| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K71431/01 |
| Title: |
NANOSCALE POLYMERISATION OF C60 |
| Principal Investigator: |
Palmer, Professor RE |
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| Department: |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 1995 |
Ends: |
31 March 1998 |
Value (£): |
59,712
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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It is also impossible to overstate the huge technological advances that could arise through further miniaturisation of today's devices, whose feature sizes are typically measured in tenths of microns. In an entirely new approach we intend to exploit the recent discovery of electron stimulated polymerisation of C60 to fabricate structures whose minimum feature sizes are, in theory, limited only by the diameter of the molecules themselves, 1nm. We propose to achieve nanometre scale polymerisation by irradiating a well characterised monolayer of C60 with low energy electrons from an STM. By optimising the polymerisation conditions we shall determine the minimum feature sizes that can be obtained. A recent report of superconductivity in alkali-doped C60 polymers also prompts us to propose studies of doped polymers with the STM. Electron spectroscopy studies of large area samples produced by electron beam and UV irradiation, are necessary to determine the device applications favoured by C60 polymer based nanostructures. We will investigate applications of C60 films as novel electron beam resists and of C60 polymer skins as protective coatings for nanoscale devices. The project marks a new collaboration with GEC-Marconi Materials Technology, and is strongly supported by the University (provision of purpose built STM laboratory and 6 months' postdoctoral support).
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |