbon
nanotubes (CNT) for a wide range of
applications such as the next generation
of field emission displays, inexpensive
high efficiency fourth generation solar
cells, and in biological systems as sensing
elements for healthcare applications.
We have also developed the concept
of hybrid “inorganics-in-organic”
systems that are opening a plethora
of applications in large area solution
processable electronics, including
photovoltaics, LED, TFT, transparent
conductors and functional inks. Our key
technology drivers for these projects are
scalability and improving efficiency. We
are also making solar cells using laser
crystallised amorphous silicon which
could provide a cheap alternative to high
efficiency but expensive silicon-based
devices presently on the market. Such
devices will help harness the 165,000 TW
days of energy that reaches the Earth’s
surface from the sun and help to meet the
~10 TW day global demand for energy by
accessing part of the sun’s radiation not
normally accessible to crystalline silicon.
The energy agenda continues further with
the use of organic-CNT composites for
the fabrication of prototype solid state
lighting devices, which concentrates on
the efficiency of electrodes and charge
injection in these structures. Related
10 www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Research
Nanoelectronics
materials-based work includes the
filling of carbon nanotubes, inorganic
nanotubes and liquid crystal materials.
Our processing facilities have allowed us
to produce a whole range of materials
from using pulsed laser ablation including
diamond-like carbon films with flat mirror
smooth finishes, to highly nanostructured
carbon films with large surface to
volume ratios suitable for super and ultra
capacitors and hydrogen storage type
applications. The latter material has been
shown to be an excellent scaffold for
noble metals, such as silver, which have
found applications in surface-enhanced
Raman spectroscopy. We have also
developed a low-cost self-assembled
fullerene system decorated with palladium
that acts as a nanocatalyst thus increasing
the range of materials available from
which next-generation devices may be
realised.
Some of the fundamental understanding
we have gained on the growth of
nanomaterials has now been transferred
to a spin-out company, Surrey
NanoSystems Ltd., who are supplying
bespoke and production tools to the
market via the first commercially available
turnkey system that incorporates the
catalyst tool and the CVD growth
chambers on the same platform.
www.surreynanosystems.com
The undertaking of fundamental
characterisation has revealed the
hidden complexity at the nanoscale
enabling advances in understanding and
utilization of the physics. In additional
to self-assembled systems we can create
nanoscopic 3D structures and devices
using a focused ion beam, probe atomic
energy levels using photoelectron
spectroscopy, as well as taking images
of nanostructures at atomic resolution
using scanning tunnelling microscopy,
scanning tunnelling spectroscopy and
high resolution electron microscopy
using a STEM. Examples of this include
probing the internal structure of double
wall carbon nanotubes that have
significant ramifications for quantum wire
transportation and interconnects based
on this material as well as for novel crystal
structures that can be formed within them
with unique phase-change properties.
In terms of devices, we are unique in
leading the way in nanomanipulation
of nanoscale objects. Working with the
NPL we have developed this capability
further, allowing us to undertake
fundamental studies of magnetic field
changes in nanometre objects through
the development of single nanowires
sensors for a variety of applications. This
key partnership is an example of the
significant benefit to be gained by such
collaborations.
Research within the NEC spans a vast
range of activities and uses a wide
variety of fabrication and characterisation
techniques, all conducted by leading
interdisciplinary scientists and we have
only been able to give a few example
above. The NEC has made a huge impact
on the global roadmap of nanotechnology
in some of these areas and will continue
to do so as we move forward.
We have also demonstrated significant
advances in the development of
macroscale devices based on nanoscale
functionality. The use of screen printed
organic semiconductors to enable a
new generation of low-cost transistor
devices for electronics has proved to be
highly successful. Likewise, the use of
inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals
in organic systems has demonstrated
significant advances in the ability to utilise
the available solar spectrum beyond the
visible for energy generation. In all of
these devices controlling the arrangement
of the components on the nanoscale has
proven to be critical for their operation.
