Professor Ben Powell
Professor

Ben Powell

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52401

Background

This is an automatically generated university page - my real website is https://people.smp.uq.edu.au/BenPowell/

Availability

Professor Ben Powell is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Chemical Sciences Condensed matter physics

Search Professor Ben Powell’s works on UQ eSpace

139 works between 1976 and 2024
All (139) Journal Article (126) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (8) Other Outputs (2)

41 - 60 of 139 works

2018

Journal Article

Nuclear magnetic resonance in low-symmetry superconductors

Cavanagh, D. C. and Powell, B. J. (2018). Nuclear magnetic resonance in low-symmetry superconductors. Physical Review B, 97 (2) 024509. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.97.024509

Nuclear magnetic resonance in low-symmetry superconductors

2017

Journal Article

Balance and frustration in strongly correlated itinerant electron systems: an extension of Nagaoka's theorem

Powell, B. J. (2017). Balance and frustration in strongly correlated itinerant electron systems: an extension of Nagaoka's theorem. Physical Review B, 96 (17) 174435. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.96.174435

Balance and frustration in strongly correlated itinerant electron systems: an extension of Nagaoka's theorem

2017

Journal Article

Effects of anisotropy in spin molecular-orbital coupling on effective spin models of trinuclear organometallic complexes

Merino, J., Jacko, A. C., Khosla, A. L. and Powell, B. J. (2017). Effects of anisotropy in spin molecular-orbital coupling on effective spin models of trinuclear organometallic complexes. Physical Review B, 96 (20) 205118. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.96.205118

Effects of anisotropy in spin molecular-orbital coupling on effective spin models of trinuclear organometallic complexes

2017

Journal Article

Dynamical Reduction of the Dimensionality of Exchange Interactions and the "Spin-Liquid" Phase of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X

Powell, B. J., Kenny, E. P. and Merino, J. (2017). Dynamical Reduction of the Dimensionality of Exchange Interactions and the "Spin-Liquid" Phase of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X. Physical Review Letters, 119 (8) 087204, 087204. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.087204

Dynamical Reduction of the Dimensionality of Exchange Interactions and the "Spin-Liquid" Phase of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X

2017

Journal Article

Correction to bond fission and non-radiative decay in iridium(III) complexes

Zhou, Xiuwen, Burn, Paul L and Powell, Benjamin J (2017). Correction to bond fission and non-radiative decay in iridium(III) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 56 (13), 7574-7574. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b01260

Correction to bond fission and non-radiative decay in iridium(III) complexes

2017

Journal Article

Effect of n-propyl substituents on the emission properties of blue phosphorescent iridium(iii) complexes

Zhou, Xiuwen, Burn, Paul L. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2017). Effect of n-propyl substituents on the emission properties of blue phosphorescent iridium(iii) complexes. Journal of Chemical Physics, 146 (17) 174305, 174305-1-174305-6. doi: 10.1063/1.4981797

Effect of n-propyl substituents on the emission properties of blue phosphorescent iridium(iii) complexes

2017

Journal Article

Spin-orbit coupling in Mo3 S7(dmit)3

Jacko, A. C., Khosla, A. L., Merino, J. and Powell, B. J. (2017). Spin-orbit coupling in Mo3 S7(dmit)3. Physical Review B, 95 (15) 155120. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.155120

Spin-orbit coupling in Mo3 S7(dmit)3

2017

Journal Article

Heisenberg and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions controlled by molecular packing in trinuclear organometallic clusters

Powell, B. J., Merino, J., Khosla, A. L. and Jacko, A. C. (2017). Heisenberg and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions controlled by molecular packing in trinuclear organometallic clusters. Physical Review B, 95 (9) 094432. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.094432

Heisenberg and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions controlled by molecular packing in trinuclear organometallic clusters

