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"We are dedicated to exploring the physics & chemistry of nanoscale systems"
Once a semiconducting crystal is less than about 100Å in diameter, its optical, electronic and fluorescent properties begin to change. In this size regime, the properties lie between those of a molecule and those of the bulk crystal. In this size regime, we can build designer crystals with tunable colours and brilliant variable luminescence from UV to NIR. The changes occur because the energy levels are those of a particle in a box, i.e., the electronic energy levels are quantised in three dimensions – hence the name quantum dots or QDs. QDs are the building blocks for future developments in nanostructured materials. Potential applications include electroluminescence, LEDs, waveguides and tunable lasers, biochemical markers, photonic crystals and nanomechanics.
In addition to our work on nanocrystals, we are also developing microcantilever based sensors in collaboration with Dr John Sader in Applied Maths. This work forms the basis for determining the spring constants and material properties of cantilevers in atomic force microscopes, and is used by AFM manufacturers worldwide.
The dream in nanoscience is to work with single nanocrystals and nanocantilevers and begin examining how to manipulate and exploit nanoscale objects, as well as to understand fundamental quantum size effects.
The Nanoparticle group moved into the state-of-the-art laboratories, in the new Bio21 Institute, early 2007. The new facilities are a $2.5m investment by The University of Melbourne. The laboratories are located adjacent to the new $8m Melbourne Microscopy Facility which includes FEGTEM, ESEM, FIB and cryo FEGTEM instruments. See Research for more details.
New Scholarships and Research Projects for 2009!
QUANTUM DOT BASED CHEMICAL SENSORS
FRET BASED QUANTUM DOT BIO-SENSORS
Honours position also available in the field of Nanodevices. Click here for further information.
Overseas PhD Candidates may apply for University of Melbourne Scholarships. Click here for further information.
Current Research Themes
Synthesis of Novel Materials and Quantum Dots
Biolabelling with Quantum Dots
Links:
Click here to go to NSL People
Click here to see a list of our recent publications
Click here to visit the website for the School of Chemistry at The University of Melbourne
Click here to visit the Bio21 Institute website
External Roles
- Editorial Roles
Prof Paul Mulvaney is currently serving as a member of the editorial boards of PCCP (Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics), the Journal of Materials Chemistry, Small, Advanced Functional Materials (AFM), Langmuir and NanoToday.
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