In terms of systems research, we are
using our knowledge base in materials
and fabrication capability to produce
RF and mm-wave devices using novel
substrates and processes. These include
components using thick-film multi-layer
processing for new designs in passive
components and antennas. Using the
techniques developed, we have been able
to characterise materials at frequencies up
to 220 GHz, including the characterisation
of carbon nanotubes, their composites
and bundles of nanowires. This can
potentially lead to a significant reduction
in component size in nanotubecomposite filters. Work within the
activity is attracting an interest in wireless
communication at higher frequency
microwave bands, and the technology
developed is leading to new microwave
structures.
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati 11
Research
Ion Beam Centre
During the twentieth century, the silicon chip transformed the world. Ion implantation and much of
the work conducted at the Surrey Ion Beam Centre (IBC) was fundamental to this silicon revolution.
The Surrey Ion Beam Centre (IBC)
is recognised as one of the world’s
leading laboratories in the field of ion
implantation, ion beam applications
and ion beam analysis. The IBC is a UK
national facility sponsored by EPSRC and
conducts its research with academia and
industry nationally and internationally.
Although the IBC can trace its origins
back to the microelectronics revolution
of the twentieth century, its remit is
now far broader, where ion beams
promise to have as much impact in the
twenty-first century as the silicon chip
did in the twentieth. Cutting-edge
research in silicon nanoelectronics and
photonics is closely allied with industry.
The work in nanoelectronics is closely
tied to the International Roadmap for
Semiconductors (ITRS) and has devised
12 www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Research
Ion Beams
a number of innovative solutions for
the faster, cleverer silicon chips of the
future. In the field of photonics, nano
and micro-engineering have enabled
novel superconducting and optoelectronic
devices to be fabricated. Research on
defect engineering has yielded a spin-out
company – Si-Light Technologies Limited –
to capitalise on the research achievements
that have been made.
Research on ion beam optics underpins
the development of two new nanobeams.
These beamlines can precisely position
single ions within a 10 nm spot and can
be focussed, in full current mode, down
to below 20 nm. The horizontal beamline
is being designed for high aspect ratio
nanoscale lithography with applications
in fluidics, sensing, biotechnology, lab on
a chip, to name but a few. The vertical
beamline is a collaboration with the Gray
Cancer Institute, now part of the new
Radiation and Oncology initiative funded
by MRC and CRUK at the University of
Oxford. This beam line is being used for
cell irradiation experiments and allows
precise numbers of ions to be placed at
precise locations within living cells. These
experiments are conducted to study
cancer induction mechanisms and to
understand the effects of environmental
exposure to radiation as well as to
underpin the new developments in
proton beam therapy soon to be installed
in the UK. Both beamlines will also be
capable of performing ion beam analysis
on the nanoscale and, in the case of
the vertical beamline, this can also be
conducted in air or liquid. The IBC’s ion
beam analysis capabilities allow a number
of different techniques to be carried
out simultaneously, enabling a threedimensional quantitative image of the
elemental and density distributions within
a sample to be elucidated.
Developments at the IBC allow very
thin <5 nm films to be profiled and
have also enabled the identification of
the precise number of metal atoms in
liquid or crystalline protein samples to
be determined. The IBC is also carrying
out pioneering research on the next
generation of software for analysing the
data from different ion beam analysis
techniques. This software, named
DataFurnace, is being developed in
collaboration with the University of Lisbon
and is now being used in laboratories
across the world.
All of the IBC’s research is underpinned
by a strong simulation and modelling
activity. Recent research on cluster beams
is providing unique insights into subjects
as diverse as the way such clusters can
be used to form very shallow junctions
in silicon and their use as an analysis
probe for biomolecules. It is also showing
the similarity between the sputtering
of organic materials caused by MeV
heavy ion bombardment and keV cluster
impacts. These simulations have been
able to demonstrate that keV clusters and
MeV heavy ions can cause strong pressure
waves to pass through the surface of the
struck material. This causes substantial
intact molecular ejection as well as
impaction of the target and can result in
local amorphisation in the case of silicon,
in much the same way as a nano-indenter.
Other studies have demonstrated
impact induced polymerisation in certain
materials. These simulations provide
insight to the SIMS community who need
to understand about these potential
problems when analysing these types of
materials.
As part of the IBC’s continuing
commitment to provide a quality service it
first received ISO9001 accredited in 2007
and successfully renewed this each year
since then.