2017

Journal Article

Spin-orbit coupling and strong electronic correlations in cyclic molecules

Khosla, A. L., Jacko, A. C., Merino, J. and Powell, B. J. (2017). Spin-orbit coupling and strong electronic correlations in cyclic molecules. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 95 (11) 115109. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.115109

Spin-orbit coupling and strong electronic correlations in cyclic molecules

2017

Journal Article

Elucidating the spatial arrangement of emitter molecules in organic light-emitting diode films

Tonnelé, Claire, Stroet, Martin, Caron, Bertrand, Clulow, Andrew J., Nagiri, Ravi C. R., Malde, Alpeshkumar K., Burn, Paul L., Gentle, Ian R., Mark, Alan E. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2017). Elucidating the spatial arrangement of emitter molecules in organic light-emitting diode films. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 56 (29), 8402-8406. doi: 10.1002/anie.201610727

Elucidating the spatial arrangement of emitter molecules in organic light-emitting diode films

2017

Journal Article

Elucidating the spatial arrangement of emitter molecules in organic light-emitting diode films

Tonnelé, Claire, Stroet, Martin, Caron, Bertrand, Clulow, Andrew J., Nagiri, Ravi C. R., Malde, Alpeshkumar K., Burn, Paul L., Gentle, Ian R., Mark, Alan E. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2017). Elucidating the spatial arrangement of emitter molecules in organic light-emitting diode films. Angewandte Chemie, 129 (29), 8522-8526. doi: 10.1002/ange.201610727

Elucidating the spatial arrangement of emitter molecules in organic light-emitting diode films

2017

Journal Article

A thiocarbonyl-containing small molecule for optoelectronics

Gendron, David, Maasoumi, Fatemeh, Armin, Ardalan, Pattison, Katherine, Burn, Paul L., Meredith, Paul, Namdas, Ebinazar B. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2017). A thiocarbonyl-containing small molecule for optoelectronics. RSC Advances, 7 (17), 10316-10322. doi: 10.1039/c7ra00693d

A thiocarbonyl-containing small molecule for optoelectronics

2016

Journal Article

Haldane insulator protected by reflection symmetry in the doped Hubbard model on the three-legged ladder

Nourse, H. L., McCulloch, I. P., Janani, C. and Powell, B. J. (2016). Haldane insulator protected by reflection symmetry in the doped Hubbard model on the three-legged ladder. Physical Review B, 94 (21) 214418. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.214418

Haldane insulator protected by reflection symmetry in the doped Hubbard model on the three-legged ladder

2016

Journal Article

Quasi-one-dimensional spin-orbit-coupled correlated insulator in a multinuclear coordinated organometallic crystal

Merino, J., Jacko, A. C., Khosla, A. L. and Powell, B. J. (2016). Quasi-one-dimensional spin-orbit-coupled correlated insulator in a multinuclear coordinated organometallic crystal. Physical Review B, 94 (20) 205109. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.205109

Quasi-one-dimensional spin-orbit-coupled correlated insulator in a multinuclear coordinated organometallic crystal

2016

Journal Article

Exact exchange and the density functional theory of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer in fac-Ir(ppy)3

Smith, Arthur R. G., Burn, Paul L. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2016). Exact exchange and the density functional theory of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer in fac-Ir(ppy)3. Organic Electronics, 33, 110-115. doi: 10.1016/j.orgel.2016.02.039

Exact exchange and the density functional theory of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer in fac-Ir(ppy)3

2016

Journal Article

Bond fission and non-radiative decay in iridium(III) complexes

Zhou, Xiuwen, Burn, Paul L. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2016). Bond fission and non-radiative decay in iridium(III) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 55 (11), 5266-5273. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00219

Bond fission and non-radiative decay in iridium(III) complexes

2016

Book Chapter

Understanding melanin: a nano-based material for the future

Mostert, A. B., Meredith, P., Powell, B. J., Gentle, I. R., Hanson, G. R and Pratt, F. L. (2016). Understanding melanin: a nano-based material for the future. Nanomaterials: science and applications. (pp. 175-202) edited by Deborah Kane, Adam Micolich and Peter Roger. Boca Raton, FL, United States: Pan Stanford. doi: 10.1201/b20041-8

