Nanophotonics, Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices - MacDiarmid ...

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NEW SCIENCE INITIATIVES
PROGRAMME:
Nanophotonics, Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices
Objective numbers: 13 - 24
Introduction:
This Nanophotonics, Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices proposal is designed to
develop a major research capability in nanoengineering and nanophysics related to new
devices for optics, electronic and sensing. It is douned on a major capability platform of
the MacDiarmid Institute (McDI), and builds new teams out of our collective expertise.
Programme Themes:
Nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is the nano-engineering of light-matter interactions so that new
phenomena of physics can be utilized to develop novel optoelectronics devices, which
can be well beyond the capability of the conventional photonics and electronics. But it
also includes the broader areas of surface plasmon nano-optics (plasmonics) – of
increasing interest in analytical chemistry and biology – and photonic structures created
by nature itself. Areas that fall under the umbrella of this activity include:
(a) Optical interactions on nanometre scale.
(b) Near-field optics and surface plasmon nano-optics.
(c) Novel optical methods for self assembled nanostructures.
(d) Photonic crystals.
(e) Resonant and light-amplified nano-photonic devices.
(f) Nano-crystals in optical amplification and lasing.
(g) Quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots LEDs and lasers.
(h) Molecular electronics
(i) Biological structures.
Nanophotonics is an emergent area in nanotechnology which has been already
recognized as field of research in its own right. For example, there are now a number of
regular international conferences in the field, for example the International Workshop
on Nanophotonics and Nanobiotechnology June 28-July 8, 2005
http://nanoscience.bu.edu/nanophotonics05/.
Several institutions have recognized already the importance of the field and have
created dedicated groups in the area. Examples are the Cornell Nanophotonics Group in
the US (http://nanophotonics.ece.cornell.edu/) and an EPSRC nanophotonics centre in
the UK (http://www.nanophotonics.org.uk/).
One of the clearest examples of the application of nanotechnology to the control of
optical properties in plasmonic structures is given by the work of one of the leading
nanophotonic groups in the world in Rice University (Huston), whereby the absorption
spectrum of gold nano-shells is tuned by shape/size control, as exemplified in Fig. 1.

Being an emergent area in nanotechnology and having several groups at the McDI that
can seed further activity we see here an opportunity to propose this specific topic as a
future science direction of the Institute. We believe that the different scattered activities
in the McDI will be greatly enhanced and strengthened and can generate new science
activities through a stronger collaboration and participation of PIs. The presence of an
existing platform of groups interested in the area, however, is an important point. The
generation of a new science activity from scratch on the contrary would imply a much
more costly exercise and might not be realistic for the size of the Institute. Here we
propose to grow on an area where there is already a background of scattered efforts
being pursued independently by different PI’s.
Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices
Likewise, the field of nanoelectronics is a vital part of the
broader nanotechnology environment. The computer processors
and memories that we all take for granted each contain millions
or billions of nanoelectronic devices (Fig. 2) – having two or
more dimensions less than 100 nm. The technology roadmap
for these devices (http://public.itrs.net) predicts critical features
and critical tolerances down to the few nanometre level within
the next decade. The nanofabrication techniques and nanodevices
that these future chips will use is still not clear, and
there is a role for the McDI to play in this global activity. We
already have a strong reputation in this area 1 , particularly for
the development of novel device and fabrication technologies,
which has been built around the growing activities of our
nanostructure engineering research groups. A recent example
is our development of nano-scale metallic transistors (Fig. 3),
which show interesting switching behaviour, and are part of a
proposal presented here.
Fig. 2: A 40-million transistor
Pentium4 chip (Intel Corp)
Programme Aims:
There are twelve specific projects in this programme, namely:
Objective
13 Biochemical sensing the silicon chip based microcavities (Bowen)
The primary aim of this research project is to develop biochemical sensors
based on ultrahigh Q optical microcavities lithographically fabricated on
silicon chips.
14 3D-plasmonic structures for ultra-sensitive spectroscopic applications
(Etchegoin)
1 For example, we were represented by 7 researchers at the recent International Conference on Micro- and
Nano-Engineering (MNE05), Vienna, Austria, September 2005 (www.mne05.org). We have had a
continuous presence at this important annual European nanoelectronics conference for the past decade,
and our presence is now stronger than countries like Australia and Canada. This year one of our
presentations was the runner up in the conference awards, out of a group of more than 200 entries.