The IBC is an active member of a
European integrated infrastructure
initiative (I3) grant for ion beam facilities,
supported under the EU grant “Support
of Public and Industrial Research using
Ion Beam Technology (SPIRIT)”. This
connects the top ion beam labs in Europe
and provides expertise and access to
facilities to the European Community and
associated member states. Furthermore,
in addition to providing transnational
access and participating in joint research
activities, the IBC is responsible for
the networking within the project and
co-ordinates the quality assurance and
training programmes.
In 2009 the IBC hosted the 19th biennial
International Conference on Ion Beam
Analysis at the University of Cambridge
to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the
first Rutherford Backscattering experiment
(undertaken by a doctoral student Ernest
Marsden at the University of Manchester
in 1909). The meeting attracted over 400
abstracts and scientists from more than
20 nations around the globe.
In 2010 the IBC hosted the 12th triennial
International PIXE conference at the
University of Surrey, with talks ranging
from applications in art and archaeology
to forensic studies and materials science
and nanotechnology.
In the year 2010/11 the IBC delivered
a record 3,500 hours of beam time to
internal and external users who applied
for it via EPSRC or EU grants (including
SPIRIT) or who paid commercially to
use its facilities. Projects ranged from
the analysis of gun shot residue for
forensics and cow dung for archaeology
to the manufacture of state of the art
semiconductor devices.
The IBC is a partner in two Basic
Technology projects, CONFORM and
LIBRA and led by Professor Roger Barlow
from the University of Manchester and
Dr Marco Borghesi of Queens University
Belfast.
The IBC won two new grants recently. The
first is to support a Centre for Doctoral
Training to support Accelerator Science
based around the two Basic Technology
Applications above. The second is to
build the world’s first scanning ambient
pressure secondary ion mass spectroscopy
(MeV SIMS) facility which will be capable
of imaging with sub micron spatial
resolution. This equipment will be built
over the next two year period and then
will be open for external users who will
be able to apply for access to the use the
new equipment.
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati 13
Research
Theory and Computation
14 www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Research
Theory and Computation
Research and technology has embarked on a journey into nanospace and the ultrafast world of
attosecond dynamics. The Theory and Computation group explores these frontiers by means of
analytic theory and advanced computer simulation.
The remarkable progress towards the
very small has allowed the conception
of metamaterials, with exciting new
properties such as a negative refractive
index, quantum dot nanomaterials,
carbon nanotubes, graphene and
functional photonic crystals, as well as
the controlled manipulation of single
biological molecules. Just as revolutionary
has been the progress towards harnessing
the quantum nature of electrons and
photons on ultrafast timescales, heralding
the new field of lightwave electronics.
The Theory and Computation group is the
focus of theoretical and computational
modelling activities in the ATI, bringing
together a large variety of advanced
computational tools used on dedicated
high-performance computing platforms.
Since its establishment the Theory
and Computation group has recently
presented a novel scheme in which
negative-refractive-index metamaterial
heterostructures are used to efficiently
slow down light and eventually bring it
to a complete standstill. In such a tapered
metamaterial, each frequency component
of a wave packet may be stopped at a
different thickness, leading to the spatial
separation of the packet’s spectrum and
the formation of a ‘trapped rainbow’.
Such macroscopic control of photons
may conceivably find applications in
optical data processing and storage, and
in the realisation of quantum optical
memories. The Theory and Computation
group has employed advanced modelling
approaches to explore the fundamental
aspects of nano-photonics, as well as the
application of plasmonic waveguides.
More generally, new possibilities are
available to engineer structural colours
(iridescent, prismatic, multi-hue or
luminescent) which are universally
attractive in competitive marketplaces
such as mobile electronics, fashion and
automotive/airline industries. Research
within The Theory and Computation
group aims to study new polymer opal
films with embedded nanoparticles, which
have the appealing structural colours of
photonic opals.
