Ben Mashford

PhD student in Nanocrystal group (2006 - )
University of Melbourne School of Chemistry
Supervisor: Paul Mulvaney

Contact Details

b.mashford@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
ph: 03 8344 6490 (office)

Higher Education

2005 Honours in Materials Science
Monash University, Melbourne

2003 Bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Physics)
RMIT University, Melbourne

Current Research Interests

Nanoscale material synthesis and physical measurement
Fabrication of electronic and optical devices incorporating nanocrystals
Solid state physics
Optical and electron microscopy

Previously Completed Research Projects

A New Method for Imaging Stacking Faults
& Surface Steps in STEM
Honours thesis, Monash, 2005

This project investigated the use of advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to reveal surface steps and embedded stacking fault defects in crystalline silicon.

Multislice calculations provided simulated diffraction patterns containing contrast resulting from different defect features and crystal orientations. The resulting patterns were analysed as a basis for specialised detector geometries that are sensitive to intensity related to the defect under observation.

Ab initio modelling of nanodiamonds
Third-year project, Applied Physics RMIT, 2003

The aim of this research project was to perform ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of various nanocrystalline diamond structures and compare with results of studies made with a different simulation technique.

Beginning with different sized models (with 28, 29 or 35 carbon atoms) of a cleaved diamond lattice structure, simulations showed the C₂₉ structure to relax to a fullerene, the C₃₅ to partially transform into a fullerene, and the C₂₈ to relax into a more irregular shape. The expulsion of the 4 atoms from C₂₈ is a new result and is thought to be something that is only observable with a full MD simulation.

Ben Mashford PhD student in Nanocrystal group (2006 - ) University of Melbourne School of Chemistry Supervisor: Paul Mulvaney Contact Details b.mashford@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au ph: 03 8344 6490 (office) Higher Education 2005 Honours in Materials Science Monash University, Melbourne 2003 Bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Physics) RMIT University, Melbourne Current Research Interests Nanoscale material synthesis and physical measurement Fabrication of electronic and optical devices incorporating nanocrystals Solid state physics Optical and electron microscopy
Previously Completed Research Projects
A New Method for Imaging Stacking Faults & Surface Steps in STEM Honours thesis, Monash, 2005 This project investigated the use of advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to reveal surface steps and embedded stacking fault defects in crystalline silicon. Multislice calculations provided simulated diffraction patterns containing contrast resulting from different defect features and crystal orientations. The resulting patterns were analysed as a basis for specialised detector geometries that are sensitive to intensity related to the defect under observation.

Ab initio modelling of nanodiamonds Third-year project, Applied Physics RMIT, 2003 The aim of this research project was to perform ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of various nanocrystalline diamond structures and compare with results of studies made with a different simulation technique. Beginning with different sized models (with 28, 29 or 35 carbon atoms) of a cleaved diamond lattice structure, simulations showed the C₂₉ structure to relax to a fullerene, the C₃₅ to partially transform into a fullerene, and the C₂₈ to relax into a more irregular shape. The expulsion of the 4 atoms from C₂₈ is a new result and is thought to be something that is only observable with a full MD simulation.