The objective of this work is to create self-organized plasmonic structures with
desirable properties for specific applications. This project builds up on our
substantial previous track record in the field in the last 3-4 years.
15 Seeing molecules at interfaces with laser excitations (Bittar)
The aim is to establish a unique capability to probe molecules at surfaces using
coherent laser Sum Frequency Spectroscopy and apply it to existing and new
research projects.
16 Surface plasmon-based nanophotonics (Blaikie)
The basic aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the properties
and applications of surface plasmons, which will be carried out by fabricating
and characterising a number of different types of plasmon-based nano-photonic
devices.
17 Natural nanophotonics (Hodgkinson)
This project is about the synergy of natural and engineered nanophotonics. It is
about careful observation, assessment and understanding of natural
nanophotonics.
18 Controlling molecular emission with phonotic crystals (Waterland)
The primary aim of this objective is to use photonic crystals to control light
emission from excited molecular states.
19 Nanoelectric device development (Blaikie)
We aim to use our extensive nanofabrication cababilities and expertise [9-16]
to perform detailed investigations of a number of new device types, with initial
focus on the Quantised Conductance Atomic Switch (QCAS) and the All-Metal
Transistor (AMT).
20 Silicon nanostructures for vacuuum nanoelectronics (Lansley/Markwitz)
The aim of this proposal is to fabricate and characterise novel vacuum
nanoelectronic devices using self-assembled silicon nanostructure cathodes.
21 Molecular and nanoscale electronics (Tilley/Brown)
This proposal seeks to generate a New Zealand capability in the area of
molecular electronics by building on the existing capabilities of MacDiarmid
Institute PIs.
22 Half metal thin films and superlattices: Nano-structured quantum solids
for spintronics (Ruck)
We will determine the effects of low dimensionality on the structural, magnetic
and conducting properties of very thin half metal films and superlattices,
concentrating initially on the rare-earth nitrides for which an innovative growth
technology has been developed within the MacDiarmid Institute.
23 Metallic nano-clusters for novel opto-electronic applications (Kennedy)
Will deal with metallic nano-cluster synthesis and control of size.

24 Controlling nano-particle structure (Hendy)
Will look at bottom-up control of nanofabrication, using modelling to
investigate how processing conditions can be used to control nanoparticle
structure.
Benefit to New Zealand:
Some might argue that there is no point in a country like New Zealand trying to
compete in the global semiconductor industry, which is dominated by companies with
annual turnovers greater than our entire GDP. However there are plenty of
opportunities for smart contributions to be made, either in the provision of much-needed
intellectual effort for nano-device research, or for the formation of new enterprises that
can service small to medium-sized markets within the nanoelectronics sector – not all
future applications for nanoelectronics are going to be in microprocessors or memory
chips.

We have already shown that the formation of start-up
enterprises from our research can make impact in this area, with
the newly-formed NanoCluster Devices Ltd. Company as our
current flagship example (Fig. 4). Based around revolutionary
(and well protected) technologies for forming nano-scale wires
and devices, this company has formed a strategic alliance with
Nanodynamics in the US to get a foothold into this important
market.
Within this domain we not only concentrate on the device and
fabrication technologies, but we have considerable strength on
the investigation of the new materials that will be required for
future nano-devices. Silicon will not be suitable for all
applications, so it is important to understand the properties of
alternative materials for future electronic (and even spintronic)
Fig. 4: NCD on the April 2005
cover of Semiconductor
International.
devices. The principal benefit to New Zealand will be in the generation of new and
valuable IP in the fields of nanophotonics, nanoelectronics and nanodevices, with every
opportunity taken to commercialise where feasible.
Team Ability to Deliver:
The team of principal investigators of the proposal comprises: Ethan Minot (Delft),
Pablo Etchegoin (VU), Tony Bittar (IRL), Richard Blaikie (UC), Ian Hodgkinson (UO),
Mark Waterland (MU), shaun Hendy (IRL), Stuart Lansley (UC), John Kennedy and
Andreas Markwitz (GNS) and Simon Brown (UC). The team is a group of
internationally recognised researchers in their own fields with widespread
collaborations within New Zealand (among Universities and/or Universities and CRI’s)
and abroad.