When conceiving new generations of
electronic or photonic micro-processors
with structures on the order of tens of
nanometres, heat management becomes
amongst the most important aspect
to consider. We employ a quantum
thermodynamical approach to study the
transport of heat on the nanoscale. The
Theory and Computation group explores,
in particular, the exploitation of excess
heat in nanodevices for the generation
of coherent light, and has proposed the
concept of a ‘thermal laser’ that could
prove useful in a range of nanophotonic
devices. More conventionally, new and
exciting developments in semiconductor
lasers aim to directly control and
manipulate light–matter interaction,
light emission and propagation,
and to engineer the optoelectronic
properties of the semiconductor gain
media. The Theory and Computation
group models the ultrafast dynamics
of advanced laser devices such as the
semiconductor disc laser, and explores
the physics of (sub-) femto-second laser
light sources. We have developed an
original approach to calculating the
electronic structure, material and optical
properties of semiconductor quantum
dots where the electrons are confined
in all three dimensions – analogous
to artificial atoms. Physical processes
in semiconductor quantum dots may
be used as the basis for a quantum
computer. Further work includes
studying the spatio-temporal dynamics
of quantum dot lasers, optically pumped
semiconductor lasers, finite-difference
time-domain modelling of coherent
control in semiconductor nanostructures,
and modelling the dynamics of complex
nanostructured non-Newtonian fluids.
The Theory and Computation group’s
nanofluidics activity employs state-of-theart computational methods to perform
simulations and calculations in order to
better understand molecular interactions
with nanotubes. Amongst these are
quantum studies of the interaction of a
water molecule with a nanotube, as well
as molecular dynamics simulations to
allow the study of continuously flowing
water through and around carbon
nanotubes. There is a strong biological
driver also. Nature offers a large variety
of systems that very efficiently transform
energy or fulfill a specific function.
Examples are photosynthesis in plants
and molecular motors performing specific
tasks in the human body. Theory and
computational modelling help us to
understand these complex nanosystems
and to learn how to replicate the
underlying processes for applications in
novel biotechnological systems.
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati 15
PhD Awards
The list of recent (from 2010) thesis titles shows the range of research undertaken at the ATI. We
have graduated over 150 PhD students in the last 10 years:
Title
Student
Exciton Dynamics in Carbon Nanotubes
Muhammad Tariq Sajjad
Efficient, High Performance Photonic Devices for Optical Fibre Communications and Related Applications
Sayid Sayid
Slow and stopped light in negative refractive index waveguides
Edmund Kirby
New approaches to improve Thermocouple Thermometry to 2000 C
Oijai Ongrai
Combined Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy for High-grade Brain Tumours
Lara Barazzuol
Laser Fabrication of Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles for Optoelectronic Devices
Michail Beliatis
Growth and electrical properties of chemical vapour deposited low dimensional sp2 carbons
Yee Yuan Tan
Compuer Modelling and Simulation of the Interaction of keV Clusters with Molecular Solids
Jaydeep Mody
Pulsed laser synthesis of nanostructures for large area nanoelectronics
Imalka Jayawardena
Efficiency of Small Loop Antennas
Marc Harper
Physical Properties of Interband Cascade Edge- and Surface-Emitting Mid-Infrared Lasers
Barnabas Ikyo
Spin Dependent Electron Transport in Nanoscale InSb Quantum Well Devices
Nicole LI
The Growth and Characterization of Silicon Nanowires/ Carbon Nanotubes for Heterojunctions
Parul Sharma
Fabrication and Tailoring of Silicon Photonic Devices via Focused Ion Beams
Simon Howe
Comparative Study of Boron Activation in Silicon, Silicon-on-Insulator and Silicon-Germanium Substrates
Masamba Kah
Investigating single cell growth dynamics of mycobacteria with microfluidics
Solmaz Golchin
miniature Planar Components for Microwave Applications
Nural Huda Osman
Improving Organic Photovoltaic Device Efficiency through Nanoimprinting
Joseph Emah
Polysilicon Thin-Film Source-Gated Transistors for Mixed Signal Large Area Electronics
Radu Sporea
Electronic Structure of Quantum Dot : Tight-binding Approach
Worasak Sukkabot
Physical Properties and Efficiency Limiting Processes in Nitride Based in Optoelectronic Devices
Sucheta (Lisa) Ahmed
Erasable Bragg gratings in Silicon On Insulator
Renzo Loiacono
Improvements to Organic Light Emitting Devices with Carbon Nanotubes and Fluoropolymer
Li-Wei Tan
Design, Development and Fabrication of a New Generation Semiconductor X-ray Detector
Shada Kazemi
Proton Beam Writing: A novel tool for Silicon Waveguides Fabrication
Kevin Yang
Functionalisation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Proteins: A Comparison of Methods and Efficiency
Kathy Sharpe
A Theoretical Investigation of the Next Generation of MeV Ion Nanobeams
Michael Merchant
