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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - D-SPA (Diamond-based nanomaterials and nanostructures for advanced electronic and photonic applications)

Teaser

Summary

We are proposing a 4-year program of knowledge transfer and networking between Aston University, UK (Aston), Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland (CIT), Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Spain (ICN2), University of Birmingham, UK (UoB), Teer Coatings Ltd, UK (TCL), Zhejiang University of Technology, China (ZJUT), University of Science and Technology Beijing, China (USTB), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA (ORNL). The objective of the proposed joint exchange programme is to establish long-term stable research cooperation between the partners with complimentary expertise and knowledge to develop diamond-based nanomaterials and nanostructures for advanced electronic and photonic applications (D-SPA), including growth of diamond films, fabrication of diamond nanostructures, development of diamond biomarkers, development of diamond power devices, and development of diamond-plasmon hybrid photonic devices.

The specific objectives of the D-SPA RISE project are the following:

i) To promote the cooperation between SMEs and Universities within Europe and cooperation of European with TC academic institutions;
ii) To develop diamond growth and doping protocol, focusing on single crystalline, polycrystalline, and nanocrystalline growth, using ion implantation as doping methods. Comparison studies will be carried out to explore the different growth facilities and mechanism;
iii) To develop diamond based biomarkers through surface functionalisation;
iv) To develop diamond power devices for harsh environments;
v) To develop diamond-plasmon hybrid photonic devices;
vi) To effectively manage the secondments so that added value is provided to the seconded staff; and to effectively disseminate the project objectives, progress and findings.

Work performed

Work Package 1 is Administrative, financial and project management. Leicester is coordinator of the overall project and the leader of WP1. He has carried out management of the envisaged activities and the financial and administrative management of the overall project. He has ensured the effective day-to-day project management and coordination, providing the overall managerial guidance to the consortium and acts the official consortium contact person and interface with the EC for all contractual matters.

Work package 2 is Diamond growth. Around this work package we have carried out the following secondment activity. During the first visit to ZJUT, The scientist in charge gave a research seminar on the RISE project and research background/plan at ZJUT. He met with two Chinese partners and help them to prepared the proposal for the Chinese co-funding/matching funding scheme from Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. During the second visit to ZJUT, he organized the 2nd workshop on CVD diamond growths. All research partners have attended this workshop and exchange ideas and skills in their expertise on diamond films and its functional devices which also attracted 50 research staff and postgraduates to participated the meeting. During his first visit to USTB, he has given a public lecture to the institute members and participated the discussion of the CVD growth of the diamond films. Also at the same time, Chinese partners have been awarded the matching funding from Chinese government from Jan 2018. He provided some guidance and support how to best to schedule and engage the EU-China collaboration, such as staff exchanges and students exchange implementations. Aston University in collaboration with the partners has achieved the growth of high quality nanocrystalline diamond films using hot filament chemical vapour deposition method.

Work package 3 is on the topic of diamond biomarkers.
Leicester has collaborated with CIT and USTB and provided full characterisation on the photoluminescence properties of the diamond films. These properties are critically important for the subsequent biomarkers applications. Seven samples for the optical studies using Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence imaging and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results have revealed some very interesting luminesce from diamond which could be used as the tool to distinguish whether diamond materials are naturally occurring or laboratory-made.

Work package 4 is to develop diamond based power devices using emerging patterning technologies such as electron beam lithography, nanoimprinting lithography. Some novel MIS diode and MISFET devices based on diamond has been achieved as gate layers using tranditional photolithography methods.Device performance and evluations have been carried out in details.

Work package 5 is diamond-plamon hybrid photonic devices. The objectives are: (1) to realise plasmonic metamaterials with deep-subwavelength mode volume; (2) to combine diamond nanocrystals with the metamaterial structure through self-assembly techniques; (3) to characterize the spontaneous emission of the NV centres in the nano-diamond crystal in the hybrid structures. University of Birmingham has carried out preliminary research on the design of the meta-structure based on diamond. High quality diamond substrates have been used as the core materials for the subsequent nanostructure fabrication using electronic beam lithography and focused ion beam. There nanostructures are extremely difficult to fabricate, which have not been evaluated on their optical properties. The present work is very challenging and we are on the progress.

Work package 6 is training, communication, and dissemination. A project homepage website has been developed at the beginning of the project (www.d-spa.org) which is continuously updated. The website will include the D-SPA objectives, progress, secondments, important events (workshops, training sessions, upcoming secondments)

Final results

The D-SPA partnership will contribute to the European strength in the cutting edge photonic, sensing and diamond technologies, and will contribute into providing Europe a leading role in the fast growing area of using photonic devices for a wide range of applications. It will promote research and technical excellence, exploit new emerging opportunities within novel approaches of integrating diamond onto power device and photonic devices and provide the co- evolution of technology and applications and, hence, contribute to the transition of Europe to a knowledge-based society, driving the transformation of industry towards higher added value and sustainable development as outlined in Horizon 2020 strategic objectives.
Therefore we anticipate that the project D-SPA will contribute to European strength in cutting edge wide bandgap semiconductor power devices and advanced photonic technologies, will improve the competitiveness of European photonics and optical and coatings equipment manufacturers, and will help to secure Europe a leading role in the area of fast growing power electronics and photonics. It will allow Europe to capitalize on its leadership and previous investments in RTD in this area of science and technology. The project will push forward the frontiers of knowledge in the core area of photonics reinforcing Europeâ€™s leadership in this area. The project will direct effort to spreading the excellence and disseminating results and it will have a positive impact on the European photonics community.