International Collaborators:
The team of principal investigators have international collaborations with institutions in
the USA, the UK, Japan and Australia. Many funded by New Zealand grants but also
funded by international funding schemes, including the Royal Solciety and the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the UK.
Facilities:
The research team has access to vast experimental facilities at the various institutions
(UO, VU, UC, IRL, and MU), including: photolithography facilities, optical
spectroscopy (Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and ellipsometry),
various nanofabrication facilities at UC and electron microscopy at VUW.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nanophotonics, Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 13
Title: Biochemical sensing with silicon chip based microcavities
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Dr. Warwick P. Bowen
Full Address:
Department of Physics
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin
Telephone: +64 3 479 7754
Fax: +64 3 479 0964
Email:
wbowen@physics.otago.ac.nz
SUMMARY
Sensors capable of observing the behaviour and interactions of nano-sized molecules
such as molecular motors and DNA are one of the critical components required to
ensure rapid progress in the field of nanotechnology. This project aims to investigate
ultra-sensitive molecular detection techniques based on a revolutionary new form of
silicon chip based optical microcavity. These microcavities should allow real-time
sensing at a single molecule level, and are compatible with integrated circuits and
photonic systems. The unprecedented sensitivity of this system has the potential both to
provide insight into the dynamics of molecular processes, and to facilitate real world
applications.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 14
Title:
3D-plasmonic structures for ultra-sensitive spectroscopic applications
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Dr. P. G. Etchegoin
Full Address:
School of Chemical and Physical
Sciences
Victoria University of
Wellington
PO Box 600 Wellington
New Zealand
Telephone:
+64-04-463 5233 x8987
Fax: +64-04-463 5237
Email:
Pablo.Etchegoin@vuw.ac.nz
SUMMARY
Nanometre resolution optical imaging, optical detection of single molecules, and even
UV screening in modern sun creams, all exploit the unique optical properties of
metallic nanoparticles; properties which arise from electromagnetic interactions known
as plasmon resonances. The physics of nanometer sized metallic objects drives the
interface between optics and nanotechnology, a physics which is constantly challenged
by the goal of being able to control the collective properties of the plasmon resonances
either by a bottom-up approach -in which particles are brought together in specific
geometries- or through a top-down approach by exploiting the unlimited number of selforganised
assemblies these particles can display. Our proposal concerns a novel
approach of the second type, an exploitation of new routes to creating 3D arrays of
interlinked nanoparticles tuned to have desirable optical properties. In particular, these
properties will allow single molecule spectroscopy via surface enhanced Raman
scattering (SERS). SERS-active gels with tunable optical properties will be explored by
changing the chemical linkages among particles, thus producing an entirely new type of
material.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 15
Title:
Seeing Molecules at Interfaces with Laser Excitations.
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Full Address:
Dr A Bittar
MacDiarmid Institute & IRL
PoBox 31310
LOWER HUTT
Telephone: 04-9313731
Fax: 04-9313003
Email:
a.bittar@irl.cri.nz
SUMMARY
We propose to establish a capability unique in New Zealand to study molecules on
surfaces. The measurement technique is based on coherent laser two photon absorption
spectroscopy that is sensitive exclusively to single molecules or a monolayer on a
surface or an interface even though it may be completely surrounded by bulk material.
This extremely specific and powerful technique will allow us to gain substantial
understanding of molecules on metallic and semiconducting surfaces, immobilised
proteins and nucleic acids, and transport properties across membranes.
