About the Project
This PhD project will explore laser inscription to control deposition and structuring of Graphene:
1. On non-standard optical substrates such as polymers and composites.
2. As a one-step “green” and chemical-free ambient laser process, replacing high temperature annealing, clean room or gas controlled atmospheres, lithography or post processing to remove metal substrates.
Motivation
1. To inscribe Graphene coatings onto transparent polymers, in which we have a track record of laser inscription of photonic and conducting structures, for which the normal high temperature methods of Graphene processing are inappropriate.
2. Incorporation of Graphene Oxide and Graphite into polymer composites and processing it reducing it to Graphene in 3D using laser inscription.
3. Creating porous Graphene structures within flexible polymers.
4. Using Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) for laser thinning enabling removal of graphene layers from multi-layered graphene
Applications
1. Chemical and biological photonic or SERS sensors.
Graphene can be functionalised for highly specific and sensitive (as low as 10 nM) detection to a range of biological and/or gas molecules for healthcare and environmental applications and as a chemically specific membrane. Graphene acts as a sensitisation layer or pre-concentrator with improved reactivity over photonic surfaces, amplifying its response as a sensor. Coating Graphene onto or incorporating into dielectrics containing metal nanoparticles generates a new class of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy SERS substrate by maximising sensitivity and specificity to surface adsorbed molecules, by enhanced charge transfer from graphene to the adsorbate, caused an enhanced SERS signal and quenching of background fluorescence
2. Pressure or strain sensors for distributed sensing for healthcare and structural monitoring.
Track record.
P.J.Scully (PJS) is currently a Senior Lecturer in Sensor Instrumentation in CEAS. Research area includes photonic sensors and optical Instrumentation, including femtosecond laser writing of photonic structures and chemically sensitive optical coatings for polymers.
The research group has a track record in distributed, real-time sensing, using advanced electronics, data mining and classification, developed for healthcare applications and using optical fibre sensor arrays (magic carpet or iMagiMat (www.imagimat.co.uk)). Within on-going projects in health and e-agri, we are developing pattern recognition, tomography and sensor fusion techniques to extract detailed information from subtle changes and predict future events.
Funding Notes
Self-funded students and students who are able to secure funding from external sources such as CONACyT are welcome to apply
Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equiv) in a relevant subject area including physics, material science, or engineering.
References
Dorin, B, Zhu, G, Parkinson, P, Perrie, W, Benyezzar, M & Scully, P 2016, 'Characterization of a silica-PVA hybrid for high density and stable silver dissolution' Materials Chemistry and Physics., 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2016.03.022
Scully, P & Perrie, W 2015, 'Optical components deep inside transparent plastics.' SPIE Newroom., DOI: 10.1117/2.1201505.005927
Scully, P, Baum, A, Perrie, W, Osellame, R (ed.), Cerullo, G (ed.) & Ramponi, R (ed.) 2011, 'Refractive index structures in polymers'. in Topics in Applied Physics: Femtosecond laser micromachining: photonic and microfluidic devices in transparent materials. 1 edn, vol. 123, Topics in Applied Physics, vol. 123, Springer.