5 August 2010
£850,000 grant could lead to faster computing and prettier jewellery
A University of Dundee researcher has been awarded almost £850,000 to investigate technology which could potentially be used in applications ranging from high-speed computing to contemporary jewellery design.
Dr Amin Abdolvand, from the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics at Dundee, has been awarded a five-year Career Acceleration Fellowship by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Worth £844,000, the Fellowship will see Dr Abdolvand investigate "metal-glass nanocomposites through nanoengineering to applications". The funding will pay for two PhD students to assist in the research as well as equipment, consumables and other expenses.
Metal-glass nanocomposites (MGNs) are glasses containing embedded metallic nanoparticles. Metal nanoparticles are the subject of intensive research efforts across the world due to the differences in the optical properties they exhibit compared to bulk metals.
Nano engineering refers to the modification of optical and structural properties of the MGNs using advanced laser and nanoprinting techniques.
For many centuries, the presence of metal nanoparticles in stained glass has been evident because of the unusual colour effects associated with them. The red and yellow colours of many medieval church windows originated from silver, gold and copper nanoparticles embedded in the window glass.
The physics of the processes remained a mystery until the 19th century physicist Michael Faraday discovered that this effect was due to a new type of optical absorption in metal particles with dimensions substantially less than the wavelength of light.
The Dundee team will fabricate, design and develop new MGNs for use in optoelectronics applications including, computer chip design, circuit technology and the creative industries. Dr Abdolvand says the research should hopefully help to produce optoelectronics for faster computing and high-capacity optical-data storage media.
'The research is based on the unusual optical behaviour of metallic nanoparticles such as their strong light absorption and scattering effects, wide spectral tunability and optical near-field properties,' he said.
'It is primarily motivated by a desire to access new applications in photonics and optoelectronics,' he explained. 'These results may lead to the integration of optical and electronic components at extremely small scales for optical computing.
'I believe that in addition to computer chip industries, a number of other manufacturers will ultimately benefit from the work such as manufacturers of optical data storage devices for security applications, optical sensing devices, and display technology as well as artists and manufacturers of contemporary jewellery.
'Artificially engineered materials provide properties, which may not be readily available in nature and metal nanoparticles are the subject of intensive research because they exhibit fascinating differences in their optical properties compared to bulk metals.
'We hope the research will lead to the integration of nanoscale optical and electronic components. This could have significant impact on the development of optical computing, which uses photons of light instead of electrons to increase processing speed.
They will also systematically investigate the entire range of parameters necessary to develop metamaterials by exploiting the generic functionalities of patterned metal-glass nanocomposites.
Dr Abdolvand continued, 'I hope to be able to generate internationally competitive work in several key areas. These research directions are addressing timely problems and will contribute to the UK's world standing. The research knowledge will be advanced for the benefit of the research community.
'The main beneficiaries will be academic scientists with a range of interests although the laser processing of glasses containing embedded metallic nanoparticles may result in new opportunities for the creative industries, such as contemporary jewellery design.
'Colleagues with engineering interests in optoelectronics may benefit from the fabrication of integrated metallic circuits as a step forward towards faster computing as well as from the fabrication of high capacity optical data storage media. Throughout the fellowship, we will also be looking to exploit the commercial potential of these applications.'
Dr Abdolvand and his team will look closely at the colour effects of metal nanoparticles when used for aesthetic purposes, in conjunction with colleagues from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, part of the University.
Notes to editors:
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing more than £850 million a year.
Find out more at www.epsrc.ac.uk.
More information about the University of Dundee’s School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/epm.
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