Final Year Projects 2025-2026 –

Group A: Working on an individual project within a group focusing on the use of thermal scanning probe lithography (Heidelberg Instruments Nanofrazor). Below descriptions are available for both part C and part D.

Thermal scanning probe lithography is a relatively new tool for nanoscale manipulation of matter. This can include direct writing of magnetic states, crystallisation, or the removal or material to create a 2D or 3D template for nanofabrication.

Howell et al. Microsystems & Nanoengineering 6, 21 (2020)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41378-019-0124-8

 Effect of periodic strain on 2D materials (MPhys)

You will use thermal scanning probe lithography (Nanofrazor) to create strained 2D flakes (such as graphene). This will then be characterised by Raman spectroscopy, electric transport and atomic force microscopy.

In-situ nanofabrication of 2D devices using scanning probe lithography (MPhys)

You will be integrating a 2D material into a measureable device using bilayer patterining with the Nanofrazor. The aim will be to complete device preparation and transfer for film deposition without exposing it to air by using the glovebox that the Nanofrazor is housed in. This will require exfoliation and characterisation of 2D flakes, creating patterns for lithography using KLayout and/or Python, familiarising yourself with the Nanofrazor system and coordinating with staff to arrange use of the thin film deposition system as needed.

3D Nanofabrication using thermal scanning probe  lithography (BSc)

You will be working on the development of 3D nanolithography with a combination of use of the Nanofrazor and PDMS moulds, or Ar ion milling. This will require creating patterns for lithography using KLayout and/or Python, familiarising yourself with the Nanofrazor system and coordinating with staff to arrange use of the ion miller and thin film deposition system as needed.

 Group B: Focusing on characterisation techniques and data analysis.

 Raman spectroscopy of strained graphene (BSc)

You will use Raman spectroscopy to analyse pre-prepared samples where periodic strain has been applied to a graphene flake. Analysis of high resolution spectra can then be used to determine the strain (by shift in 2D/G peaks). Given time you may contact the sample up for electric transport measurements.

Effect of deposition conditions and thickness on magnetic properties of Py (Ni₈₀Fe₂₀) thin films (BSc)

The specific properties of a film that is prepared by physical vapour deposition (or sputtering) depends on many variable including the sputtering power, flow rate of Ar or other gases into the chamber, base pressure, temperature, choice of substrate, and substrate cleaning protocols. It is therefore necessary to systematically check the properties of series of thin films for a new material to ensure that the expected film growth occurs.

The aim of this project will be to test the growth of Permalloy (Py) thin films as a function of one of the deposition parameters. You will then measure the magnetic and structural properties of these films using a combination of techniques such as: magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry, vibrating sample magnetometry, x-ray reflectivity, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Harmonic Hall measurements

Spintronics – using the spin of an electron to convey information – requires knowledge on the efficiency of conversion of a spin current to a charge current (the spin Hall angle, θ_SH) by the spin Hall effect. A relatively simple way to determine this is to use ac Harmonic Hall measurements, where a Hall voltage is induced in response to an ac current. You will be developing this technique to measure potential spintronic devices.

You will measure the harmonic Hall voltage of a permalloy/Pt sample at various magnetic field and current. Whilst this is an experimental project, a large component of this work will involve development of analysis code using Python or other language to fit multiple datasets.

Spin Seebeck measurements

The spin Seebeck effect is a recently discovered phenomenon whereby a spin polarised current is generated in a magnetic material subjected to a temperature gradient. Detection of the spin polarisation current is achieved by placing a metal such as Pt in contact with the magnetic material so that the spin current is converted to a charge current by the inverse spin Hall effect.

This project will be exploring measurement of the spin Seebeck effect in thin films and the efficiency of such devices as energy harvesters.