Science, Technology and Engineering

Centre for Materials and Surface Science

Background and Goals

The Centre for Materials and Surface Science (CMSS) was originally established in 1977 as the Research Centre for Electron Spectroscopy by staff from the Departments of Physics and Chemistry at La Trobe University, with the aim of providing a structure within the University to encourage and promote cooperative activities and programs in teaching and research in the general area of electron spectroscopy. From the beginning, scientists from other local institutions with common research interests were included as Associates, and various Workshops and Meetings were organised on a State and National level.

In 1990 the name of the Centre was enlarged to the Research Centre for Electron Spectroscopy and Surface Science, in order to explicitly include the substantial ongoing research in that latter field, and to include techniques other than electron spectroscopy. Then in 1998 the name was changed once again, to the Centre for Materials and Surface Science, to reflect the continuing change in research emphasis.

Electron spectroscopy and surface science research have now become well established at various centres throughout Australia. CMSS is a key centre of this activity. We see our WWW entry as providing a further facet of our evolving external interaction with, and service to, the Australian electron spectroscopy and surface science community. We would be very pleased to receive suggestions as to how this offering could be improved.

Current Principal Areas of Research

• Electronic bandstructure determinations of III/V and II/VI semiconductors using angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with synchrotron radiation
• Investigation of the topology of the Fermi surface of metals and alloys
• Development of novel high resolution electron spectrometers
• Molecular Beam Epitaxy of III-V and II-VI semiconductors.
• Surface analysis of polymer films.
• Surface science studies of antimony-free lead grid electrodes in low maintenance lead-acid batteries.
• X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy studies of new piezoelectric and magnetic materials, synthesized at La Trobe.
• XPS studies of rare-earth-fluoride ion-selective electrodes, with particular emphasis on crystal growth and surface reactivity.
• Irradiation-modification of Metal-Semiconductor interface properties.
• X-ray Photoelectron Diffraction studies of Adsorbates.
• Electron Stimulated Desorption from GaAs surfaces.
• Cluster-ion photodissociation spectroscopy directed to the study of weak molecular interactions.
• Electrospray mass spectrometry of ion-clusters in solution.
• Molecular orbital calculations on large molecules including buckminsterfullerene adducts and small polysaccharide and polypeptide systems.
• Content Approved by: Director of Centre
  Page maintained by: Director of Centre
  Last Updated: 4 September, 2009