Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Quantum dots are nano-scale pieces of semiconductor. An excited quantum dot in vacuum can de-excite by emitting photons. When the excited quantum dot is placed near a piece of metal, it can de-excite in new interesting ways such as heating the metal or generating electron waves on the metal surface known as plasmons.
Quantum computing enthusiasts have become quite interested in using quantum dot - metal structures for the creation of quantum logic gates and for performing quantum algorithms. There is also interest from solar cell groups in the use of quantum dot - metal nanostructures to increase the efficiency of solar cells.
This project is aimed at investigating how quantum dots interact with various metal structures. The project can be either theoretical or experimental or both, depending on your interests. The quantum dot coupling to metal structures can be simulated in some cases analytically, or in other cases using finite element modelling software and the QUT supercomputing facilities. The experiments can be conducted using state of the art facilities housed at QUT - spin coaters, thermal deposition, focused ion beam lithography and our microscope characterisation system.
This project is associated with an ARC Discovery grant, Boolean Plasmonics: The design of Nano-optical logic gates. The project does reside in the physics department, but there will also be some collaboration with the chemistry department.
There is also the potential with this project of collaborating with the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry at Monash University, Bio21 Institute at the University of Melbourne, and the University of Melbourne Physics Department.
- Study level
- PhD, Masters
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Keywords
- nanofabrication, supercomputing
- Contact
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Please contact the supervisor.
Dr Kristy Vernon