These have various applications in novel molecular electronics, solar energy
conversion, biology of cell membranes and dynamics of inorganic, organic and
biological processes which generally occur at interfaces.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 16
Title:
Surface-plasmon-based Nano-photonics
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Assoc Prof Richard Blaikie
Full Address:
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Telephone: (03) 364 3274
Fax: (03) 364 2761
Email:
r.blaikie@elec.canterbury.ac,nz
SUMMARY
Optical information storage and processing is limited by the wavelength, which is
hundreds of nanometers for visible light. One way to overcome this so-called
diffraction limit is to use surface plasmons, localised charge oscillations on a metal
surface that can have wavelengths down to a few nanometers. We will build on our
experience in the area by looking at ways of generating and manipulating surface
plasmons for the following potential applications: nanoscale patterning (lithography);
imaging of small numbers of molecules (or even single molecules); and generation of
new sources of light based on active plasmonic structures.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 17
Title:
Natural Nanophotonics
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Prof Ian Hodgkinson
Full Address:
Dept of Physics
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin
Telephone: 03 479 8712
Fax: 03 479 0964
Email:
ijh@physics.otago.ac.nz
SUMMARY
The objective natural nanophotonics introduces parallel studies of natural and
engineered optical nanostructures to the Institute. Initially our focus will be on materials
that are expected to form the backbone of a new handed optics. Many properties of
scarab beetles will be researched and the knowledge acquired used to improve the
properties of handed mirrors that we fabricate. In turn new properties of nanoengineered
handed mirrors, such as elliptically-polarized Bragg resonance, will lead to a search for
similar effects in nature. In the long term the objective will encourage our students to be
curious about and inspired by natural nanophotonics.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nanophotonics, nano-electronic and nano devices
OBJECTIVE 18
Title:
Controlling Molecular Emission with Photonic Crystals
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Dr. Mark Waterland
Full Address:
Institute of Fundamental Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North
Telephone: +64 6 350 5799 ext 3578
Fax: +64 6 350 4682
Email:
M.Waterland@massey.ac.nz
SUMMARY
This objective will focus on the use of photonic crystals to control the optical properties
of molecules that emit light. Photonic crystals are large three-dimensional ordered
arrays of silica nanoparticles. They possess alternating regions of high and low
refractive indices that can completely prevent the transmission of certain wavelengths of
light. Doping light-emitting molecules into the photonic crystal provides a new
paradigm for the control of molecular optical properties and for the generation of
nonlinear optical effects – all previous approaches manipulate the molecular properties
rather than the properties of the radiation field. There are a number of potential
applications including light-emitting diodes and microcavity lasers and optical sensors.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nanophotonics, Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 19
Title: Nanoelectronic Device Development
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Assoc Prof Richard Blaikie
Full Address:
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Telephone: (03) 364 3274
Fax: (03) 364 2761
Email:
r.blaikie@elec.canterbury.ac,nz
SUMMARY
Microelectronics has now become nanoelectronics, with modern devices having at least
two dimensions smaller than 100nm. The path forward for the continued scaling of
device dimensions is not clear, and there are many alternative nanoelectronic devices to
be explored. We will use our nanofabrication expertise to perform investigations of a
number of new devices, including quantised conductance atomic switches and the allmetal
transistors. These have been chosen due to their relative simplicity and
amenability to low-cost production.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 20
Title: Silicon Nanostructures for Vacuum Nanoelectronics
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title): Dr. Stuart Lansley Dr Andreas Markwitz
Full Address:
Dept. of Electrical & Computer GNS Science
Engineering
Institute of Geological and
Nuclear Sciences
University of Canterbury 30 Gracefield Road
Private Bag 4800
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Telephone: 03 364 2987 ext. 7267 04 570 4785
Fax: 03 364 2761 04 570 4657
Email: s.lansley@elec.canterbury.ac.nz a.markwitzWgns.cri.nz
SUMMARY
When placed in a strong electric field, electrons emerge from conducting solids and
result in the flow of electrical current. This phenomenon has been known to physicists
for almost a century, however, when we reduce the size of the conductor we observe
completely new and potentially valuable effects. For example, we observe individual
quantum levels within the conductor, akin to the orbitals of an atom. Our experimental
studies intend to study these intriguing effects, understand why they occur and to create
new electronic devices which can make use of these new phenomena.
The continued miniaturisation of microelectronic devices is facing some difficult
challenges, most significantly in identifying ways to efficiently and reliably build these
ultra-small devices. Our research will address this question. We will investigate the use
of fabrication techniques based on ion beam synthesis to produce nanometre-scale
semiconductor crystals. Although relatively unexplored, this method offers high
throughput, reproducibility and compatibility with current microfabrication technology
and is thus well placed to become a future technologically significant fabrication tool.