Modelling the electronic properties of Si-based quantum structures in external electric and magnetic fields
David Grocutt
Optical & structural properties of ion beam fabricated amorphous and polycrystalline iron disilicide
Lewis Wong
o
16 www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Profile
Imalka Jayawardena
I obtained a first class BSc (Hons) in Engineering from the University of
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka majoring in Materials Engineering in 2008. On completing
my undergraduate studies, I was given the opportunity to pursue a PhD in the
Nanoelectronics Centre at the ATI. On completing my PhD in March 2012, I was
fortunate enough to be awarded the EPSRC Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship which
has allowed me to pursue my research interests in organic electronics working with
Professor Ravi Silva. As of present, I am actively involved in integrating inorganic
nanostructures to “plastic” solar cells based on high performing organic materials
with the aim of achieving performances that will allow this cheap, environmentally
friendly technology to be brought to the masses. I am also looking forward to
increasing my involvement in outreach activities that will help raise public awareness
on the importance of the research carried out in Universities.
Nicole Li
I completed my PhD within three years with a thesis entitled
“Spin Dependent Electron Transport in Nanoscale InSb
Quantum Well Devices”. I have been an EPSRC Doctoral
Prize Fellow since May 2012. This Fellowship was won after
a competitive review of the proposal I wrote based on a
scientific case and based on my track record in research.
I am a focused and self-driven researcher as well as an expert
in the combination of magneto-optical spectroscopy with
electrical spin-sensing in InSb. This material system is rather
specialized, and in my PhD Prize fellowship project I am
now broadening my expertise to include organic materials,
since low-cost devices made from these materials with selforganization have been proved extremely powerful in other areas of (molecular) electronics. The materials are being produced
by Surrey’s Global Partnership Network collaborators at North Carolina State University (NCSU).
Lara Barazzuol
I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2006 and a Master’s
degree in Bioengineering in 2008 awarded with cum laude, both at the University of
Padua in Italy.
I completed my PhD in the Ion Beam Centre under the supervision of Professor Karen
Kirkby and within the framework of the Particle Training Network for European
Radiotherapy (PARTNER), a Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher training network. My
research explored novel treatment options for patients with high-grade brain tumours,
with a particular focus on using novel targeted agents combined with conventional
radiotherapy and particle therapy.
Since my PhD graduation, I have been carrying on my research within the Ion Beam
Centre. I am currently looking into getting a more independent research post, which will
provide me with an opportunity to take an independent role as a research scientist.
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati 17
MSc in Nanotechnology
and Nanoelectronic Devices
Industry needs graduates with up-to-date skills and the ability to expand and develop their products.
Industries engaged in nanotechnology
and nanomaterials research and
development are no different, with
numerous surveys of companies having
pointed to the need for graduates with
a strong background in engineering or
in the physical sciences, supplemented
with specialised skills. It is because of
this specialised skills shortage that within
the ATI we have developed a one-year
full time MSc degree in Nanotechnology
and Nanoelectronic Devices. With a
recognised and established record of
high quality postgraduate level teaching,
the degree programme, which began in
September 2006, takes an intentional
emphasis on the applied nature of
nanotechnology, the development of new
materials and their use in the electronics
industry.
Taking recent graduates from electronic
engineering, physics and materials
science as well as those with industrial
experience, participants study a total of
eight modules over two semesters. Two
of these modules can be chosen from
our suite of optional modules and allow
students to tailor their studies to their
particular interests. The first semester
consists of three core modules. The first
acts as an introduction to nanotechnology
and discusses common nanomaterials
such as graphene, carbon nanotubes
and quantum dots as well as the effects
of quantum confinement and electron
diffraction. A second module concentrates
on the area of molecular electronics,
a topic that the UK has repeatedly
demonstrated international leadership in
and also covers organic materials for solar
cells and energy generation. The third
compulsory module is a module devoted
to the tools of nanotechnology and covers
advanced experimental techniques and is
taught part in lectures and part in small
group projects where students perform
experiments themselves. Optional module
in the first semester could be in the field
of silicon technology and processing for
advanced transistors or RF electronics for
communications.
