Present Research Interests

Research

​​Micro Power Generation

​Power conversion for Microsystems

Nanostructured magnetic materials

Micro-Nano Technologies/Devices; Advanced Materials; Micropower Systems; Nanomagnetics
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• Energy Harvesting - Novel designs, modelling and fabrication of meso-micro-nano scale

energy harvesters for powering tiny wireless sensor nodes in ‘IoT’ devices

• Energy Conversion - High frequency nanostructured materials and batch fabrication

processes for micro-transformers/micro-inductors for power supply on chip

• Nanocomposite/Thin-film spintronic devices –Nano-structured magnetic/ multiferroic/

magnetoelectric multi-layered stacks for energy harvesters/sensors/next generation antennae

• Polymer electronics – Self aligned nano-imprint lithography for fabrication of thin film

transistors (TFT) on a flexible substrate

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Key research areas/expertise: Spearheaded major R&D program on MEMS Energy harvesting
devices, Integrated passives, Microelectronic Devices, Micro-nano-magnetics, Spintronics, Thin
films, MEMS/NEMS, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Condensed matter physics.

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With the trends towards system integration and miniaturisation, there is a need to carefully consider the means by which such systems can be efficiently powered. Examples of such systems include wireless sensor nodes where, for extension of lifetime and efficiency, the use of energy is critical and portable electronic products where miniaturisation and improved efficiency are also important considerations. The research activity of the Micropower - Nanomagnetics Group is concerned with the provision of power to Microsystems. 

Advanced Magnetic Characterization Laboratory

Magnetic characterisation is vital to the material development process, to determine the ways in which various material processing techniques translate into material properties.  High-frequency materials require a particularly detailed measurement to analyze their behaviour at the necessary operation frequencies.  To fully characterise a material, a number of measurements must be performed in conjunction to determine not only the magnetization parameters for a material but the loss in the material as well.

The advanced magnetic characterisation lab at Tyndall National Institute was developed from 2006 to study the properties of magnetic thin-films for a number of projects.  High-precision hysteresis and magnetization measurement is performed with a SQUID Magnetometer, capable of determining the magnetization of a sample across a wide temperature range.  Real-time magnetization and resistivity measurement is additionally carried out by a SHB MESA Hysteresis Tracer.  High-frequency complex permeability data is measured with a Ryowa Electronics PMM-9G1 Permeameter, the second such device to be installed worldwide.