- Date:
- 2008-
- Theme:
- Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-chip
- Funding:
- EPSRC
As the oceans play a crucial role in the future of our civilization (natural resource, climate regulationââ¬Â¦), it is important to build very accurate model to predict their evolution. One important part of this model is to know our impact on the environment such as the pollution which can be assessed by knowing the different populations of phytoplankton or algae at different depths. Currently the only solution available on a large scale is to obtain water samples for laboratory analysis which induce many issues of cost, contamination, sample degradation, and poor sample frequency in both space and time. However, if an integrated and small flow cytometer system could be realized, platforms such as Argo floats, AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicle) or gliders could be used to bring the system at different depths and to obtain in-situ measurements. Thus, this part of the project has as an aim to develop an integrated flow-cytometer on chip for in situ particle counting and sampling. The targeted species are phytoplankton with a size in the 2 to 50 õm range. The detection of the different species is realized by measuring the fluorescence and the scattered light of the particles when they are illuminated by a laser in the visible wavelength range. As each particle can have different fluorescence properties and as the scattered light is proportionnal to the size (for small angle) and to the granularity/shape of the particles (big angle), we are able to distinguish them.
Primary investigators
- Hywel Morgan
- Dr Matt Mowlem
- db4
- rz08r
Partner
- National Oceanography Centre (Sensors group)
Associated research group
- Nano Research Group
This project is to investigate an efficient modelling, fabrication and characterisation technique to realise a multifunctional integrated nanosystems for nanoelectronic and nanophotonic applications. A rigorous numerical modelling approach based on finite difference time domain method will be explored to simulate the semiconductor nanowire structures. Different semiconductor material (e.g. silicon and zinc oxide) will be investigated and assesed for its suitability for light guiding, absorption and non-linear effect for potential slow light application in optical communication and quantum opticical switching. The nanowire structure will be fabricated using bottom-up approach under different growth conditions to achieve the optimum structural and geometrical features. The photonic and electrical nanowire characterisation will be based on near field optical microscopy, broadband laser spectroscopy and dc semiconductor parametric analyser.
Primary investigators
- Ehsan Jaberansary
- Harold M H Chong
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Theme:
- Nanophotonics and Biomimetics
- Funding:
- Adventure in Research Grant
Current integrated nano-systems are inflexible due to bulky interfaces, with discrete circuit blocks thus robbing the system of portability. In this research, I propose a nano-device that could be applied to different research disciplines through performing sub task. This would be an extremely attractive concept, as it would enhance the adoption of new nanotechnologies by industry. This system will be small and readily portable and could be used in the field as well as in the laboratory for analysis purposes. This research proposal is aimed at a proof-of-concept study of utilising a novel nano resonant cavity based on photonic crystal and photonic wire technology that will eventually evolve into a monolithic nanoscale integrated ââ¬Ëplug-and-playââ¬â¢ component for a variety of interdisciplinary systems. Applications would include bio-environmental-sensing, optical chip interconnects for a multidimensional nanophotonic-electronic integrated circuit board, light extraction unit, photon-assisted bio-medicine and imaging.
Primary investigator
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Funding:
- Adventure in Research Grant
Current integrated nano-systems are inflexible due to bulky interfaces, with discrete circuit blocks thus robbing the system of portability. In this research, I propose a nano-device that could be applied to different research disciplines through performing sub task. This would be an extremely attractive concept, as it would enhance the adoption of new nanotechnologies by industry. This system will be small and readily portable and could be used in the field as well as in the laboratory for analysis purposes. This research proposal is aimed at a proof-of-concept study of utilising a novel nano resonant cavity based on photonic crystal and photonic wire technology that will eventually evolve into a monolithic nanoscale integrated ââ¬Ëplug-and-playââ¬â¢ component for a variety of interdisciplinary systems. Applications would include bio-environmental-sensing, optical chip interconnects for a multidimensional nanophotonic-electronic integrated circuit board, light extraction unit, photon-assisted bio-medicine and imaging.
Primary investigator
- Harold M H Chong
- Date:
- 2008-2011
- Theme:
- Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-chip
- Funding:
- ORS
The oceans cover almost 75% of the planet and affect the lives of every plant and animal on earth. With global climate changing rapidly, the importance of studying the oceans has increased dramatically since they play a crucial role in global climate regulation. A Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) sensor is the primary tool for determining the physical properties of sea water. This project will present a conductivity sensor based on a 7-electrode cell, and a temperature sensor based on a platinum resistor bridge. Whilst, an impendence measurement system will also be present for collecting and storing the data form the CT sensor.
