Applying too much strain to everyday objects is usually considered a bad idea, since it leads to breakages. However, in the nanoscale world, the application of strain to materials can be highly beneficial. For instance, applying strain to silicon results in smaller transistors with high electron mobility, and also enables more efficient solar cells. This strategy for enhancing the performance of materials is called strain engineering. Unfortunately, for nanotechnology researchers, there is no nanoscale equivalent of a torque wrench, a tool that allows a specific amount of strain to be applied to an object. Indeed, there are only a limited number of methods that allow the application of controlled quantities of strain. This small toolbox of techniques reduces the number of materials, and the type of device applications, in which strain engineering can be applied.
We are proposing a new universal tool for strain engineering, which can generate a well-defined amount of strain in a particular area, for a specific amount of time. The tool uses light beams which have an inherent sense of twist - a property called chirality - which can apply torque to matter through the exchange of optical angular momentum. We call this concept OPTAMO (OPTical Angular Momentum For Reconfigurable Material PrOperties). In contrast to established paradigms of strain engineering it is a universal tool that is applicable to a broad range of materials. Simplistically, the OPTAMO concept will provide researchers with an optical torque wrench to manipulate nanomaterials. To demonstrate the potential transformative impact of OPTAMO, we will build electronic devices that showcase its unique capabilities.
Requires a 1st or 2:1 degree in Chemistry, Physics or Engineering.
How to Apply: Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/.
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