Title of Research Group: Applied Physics Research Group
Principal Investigator: Prof. Igor V. Shvets
Institution: Trinity College Dublin
School: School of Physics
Research: The Applied Physics Research Group has a broad range of interests within the area of Materials Science, spanning the fundamental to the commercial. As part of this we study the bulk and surface electronic properties of a wide range of oxide materials with applications in solar cells, magnetic and phase change RAM, as well as displays. The techniques available at synchrotrons crucially enable us to link material performance to fundamental properties of the material, or the materials surface. This helps us in optimising the material, improving the understanding of existing materials, but also designing new materials for these applications.
Techniques: XAS/NEXAFS, XMCD, XPS, XES, RVBPES
Facilities: MAXIV
Beamlines: D1011
Group (as of 2015): 11 PhD, 6 PostDoc
Participating group members at SR/FEL/neutron facilities (period 2008-2014): 1 Ph.D and 3 PostDoc
Emma Norton, PhD student: XPS, XAS, RVBPES of p-type transparent conducting oxides (http://physics.tcd.ie/applied-physics/people/norton/)
Dr. Olaf Lübben: XMCD of Fe nanoclusters,
Dr. Karsten Fleischer: XPS, XAS, RVBPES of p-type transparent conducting oxides, XMCD of magnetic oxides (http://physics.tcd.ie/applied-physics/people/fleischer/)
Impact: The results from our studies at MAXLAB has helped us to understand one of the p-type transparent conducting oxides significantly better as it gave us insights to the material composition and order not possible with standard laboratory based measurements. These information were crucial not only in understanding the material but also on focussing onto weaknesses and limitations caused by the synthesis of the oxide. Applying this knowledge lead to a recent discovery of a new p-type transparent oxide with record breaking performance for a low temperature processed material.
Publication Highlights:
Effect of Chemical Precursors On the Optical and Electrical Properties of p-Type Transparent Conducting Cr2O3:(Mg,N), J. Phys. Chem. C 117, p21901 (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp404230k
Spray pyrolysis growth of a high figure of merit, nano-crystalline, p-type transparent conducting material at low temperature, Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 031901 (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4927241
Self-assembly of Fe nanocluster arrays on templated surfaces, J. Appl. Phys. 111, 2012, 07B515, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3676207