Primary investigators
- Hywel Morgan
- Dr. Matt Mowlem
Secondary investigator
- xh08r
Associated research group
- Nano Research Group
- Date:
- 2006-2009
- Theme:
- System design and RF
- Funding:
- Department
In this project, the spectrum monitor for cognitive radio is explored. The main challenge of the cognitive radio application is to draw a spectrum map covering a wide range of frequency fast and accurate enough while consuming lower power and keeping lower cost compared with main transceiver circuits, hence a unique receiver (spectrum monitor) must be designed. In this project, the target frequency range covers from 2GHz to 5GHz, which is a potential band for the cognitive radio, and the sensitivity/frequency resolution is to set to -80dBm/200kHz for strong signal detection of most communication systems.
To design such a RF system from system level, a novel method involving the concept of figure of merit is adopted to find a proper solution to balance different aspects of the receiver, including the performance, the power and the cost. By analysing the theory and the statistics collection for key blocks in RF system through years, this method can provide a general guide of trade-off between the power consumption and performance of receiver for the following several years and the trade-off among the performance.
Because of its unique application, some of the key blocks of the spectrum monitor are different from those in popular receivers. the low cost and high integration requirement prompt the design of a lumped element on chip passive band pass filter for IF selection. And a ring oscillator based digital tuning integer frequency synthesizer is designed to fulfill the wide tunig range and the low cost specifications. These components are designed on the 130nm standard digital CMOS technology to keep the lowest cost for portable devices.
The entire spectrum monitor system design involves the specially designed blocks(PLL, BPF) in circuit level simulations, fabrication and measurements as well as the collected existing blocks(such as wideband LNA, high linearity mixer, the base band low pass filter and ADC) since these components are more conventional. The trade-off and evaluation of the receiver solutions will be provided and analyzed.
Primary investigator
Associated research group
- Nano Research Group
- Theme:
- MEMs and NEMs
- Funding:
- EPSRC
The aim of this project is to levitate and manipulate micromachined objects of various sizes and shapes using electrostatic fields. The project is part of a multidisciplinary EPSRC project that aims to develop new laser ion sources. Recent experiments have demonstrated that high-power laser irradiation of micro-targets generates intense, high-energy beams of protons, ions, neutrons, electrons, gamma, and x-rays. This process requires micro-targets to be suspended without physical means of attachment, because such supports are known to perturb the ion-beam production mechanism and generate unnecessary debris. To achieve the vision of a target delivery system using micromachining technology, micromachined objects (material silicon) are levitated by electrodes against the force of gravity. This is achieved by rapidly applying pulses of voltages of constant amplitude to the levitation electrodes, depending on whether the disk has been displaced in positive or negative z-direction. A voltage of 10V is sufficient for a disk with diameter between 30-100 um. The same electrodes can capacitively measure in which direction the disk has been displaced, and then energise electrode so that a counterbalancing force is actuated on the disk. Other application areas of such a system are micromachined gyroscopes and accelerometers with levitated proof mass, RF systems, and electrostatic switches and actuators.
Primary investigators
- mk1
- is2
- clc06r
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Date:
- 2007-
- Themes:
- Nanophotonics and Biomimetics, Nanoelectronics
Inspired by nature's highly - evolved technique of producing antireflection in the eyes and wings of some species of moth, densely-packed pillars with heights and spacings of approximately 200 nm are created for use in solar cells. The effective refractive index gratings that are produced allow for broad range of wavelengths and angles of incidence to be antireflected efficiently. We are investigating ways to produce high quality antireflection layers on silicon using nanosphere lithography, a cheap, large-area and massively parallel self-assembly method.
Primary investigators
- pjs05r
- Darren Bagnall
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Date:
- 2006-2009
- Theme:
- Nanophotonics and Biomimetics
- Funding:
- Department
Planar waveguides are different from photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) in that planar waveguides require high nonlinear coefficient core material for achieving the desired nonlinear effects within a short distance of propagation. The most significant advantage of planar waveguides is their capability of integration with other components to constitute a building block in integrated optical circuits. The goal of this project is to design the planar waveguides with different geometries, including rib, ridge, taper, and photonic crystals, to achieve low cost on chip nonlinear devices that are capable to perform high efficiency nonlinear processes such as optical parametric amplification, supercontinuum generation (SCG), and etc.
Primary investigators
- Martin Charlton
- Pavlos Lagoudakis
- rc05r
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Date:
- 2006-2010
- Theme:
- Nanophotonics and Biomimetics
- Funding:
- Department
Planar waveguides are different from photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) in that planar waveguides require high nonlinear coefficient core material for achieving the desired nonlinear effects within a short distance of propagation. The most significant advantage of planar waveguides is their capability of integration with other components to constitute a building block in integrated optical circuits. The goal of this project is to design the planar waveguides with different geometries, including rib, ridge, taper, and photonic crystals, to achieve low cost on chip nonlinear devices that are capable to perform high efficiency nonlinear processes such as optical parametric amplification, supercontinuum generation (SCG), and etc.
Primary investigators
- Martin Charlton
- Pavlos Lagoudakis
- rc05r
Associated research groups
- Nano Research Group
- Southampton Nanofabrication Centre