Atomic blueprint device: a winner
Dr Peter Liddicoat, a recipient of AMP Tomorrow funds and PhD graduate of Materials Engineering, has developed a new microscope that can unravel the 'DNA' of inorganic materials.聽
The Atom Microscope by Projection is capable of imaging atoms in 3D, providing a 100x resolution improvement.聽 This innovative research led to Atomnaut, a startup company to bring the new microscope to the world.聽聽
Hidden in this atomic data are the answers for how to engineer longer-lasting batteries, quantum computing chips, improved solar cells or even higher-temperature superconductivity
Finding a way to explore the world鈥檚 materials one atom at a time has secured a University of Sydney graduate support from the AMP鈥檚 Tomorrow Fund, the AMP Foundation鈥檚 annual $1 million grants program.
Dr Peter Liddicoat, recipient of the funding and PhD graduate of , has developed a new microscope that can unravel the 鈥楧NA鈥� of inorganic materials.
鈥淔or the first time, we can measure the position and identity of every atom for millions of atoms at a time.鈥�
Developing a new material for cars, planes or electronics takes decades and billions of dollars.聽 Dr Liddicoat鈥檚 new Atom Microscope by Projection will assist in unlocking powerful computer design methods with the potential to reduce costs by a factor of 10 or more.
Dr Liddicoat developed the Atom Microscope by Projection to help solve the problem of missing data.聽 Knowing a material鈥檚 complete atomic structure has recently been dubbed materials 鈥榞enome鈥� or 鈥楧NA鈥�.
鈥淗idden in this atomic data are the answers for how to engineer longer-lasting batteries, quantum computing chips, improved solar cells or even higher-temperature superconductivity,鈥� he says.
鈥淟ike human DNA, we will be able to read the atomic blueprint for a material, decode it, then redesign it.鈥�
, Dean of the Faculty of , congratulated Dr Liddicoat.
鈥淲e have been delighted to be able to support Peter鈥檚 endeavours over the past 18 months through our Sydney Accelerator Network SAN-IT program,鈥� he says.
鈥淪AN-IT provides a platform for students, graduates, academics and industry practitioners to collaborate and come up with innovative solutions to challenging problems, and to pursue opportunities for creating new products and services.
鈥淓quipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the accelerator provides a conducive environment for experimenting with innovative ideas and developing and testing prototype solutions,鈥� Professor Johnston says.