In this talk, I will give an overview of my research career to date based upon advanced thin film materials for a range of opto- and electronic applications.

I will begin the seminar with an overview of my PhD research, investigating radiation effects and reliability of dielectrics in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors and resistive memories. Here atomic layer and chemical vapour deposition was used to create hafnium oxide and silicon carbide in high-k metal gate (HKMG) stacks and valence change memories (VCM), allowing ionizing radiation effects to be studied.

The second part of the seminar will be focused on my current research, expanding from dielectrics into a more novel family of chalcogenide materials, harnessing their vast electronic and optical properties for an array of optic and electronic devices.  I will demonstrate the work I am leading with a multi-consortium European project, Smart2Go, with an aim to develop an autonomous flexible energy platform using thermoelectric generation as an energy harvester via body heat. Next I will demonstrate chalcogenide’s ability to not only generate energy but to store it as well, using novel glasses as Li-ion and Na-ion solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries. Chalcogenides optical properties will also be exhibited, using chemical vapour deposition to create high refractive-index contrast photonic crystals for quantum computing applications.

The third part of the seminar will expand on the research performed by PhD students and fellow researchers in the Novel Glass and Fibre group in which I am a member, including bulk glass optimisation for infrared optics, chalcogenide fibre fabrication, phase change interference devices, photovoltaics and wafer-scale 2D transitional metal di-chalcogenides.

Dr Katrina Morgan is a Research Fellow in the Optoelectronics Research Centre, at the University of Southampton in the UK. Katrina has established an international reputation for her work in nanofabrication of 2D and thin films. In particular, Katrina is studying thin film thermoelectric generators that will act as an energy harvester for an autonomous energy-supply platform as part of a €4 million European collaborative project “Smart2Go”, funded from Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 825143, launched earlier this year http://smart2go-project.eu/. Expanding on the theme of energy supply and storage, Katrina had initiative and leads a new study of novel chalcogenides as solid-state electrolytes for next generation lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. Previous to joining the Optoelectronics Research Centre, Katrina was awarded an EPSRC Industrial Cooperative Award in Science and Technology, providing funding for her PhD in the area of radiation effects and reliability of dielectrics in CMOS transistors and resistive memories.

Katrina is passionate about science engagement, policy and equality, diversity and inclusion. Over the past three years, Katrina has been invited to present her research, represent The Royal Society and take part in a Pairing Scheme at the Houses of Parliament on three separate occasions.  Katrina has also chaired her University’s Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WiSET) committee, and was a core member in securing her department’s Athena SWAN Bronze award.