18 www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
In the second semester, advanced
nanoelectronic materials and devices,
including spintronic and memory
devices are taught. There is also a
module on photonics on the nanoscale
covering such topics as plasmonics and
metamaterials. Reflecting the diversity
of nanotechnology, there is also an
opportunity to learn about MEMS and
NEMS and the needs of the energy
economy. The fourth module in this
semester is optional and participants can
choose to study high frequency devices or
optoelectronics.
Accreditation comes from the Institution
of Engineering and Technology.
Participants are also eligible for
Professional Membership of the Institute
of Nanotechnology which will enable the
use of the letters MIoN after their name.
Not only will this enhance professional
standing, it may be useful for further
continuing professional development
and used in the application process for
Chartered Engineer or Chartered Scientist
status.
In the final semester over the summer,
students perform a full-time research
project building upon the taught material
of the previous two semesters. This
project can be performed using our
cleanroom facilities for both advanced
device fabrication and characterisation or
using our supercomputing facilities.
Further information can also be obtained
from the Programme Director
david.carey@surrey.ac.uk
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/msc/
Schools Outreach Activities
In the ATI we believe that it is vital to make our research accessible to the general public. This
is especially important in order to inspire the younger generation to seek careers in science and
technology. Researchers here run a variety of Schools outreach activities, many themed around the
general area of nanotechnology.
The ATI works closely with Surrey SATRO
and their STEM Ambassador programme
by hosting many Nuffield Bursary students
who spend four weeks on hands-on
science and technology projects. For
example in Summer 2012, Dr Simon
Henley and Dr David Cox supervised
Matt Hall, a sixth form student to work
on a four week project to investigate the
self-assembly of metal nanostructures. In
this project, Matt helped develop a new
technique to produce very small metal
particles (nanoparticles) in well-defined
patterns by introducing minute holes
in thin films, before melting them with
a high power laser. These nanoparticle
coatings have important applications in
sensing and as coatings to improve future
solar cells.
The ATI also regularly hosts school
students for summer work placements,
as well as students from other nearby
schools and colleges for week-long
projects. For example, Dr Simon Henley
and Dr Jose Anguita recently worked
with Josh Kellie from St Paul’s School,
on a one week work experience
placement, developing new low-weight,
high-strength materials for aerospace
applications by reinforcing conventional
materials with carbon nanotubes and
Harry McCulloch from George Abbot
School spent a week growing zinc oxide
nanowires with Dr Simon Henley using
a new seeding method Harry helped
develop. Our focus with these short
projects is to give visiting students a real
“hands-on” experience, rather than just
making tea!
“I have greatly enjoyed my time with the
ATI and feel as though I have learned
valuable things about how ‘real science’
works. I relished the chance to get handson and attempt my own project in such
a dynamic field.” Josh Kellie – St Paul’s
School.
Researchers also run regular laboratory
tours for school groups and run open days
for children from local schools to gain an
insight into the world of nanotechnology.
The ATI also participates in the outreach
activities of the Faculty of Engineering and
Physical Sciences, such as the Headstart
course, where A-level students spend a
week at the University for an intensive
experience of Electronic Engineering.
If you would like more information
regarding possible school visits or
workshops please contact the ATI’s
Outreach Officers:
Dr Simon Henley
s.henley@surrey.ac.uk
Dr Vlad Stolojan
v.stolojan@surrey.ac.uk
Staff and students in the ATI also
contribute to external public awareness
of science and school science programs.
For example Radu Sporea, Charles
Opoku, Samantha Shaw, and Andrew Pye
were seen in events at the 2011 Times
Cheltenham Science Festival.
