Nanotechnology Research Laboratories

The university's Institute for Nanoscale Technology has two major research programs, applying Nanotechnology to the areas of Biomedical Nano-materials and Devices and to Energy Efficient Nano-materials and Devices.

The group's research enables nanodevices and integrated systems with ultralow energy consumption, minimising all the parasitic energy (electrical, thermal, mechanical) losses which make devices power-hungry and less performant. Low energy consumption needs to be complemented with efficient energy storage and an appropriate system design. Nanomaterials like graphene and novel 2D materials are key enablers.

This program investigates the basic theory and applications of nanotechnology in the biological and chemical sciences, in physics and in engineering science. One of these four streams is completed at Levels 2 and 3, with a major project unit in nanotechnology at Level 3.

Medical Nanotechnology is the application of the methods and techniques of Nanotechnology to medical and health areas. The student may also choose to specialise in Nanophysics or Nanochemistry opening up alternative career paths in industry (biotechnology, pharmaceutical, health, defence, chemical, petroleum, materials and engineering).

This research theme encompasses applications to nanotechnology with particular emphasis on medical nanotechnology, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for characterising molecular dynamics.

The research objectives of the group are to develop novel experimental (especially NMR-based) techniques and theoretical models for studying molecular association, organisation and dynamics.

Aiming to explore the science of nanomaterials having an electron or charge transfer functionality; to prepare such nanomaterials, study and develop theories for their behaviour, and exploit these new behaviours in useful applications.

The Bachelor of Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary degree which is jointly offered by the Faculties of Engineering and Science. The degree targets the emerging field of nano-materials, molecular machines and nano-science. The course draws on major research strengths at UOW including: the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, the BlueScope Steel Metallurgy Centre and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science.

The thrust of the institute's activities to date has been to develop more processable Inherently Conducting Polymers and to integrate these functional materials with other host structures with desirable mechanical properties.