Understanding melanin: a nano-based material for the future

2015

Journal Article

Breakdown of the universality of the Kadowaki-Woods Ratio in multi-band metals

Cavanagh, D. C., Jacko, A. C. and Powell, B. J. (2015). Breakdown of the universality of the Kadowaki-Woods Ratio in multi-band metals. Physical Review B, 92 (19) 195138. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.195138

Breakdown of the universality of the Kadowaki-Woods Ratio in multi-band metals

2015

Journal Article

Interplay of zero-field splitting and excited state geometry relaxation in fac-Ir(ppy)3

Gonzalez-Vazquez, Jose P., Burn, Paul L. and Powell, Benjamin J. (2015). Interplay of zero-field splitting and excited state geometry relaxation in fac-Ir(ppy)3. Inorganic Chemistry, 54 (21), 10457-10461. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b01918

Interplay of zero-field splitting and excited state geometry relaxation in fac-Ir(ppy)3

2015

Journal Article

Theories of phosphorescence in organo-transition metal complexes - From relativistic effects to simple models and design principles for organic light-emitting diodes

Powell, B. J. (2015). Theories of phosphorescence in organo-transition metal complexes - From relativistic effects to simple models and design principles for organic light-emitting diodes. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 295, 46-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2015.02.008

Theories of phosphorescence in organo-transition metal complexes - From relativistic effects to simple models and design principles for organic light-emitting diodes

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2030
    Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance
    Queensland Government Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Switching, sensing and multifunctionality in spin crossover materials
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2023
    Emergent behaviours in spin crossover materials (ARC Discovery Project administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    2D or not 2D? Beyond the standard model of organic quantum spin liquids
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Advanced X-ray Facility for Structural Elucidation and Photocrystallography
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Emergent quantum matter in multinuclear coupled coordination clusters
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Advanced Superfluid Physics Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Facility for fabrication and characterisation of micro/nano-optoelectronic devices
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Quantum phases of matter driven by strong electronic correlations in complex molecular crystals
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Computer Modelling for Development of Phosphorescent Iridium (III)
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Trouble at the bottom: Exploring the limits of Fermi liquid theory through dimensionless ratios
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Strengthening merit-based access and support at the new National Computing Infrastructure petascale supercomputing facility (ARC LIEF Grant administered by ANU)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Non-radiative decay in organometallic complexes for organic light-emitting complexes: from theory to materials design
    CSIRO Flagships Collaboration Fund
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    ResTeach 2011 0.2 FTE School of Mathematics and Physics
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Spin-liquids, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity in organic charge transfer salts: synthesis, neutron scattering and theory
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Organic superconductors: from synthesis to neutron scattering to theory
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    Strongly correlated electron models for organic superconductors
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Vector magnetic field facility for nanoscale spintronic materials and device research (ARC LIEF Administered by University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    First principles parameterisation of minimal models of strongly correlated systems
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Emergent properties of oxides and biomolecules
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2008
    Quantum states of matter: from spin liquids to superconductors
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Ion Implanted Polymers as New Plastic Electronic and Superconducting Materials
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2007
    Organic superconductors and frustrated antiferromagnets: from quantum chemistry to quantum many-body theory
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Ben Powell is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • New types of particles in spin-crossover materials

    Condensed matter physicists sometimes pity our colleagues in high-energy physics. They are limited to studying a single vacuum and its excitations: the particles of the standard model. For condensed matter physicists every new phase of matter brings a new ‘vacuum’. Remarkably the low-energy excitations of these new vacua can be very different from the individual electrons, protons and neutrons that constitute the material. The condensed matter multiverse contains universes where the particle-like excitations carry only a fraction of the elementary electronic charge are magnetic monopole, or are their own antiparticle. None of these properties have ever been observed in the particles found in free space. Often emergent gauge fields accompany these ‘fractionalized’ particles, just as electromagnetic gauge fields accompany charged particles.

