The Nanoelectronics Group

We have a number of interests within the broader topic of the physics of nanoscale electronic devices and condensed matter physics. Our current focus is in three areas:

1. The development of novel electronic devices based on self-assembled semiconductor nanowires made with III-V semiconductors such as InAs and GaAs. We are particularly interested in quantum transport effects and how the strong spin-orbit coupling experienced by electrons in InAs and holes in GaAs might be used to make spintronic devices. This work involves collaborations with Lund University in Sweden and the Australian National University.

2. Ballistic transport of electrons and holes in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures and how this is influenced by spin-orbit coupling effects. This work involves collaborations with Massey University in New Zealand and Ruhr Universitat Bochum in Germany.

3. The electronic properties of organic materials including conductive plastic films made by ion-beam techniques, and soluble acene derivatives. This work involves collaborations with the University of Queensland and the University of Kentucky.

The Nanoelectronics group is an off-shoot of the Quantum Electronic Devices group at UNSW, being established in Nov 2010.

Recent Publications

    "Realizing lateral wrap-gated nanowire FETs: Controlling gate length with chemistry rather than lithography", K. Storm, G. Nylund, L. Samuelson and A.P. Micolich, Nano Letters 12, 1 (2012).
    This paper is the cover article for the Jan. 2012 edition of Nano Letters
    This paper was highlighted by news articles in Materials Today, PhysOrg and Zeitnews.

  • "What lurks below the last plateau: experimental studies of the 0.7 x 2e2/h conductance anomaly in one-dimensional systems", A.P. Micolich, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23, 443201 (2011).
    This paper is a 73 page review article on the 15 year history of the 0.7 plateau in quantum point contacts.

  • * "Observation of the Kondo Effect in a Spin-3/2 Hole Quantum Dot", O. Klochan, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, K. Trunov, D. Reuter and A.D. Wieck, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 076805 (2011).

  • "Tracking the energies of one-dimensional sub-band edges in quantum point contacts using dc conductance measurements", A.P. Micolich and U. Zülicke, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23, 362201 (2011).

  • "A Tunable Metal-Organic Resistance Thermometer", A.P. Stephenson, A.P. Micolich, K.H. Lee, P. Meredith and B.J. Powell,Chem. Phys. Chem. 12, 116 (2010).
    This Communication was highlighted by news articles in Materials Today, Wired, PhysOrg, TCE Today, and Chemistry Views.
    This Communication made Chem.Phys.Chem.'s list of 25 most downloaded papers for 2011.

  • * "Electrometry using the quantum Hall effect in a bilayer 2D electron system", L.H. Ho, L.J. Taskinen, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, P. Atkinson and D.A. Ritchie, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 212102 (2010).

  • * "AlGaAs/GaAs single electron transistors fabricated without modulation doping", A.M. See, O. Klochan, A.R. Hamilton, A.P. Micolich, M. Aagesen and P.E. Lindelof, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 112104 (2010).

  • * "Fabrication and characterization of an induced GaAs single hole transistor", O. Klochan, J.C.H. Chen, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, K. Muraki and Y. Hirayama, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 092103 (2010).

  • "Competition between superconductivity and weak localization in metal-mixed ion-implanted polymers", A.P. Stephenson, A.P. Micolich, U. Divakar, P. Meredith and B.J. Powell, Phys. Rev. B 81, 144520 (2010).

  • * "Field orientation dependence of the Zeeman spin-splitting in (In,Ga)As quantum point contacts", T.P. Martin, A. Szorkovszky, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, C.A. Marlow, R.P. Taylor, H. Linke and H.Q. Xu, Phys. Rev. B 81, 041403 (2010).

  • "Superconductivity in metal-mixed ion-implanted polymer films", A.P. Micolich, E. Tavenner, B.J. Powell, A.R. Hamilton, M.T. Curry, R.E. Giedd and P. Meredith, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 152503 (2006).

* indicates papers completed in close association with Quantum Electronic Devices group