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati 19
Contacts
Professor Ravi Silva
Director of ATI
Head of Nanoelectronics Centre
T: +44 (0)1483 689825
E:s.silva@surrey.ac.uk
Mrs Lynn Tumilty
PA to Director of ATI
T: +44 (0)1483 686080
E:l.tumilty@surrey.ac.uk
Professor Roger Webb
Director of Surrey Ion Beam Centre
T: +44 (0)1483 689083
E:r.webb@surrey.ac.uk
Mrs Karen Arthur
IBC Centre Secretary & PA to
Director of Surrey Ion Beam Centre
T: +44 (0)1483 686090
E:k.arthur@surrey.ac.uk
Professor Stephen Sweeney
Head of Photonics Group
T: +44 (0)1483 689406
E: s.sweeney@surrey.ac.uk
Mrs Julie Fletcher
Centre Secretary
T: +44 (0)1483 689859
E: julie.fletcher@surrey.ac.uk
Professor Michael Kearney
Head of Theory and Computation Group
T: +44 (0)1483 689410
E: m.j.kearney@surrey.ac.uk
Dr David Carey
Course Director MSc in Nanotechnology
and Nanoelectronic Devices
T: +44 (0)1483 686089
E:david.carey@surrey.ac.uk
Dr Steven Clowes
Postgraduate Tutor
T: +44 (0)1483 689827
E:s.clowes@surrey.ac.uk
20 www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Staff
Academic Staff and
Advanced Research Fellows
Jeremy Allam
David Carey
Steven Clowes
David Cox (NPL Strategic Research Fellow)
Richard Curry
Neil Emerson
Marian Florescu
Eran Ginossar
Geoff Grime
Russell Gwilliam
Simon Henley
Kevin Homewood
Peter Jarowski
Chris Jeynes
Michael Kearney
Karen Kirkby
Ben Murdin
Maxim Shkunov
Christopher Snowden, FRS
Radu Sporea (RAEng Fellow)
Vlad Stolojan
Stephen Sweeney (EPSRC Leadership
Fellow)
Roger Webb
Research Staff
Technical Staff
Jose Anguita
Mark Browton
Lara Barazzuol
Chris Buxey
Michail Beliatis
Adrian Cansell
Julien Colaux
Vijayalakshmi Krishnan
Ben Crutchley
Kostis Michelakis
Isabel Franke
Alex Royle
Keith Heasman
John Underwood
Konstanze Hild
Nadir Hossain
Administrative Staff
Mark Hughes
Karen Arthur
Achakpa Ikyo
Tony Corless
Imalka Jayawardena
Francine Elson-Vining
Charlie Jeynes
Julie Fletcher
Shirong Jin
Lynn Tumilty
Khue Tian Lai
Juerong Li
Visiting Staff
Konstantin Litvinenko
Aleksey Andreev (Hitachi)
Daren Lock
Tim Ashley (QinetiQ)
Manon Lourenco
Markys Cain (NPL)
Willy Ludurczak
Andrew Carter (OCLARO Inc)
Igor Marko
Jonathan Coleman (Trinity College Dublin)
Michael Merchant
Manjit Dosanjh (CERN)
Chris Mills
Robert Elliman (Australian National
University)
Jayanta Mukherjee
Vladimir Palitsin
Emeritus Professors
Alf Adams, FRS
Peter Hemment
Brian Sealy
Nianhua Peng
Andrew Prins
Rhys Rhodes
Lynn Rozanski
Remi Wache
Pengyuan Yang
Richard Forbes
Charles Free
Sajad Haq (BAE Systems)
Ortwin Hess (Imperial College London)
Kamal Hossain (NPL)
Michael Kelly (University of Cambridge)
David Lancefield (Charterhouse)
Goran Mashanovich (University of
Southampton)
Momir Milosavljevic (Vinca Institute of
Nuclear Sciences)
Graham Reed (University of Southampton)
Mervyn Rose (University of Dundee)
Hidetsugu Shiozawa (University of Vienna)
John Shannon (Phillips)
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati 21
4038-1112
Useful Website Addresses
ATI
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Photonics Group
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/photonics
Nanoelectronics Centre
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/nec
Ion Beam Centre
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/ibc
Theory and Computation Group
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/tc
MSc Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronic Devices
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/msc
Advanced Technology Institute
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
University of Surrey
Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH UK
T: +44 (0)1483 689859
F: +44 (0)1483 689404
E: julie.fletcher@surrey.ac.uk
www.surrey.ac.uk/ati
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained
in this brochure at the time of going to press. The University reserves the right,
however, to introduce changes to the information given.