MMFI ENews August 2022

As this year brings about new opportunities and challenges for all academics and researchers at the University, MMFI continues to deliver on our commitments by building new relationships and adapting to the shifting circumstances with a clear focus. I look forward to another year of success, innovation, and resilience.

Kind regards,
Professor Sean Li
Director of MMFI

MMFI is proud to have been recognised in the world's leading multidisciplinary science journal, Nature. In a world-first, researchers at the UNSW Materials and Manufacturing Futures Institute fabricated an array of transparent field-effect transistors using a freestanding single-crystal strontium titanate (STO) membrane, with performance matching those of the current silicon-semiconductor field-effect transistors. The paper demonstrates the potential for large-scale fabrication of the 2D field-effect transistors, overcoming the challenges of nanoscale silicon semiconductor production and delivering dependable capacitance and efficient switching behaviour. The paper, 'High-κ perovskite membranes as insulators for two-dimensional transistors', was published in Nature on the 11^th of May 2022.

UNSW Newsroom also published a story on MMFI's transistors on the 3rd of August, which is available here.

MMFI has been working in collaboration with local healthcare start-up Bheem Home and Health to develop BheemSense, a novel piezoresistive flexible sensor material capable of performing actimetry to determine the movement (and heart/breath rates) of users through ballistocardiography.

MMFI is providing expertise in design, prototyping, production-line manufacturing and product testing to assist with the development of this intricate hardware. MMFI will also assist with developing the algorithms used to monitor in-breath rates, pressure sores, falls and coughing, providing crucial support in diverse real-world scenarios. MMFI’s Roll-to-Roll printer is the only facility in Australia that can manufacture large-scale multilayer flexible sensors with dimensions of 180 x 48cm as required by BheemSense. MMFI will continue to work with Bheemhealth on designing and refining the printed functional materials and circuitry, followed by testing the current hardware manufacturing technology by producing 100 sample units. The developed sensor's application can also be produced in larger sizes and capacity, for example, to be used as a pressure sensing flooring solution to support the monitoring of social distancing in retail or indoor environments.

The Bheemhealth project commenced in March 2022. A total investment of $100k investment from the Government and Bheemhealth will assist to accelerate the commercialisation of these products.

On the 19^th of January, MMFI’s facilities were visited by The Hon. Alister Andrew Henskens SC MP, Minister for Skills and Training and Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, alongside the current NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte. The visit was requested by the Office of the Chief Scientist to demonstrate research infrastructure in NSW in the wake of last year's National Research Infrastructure roadmap. The visit spotlighted UNSW’s expertise across the following facilities and areas:

• UNSW’s Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computing and Communication Technology (CQC²T)
• The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF)
• Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC)
• MMFI’s thin film printing facilities

As the first formal engagement for MMFI with Minister Henskens in this role, it was a good opportunity to share a high-level overview of MMFI, focusing on our research expertise and our ability to contribute to NSW’s investment and innovation priorities.

A short video featuring the visit to MMFI's facilities was shared by Minister Henskens's Twitter, and is viewable here.

2022 Seed Projects

The next round of seed funding has been postponed to early 2023. To hear about the new round of applications, watch this space!

MMFI has allocated Seed Funding to six seed projects that commenced in September 2021. Three 2020 seed fund projects also had their funding extended.

Do you have something to share?

Have you had a recent success? Do you have something you want to share with the MMFI team? We want to hear from you!

Please contact us directly with any feedback or news items at mmfutures@unsw.edu.au