    In this project you will discover the nature of the particles that emerge a recently phase of matter – the spin-state ice – that is predicted to occur in spin crossover materials. You will develop new theories of these materials and seek to discover other exotic phases in them.

  • Spin crossover materials

    Some molecules are magnetic. Others are not. Spin-crossover molecules are unusual because they can be switched between magnetic (high-spin) and non-magnetic (more generally, low-spin) states by temperature, pressure, chemical environment, or irradiation by light. Furthermore, materials containing spin-crossover molecules can display phase transitions between states with different spatial patterns of molecules with high- and low-spin that have similarities to emergent states with magnetic, orbital and charge ordering, such as antiferromagnetism.

    The fundamental question you will investigate is: why does this happen? This will require the application of state-of-the-art computational methodologies to describe the quantum behavior of the electrons in these materials. Importantly, the electrons interact strongly with one another in these systems. This means that the behaviors are collective and the standard approaches to chemistry, where we treat each electron independently, fail miserably. Instead you will use supercomputers to model the collective physics.

  • Design and control of quantum materials: metal organic frameworks (MOFs)

    Materials are vital for modern technology. Our understanding and control of the physics of silicon enabled the digital revolution. But electron-electron interactions are not important for the physics of silicon. In many other materials quantum mechanical electron-electron interactions determine the properties of the materials. These quantum materials show amazing properties such as high temperature superconductivity and sometime have excitations that are very different from the properties of the vacuum [1]. If we could routinely design and control quantum materials it would revolutionise technologies from electricity distribution to computing. But currently we have very limited abilities to design quantum materials. A new class of materials, MOFs, may be the key to enabling the rational design of quantum materials. Several projects are available in this area using techniques varying from supercomputer calculations to pen and paper theory to help change this in collaboration with world leading synthetic chemists and experimental physicists.

    [1] B. J. Powell, The expanding materials multiverse, Science 360, 1074 (2018)

  • Can we design a room temperature, ambient pressure superconductor?

    A room temperature, ambient pressure superconductor would change the world. We could plant "farms" of solar panels in the outback and losslessly transport the energy generated to capital cities and Asia, dramatically lowering the cost of power generation. But the world record for the highest temperature ambient pressure superconductor hasn't increased in decades.

    However, new types of materials have recently emerged that can be clicked together like lego. This offers us the chance to design new materials with taylored propoerties from the ground up. However, doing so is a formidable theoretical challenge that requires understanding the quantum mechanical behaviours of 10^23 electrons simulatneously? In this project you will develop and apply new theoretical techniques to attack this problem.

  • Room temperature single molecule switches

    Switches are the basis of all modern digital electronics. Binary logic is based on turning switches on (1) and off (0). So miniaturising memories and logic circuits requires miniaturising switches. Societies program of miniaturising switches is so advanced that the next frontier is reaching the molecular scale. This requires a detailed understanding of the quantum physics and chemistry of the molecules at play. Traditional quantum chemical approaches are limited to absolute zero. So they do not describe switching at room temperature, where we would like use our switches. This project will apply state-of-the-art quantum theory to model switching in a class of materials known as Prussian blue analogues.

    This would suit a physics student with a strong understanding of quantum mechanics (no previous knowledge of chemistry is required, although chemistry majors are welcome to apply). It will involve learning and apply quantum field theory and both analytical and computational work.

  • Can we design a room temperature, ambient pressure superconductor?

    A room temperature, ambient pressure superconductor would change the world. We could plant "farms" of solar panels in the outback and losslessly transport the energy generated to capital cities and Asia, dramatically lowering the cost of power generation. But the world record for the highest temperature ambient pressure superconductor hasn't increased in decades.

