The first of our three research themes is focused on spectrally-selective or photo-active coatings and devices. This theme harnesses a rich resource of prior expertise at UTS in the fields of architectural physics, spectrally-selective coatings and optics, and combines these with the latest technologies of metallic nanoparticles, coatings and photo-active organic molecules. This strand of research has its historical roots in the fact that Australia's climate has created a large market for solar glazing products and that products developed in the Northern Hemisphere are not ideal for other warmer conditions. However, this activity has grown at UTS to include a holistic interest in all spectrally-selective or functional nanomaterials and mesostructures, and our aim now is to develop a world-class centre of excellence in this subject.
 Light-modulated tunnel junction, consisting of gold electrodes and linking monolayer of di-thiolated organic molecules |
Much of the expertise in this area was originally developed by Prof. Geoff Smith and his colleague Jim Franklin of the Department of Applied Physics, and Professor Lindsay Botten and his colleagues in the Department of Mathematics, who have a long record of activity and achievement in this area. However, since the inception of the Institute, the theme has been broadened to include the contributions of Dr Andrew McDonagh and Prof. Michael Cortie, who have interests in photo-active molecules and gold nanoparticles respectively.
