Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R45130/01
Title:	Analysis and Detection of Emission during Phase Transitions ADEPT
Principal Investigator:	Townsend, Professor P
Other Investigators:	Terrones, Dr M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Sch of Engineering and Design
Organisation:	University of Sussex
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 July 2001	Ends:	30 June 2002	Value (£):	51,263
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Luminescence methods are proving very effective in the studies of phase transitions in insulating optical materials. Not only can they detect bulk host transitions but they respond well to changes caused by phase switching of trapped gases, solvents and nanoparticles.The method is being pioneered at Sussex and the current aims are to investigate phase transitions in materials of interest for photonics, particularly where specific phases are crucial for non-linear effects. In parallel with this is assessment of sample quality where it is degraded by trapped impurities or surface solvents, precipitates etc. Initial data suggest phase changes in the solvents are reflected in the emission spectra and discontinuities in intensity. Thus one objective is to try to quantify and exploit these responses for highly sensitive non-destructive analysis of impurities, such as C02, which are normally difficult to detect. Overall improvements and a wider data base of types of response for the various means of luminescence excitation offer the possibility to rapidly survey new (and existing) materials to detect phase transitions. In particular, the techniques can probe the behaviour of nanoscale material, both in isolation and embedded in host systems. Impurity content can be monitored by a totally novel route. Metastable materials, as formed by ion implanted precipitates, or pulse laser annealing can equally show metastable structures with corresponding anomalies in the luminescence. The long term objective is to offer a new and powerful analytical technique.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.sussex.ac.uk