    However, new types of materials have recently emerged that can be clicked together like lego. This offers us the chance to design new materials with taylored propoerties from the ground up. However, doing so is a formidable theoretical challenge that requires understanding the quantum mechanical behaviours of 10^23 electrons simulatneously? In this project you will develop and apply new theoretical techniques to attack this problem.

  • Design and control of quantum materials: metal organic frameworks (MOFs)

    Materials are vital for modern technology. Our understanding and control of the physics of silicon enabled the digital revolution. But electron-electron interactions are not important for the physics of silicon. In many other materials quantum mechanical electron-electron interactions determine the properties of the materials. These quantum materials show amazing properties such as high temperature superconductivity and sometime have excitations that are very different from the properties of the vacuum [1]. If we could routinely design and control quantum materials it would revolutionise technologies from electricity distribution to computing. But currently we have very limited abilities to design quantum materials. A new class of materials, MOFs, may be the key to enabling the rational design of quantum materials. Several projects are available in this area using techniques varying from supercomputer calculations to pen and paper theory to help change this in collaboration with world leading synthetic chemists and experimental physicists.

    [1] B. J. Powell, The expanding materials multiverse, Science 360, 1074 (2018)

  • New types of particles in spin-crossover materials

    Condensed matter physicists sometimes pity our colleagues in high-energy physics. They are limited to studying a single vacuum and its excitations: the particles of the standard model. For condensed matter physicists every new phase of matter brings a new ‘vacuum’. Remarkably the low-energy excitations of these new vacua can be very different from the individual electrons, protons and neutrons that constitute the material. The condensed matter multiverse contains universes where the particle-like excitations carry only a fraction of the elementary electronic charge are magnetic monopole, or are their own antiparticle. None of these properties have ever been observed in the particles found in free space. Often emergent gauge fields accompany these ‘fractionalized’ particles, just as electromagnetic gauge fields accompany charged particles.

    In this project you will discover the nature of the particles that emerge a recently phase of matter – the spin-state ice – that is predicted to occur in spin crossover materials. You will develop new theories of these materials and seek to discover other exotic phases in them.

  • Spin crossover materials

    Some molecules are magnetic. Others are not. Spin-crossover molecules are unusual because they can be switched between magnetic (high-spin) and non-magnetic (more generally, low-spin) states by temperature, pressure, chemical environment, or irradiation by light. Furthermore, materials containing spin-crossover molecules can display phase transitions between states with different spatial patterns of molecules with high- and low-spin that have similarities to emergent states with magnetic, orbital and charge ordering, such as antiferromagnetism.

    The fundamental question you will investigate is: why does this happen? This will require the application of state-of-the-art computational methodologies to describe the quantum behavior of the electrons in these materials. Importantly, the electrons interact strongly with one another in these systems. This means that the behaviors are collective and the standard approaches to chemistry, where we treat each electron independently, fail miserably. Instead you will use supercomputers to model the collective physics.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New Methods for Strongly Correlated Electrons in Chemically Complex Materials

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Carla Verdi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Theories of strongly correlated electrons in metal-organic frameworks

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of spin-orbit coupling in spin crossover materials

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jack Clegg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Emergence of fractionalised quasiparticles in spin-crossover materials

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Stimuli Responsive Single Molecule Switches

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Peter Jacobson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Computer-aided material discovery for light-emitting materials in OLEDs

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Xiuwen Zhou

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Is the superconducting phase compact or not?

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tom Stace

  • Doctor Philosophy

    First principles calculations of defects in solids for quantum technologies

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Carla Verdi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Thermodynamic properties of atomic defects for quantum technologies

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Carla Verdi

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Ben Powell directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biophysics
  • Condensed matter physics
  • Low temperature physics
  • Magnetism
  • Melanin
  • Organic electronics
  • Quantum mechanics
  • Solar cells
  • Solid state physics
  • Statistical mechanics
  • Superconductors
  • Theoretical chemistry
  • Theoretical physics

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