We will explore methods to control the size and position of these nanostructures and use
this control to fabricate nanostructures with electronic properties tailored for specific
applications.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 21
Title:
Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title): Dr Richard Tilley A/Prof Simon Brown
Full Address:
School of Chemical and Physical Dept of Physics
Sciences
Victoria University of
University of Canterbury
Wellington
PO Box 600 Wellington Private Bag 4800, Christchurch
New Zealand
New Zealand
Telephone: +64-04-463 5233 +64-3-364-2507
Fax: +64-04-463 5237 +64-3-364-2469
Email: Richard.Tilley@vuw.ac.nz Simon.Brown@canterbury.ac.nz
SUMMARY
Molecular electronics is the undoubted ultimate future of nanotechnology. The synthesis
of new designer molecules with specific functionality which are then built into
nanoelectronic devices with biochemical or medical applications perhaps best illustrates
the possibilities of nanotechnologies and the challenges. The possibilities – in keeping
with the spirit of nanotechnology – are that the combination of the skills and techniques
of physicists, chemists, electrical engineers, biologists and medical scientists are
combined in order to generate radically new and inventive technologies on the
nanoscale. The challenges relate to the obvious difficulties of working on the molecular
level and of combining the skills of individuals with very different backgrounds in
disparate fields of endeavour.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 22
Title:
Half Metal Thin Films and Superlattices: Nano-Structured Quantum Solids
for Spintronics
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Full Address:
Dr Ben Ruck
Victoria University of
Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 463
Fax: 64 4 463 5237
Email:
Ben.ruck@vuw.ac.nz
SUMMARY
Current electronic devices control the flow of electric charge, carried almost exclusively
by electrons in semiconductors, superconductors and conventional metals. There is
recognised potential in controlling also the flow of the electrons’ spin (i.e. magnetic
moment), in so-called spintronics devices. Some relatively simple devices, based on
conventional ferromagnetic metals, are already used in high-density magnetic
memories. Enormous improvements are promised if materials can be designed in which
the mobile electrons all have a common spin direction. This objective is focussed on
these fully polarised materials and their behaviour in the nanostructured form that will
be required for spintronic devices.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nanophotonics, Nanoelectronics and Nano-devices
OBJECTIVE 23
Title:
Metallic nanoclusters for novel optoelectronic applications
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Full Address:
Dr. John Kennedy
GNS Science
Institute of Geological and
Nuclear Sciences
30 Gracefield Road
Lower Hutt
Telephone: 04-570-4771
Fax: 04-570-4657
Email:
j.kennedy@gns.cri.nz
SUMMARY
For the future manufacturing industry, there is a significant requirement to find novel
nanomaterials and/or nanoparticles that have much superior properties to the materials
currently used to meet increasingly demanding market needs. We will investigate the
use of nanoclusters fabricated by low-energy ion implantation and electron beam
annealing which may have improved electrical and optical properties. One long
standing problem in the area of materials containing nanoclusters is to gain precise
control over the number, the size and the particle distributions. Ion beam synthesis
coupled with electron beam annealing opens an avenue to successfully tackle these
issues. Furthermore, nanoclusters formed by ion beam synthesis are quite durable since
they are protected from the surrounding environment, which a critical issue due to the
high reactivity of nanoparticles in general. We will explore the formation of magnetic
metallic nanoclusters to search for enhanced magnetic moment per atom and appearance
of ferromagnetism in non-magnetic materials.

MACDIARMID INSTITUTE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
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PROGRAMME:
Nano-photonics, nano-electronics and nanodevices
OBJECTIVE 24
Title:
Controlling Nanoparticle Structure
Contact Principal Investigator
Name (with title):
Dr Shaun Hendy
Full Address:
Industrial Research Ltd
PO Box 31-310
Gracefield Rd
Lower Hutt
Telephone: 64 4 931 3248
Fax: 64 4 931 3003
Email:
s.hendy@irl.cri.nz
SUMMARY
Nanoparticles are the building blocks of nanotechnology, and have found uses in
medicine, electronics, optics and catalysis. The properties of a nanoparticle depend
strongly on its structure, which in turn depends on a complex balance of kinetic factors
that arise during growth as well as the overall thermodynamics. Using classical and ab
initio molecular dynamics and high performance computing, we will develop models of
nanoparticle growth. We will investigate how growth conditions lead to different
structures and how functionalisation or annealing can be used to change the structure of
the nanoparticle.