Nihon Superior Centre for the Manufacture of Electronic Materials (NS CMEM)

Nihon Superior Centre for the Manufacture of Electronic Materials has been established with the purpose of bringing world-class research capability to the manufacture of electronic materials. The objective is to enable the University of Queensland and Nihon Superior Co. Ltd to continue their significant history of strategic and collaborative research. The centre will specialise in the development of lead-free soldering and brazing alloys and the manufacture of materials for energy storage and transport materials including hydrogen storage and novel solid-state anode materials. The Centre has a strong focus on commercially relevant and environmentally sustainable research.

Associated Research Centres

Centre for Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing (AMPAM)

Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM)

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (ANFF-Q) 

Collaborations

Nihon Superior Co. Ltd. , Japan
Osaka University, Japan
Kyushu University, Japan
Wakasa-wan Energy Research Centre, Japan
Australian Synchrotron
SPring-8, Japan
Kyushu Synchrotron, SAGA-LS, Japan
Imperial College London, UK
Hydrexia Pty. Ltd. , Australia
Tritium Pty. Ltd. , Australia
Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Staff

Director
Associate Professor Kazuhiro Nogita
Please direct all enquiries to:
k.nogita@uq.edu.au

Dr Stuart McDonald
(Senior Research Fellow)

Mr Jonathan Read
(Technical Manager)

Dr Hector Henao Zapata
(Senior Research Fellow)

Dr Yueqin (Jerome) Wu
(ARC-Linkage Postdoctoral Fellow)

Mr Daniel Graham
(Senior Research Assistant)

Mr Keith Sweatman
(Senior Fellow)

Mr Dekui Mu
(PhD Candidate)

Mr Guang Zeng
(PhD Candidate)

Research Team

For further information on Research Team members please click here. 

Current Research

Characterisation of Intermetallics in Solder Joints
(Funded by Nihon Superior Co. Ltd.)
This project focuses on controlling and understanding the formation of solder joint intermetallics (IMCs) which are critical for the reliability of circuit boards and other electrical components. 
Members: Mr. Jonathan Read, Dr Stuart McDonald, Dr Jerome Wu, Mr. Dekui Mu (PhD candidate), Mr. Guang Zeng (PhD candidate), Associate Professor Kazuhiro Nogita. 

New Solders for EVs, Photo-Voltaic Systems, Al Substrates
(Funded by ARC-Linkage)
Develop new lead-free solders for electric vehicle and photo-voltaic systems.
Members: Dr Jerome Wu, Professor Han Huang, Associate Professor Kazuhiro Nogita. 

Mechanical Properties of Cu6Sn5
(PhD thesis funded by an Australian Postgraduate Scholarship and Nihon Superior Co. Ltd.)
To understand the mechanical properties of Cu6Sn5, which is the dominant intermetallic between the solder and Cu substrate. 
Members: Mr Dekui Mu (PhD candidate), Professor Han Huang, Associate Professor Kazuhiro Nogita. 

Microstructure of Sn-Cu based Solder Alloys and Joints
(PhD thesis funded by CSC and Nihon Superior Co. Ltd.)
Development of new 'micro-alloyed' solders based on Sn-Cu systems with additional elements tailored to improve solder properties. 
Members: Mr Guang Zeng (PhD Candidate), Dr Stuart McDonald, Associate Professor Kazuhiro Nogita. 

Surface Tension and Surface Oxide of Lead-Free Solder Alloys
(Funded by Nihon Superior and The University of Queensland) 
Controlling melting solder surface, which is important for the process of soldering. 
Members: Mr Jonathan Read, Dr Stuart McDonald, Associate Professor Kazuhiro Nogita. 

Publications 

For a full summary of publications please click here. 

Facilities

For sample production the Centre has access to several furnaces including induction melting and arc melting furnaces, atmosphere controlled electric resistance and directional solidification 'Bridgeman' type furnaces and a wave-soldering bath. Conventional soldering equipment is complemented by a Nd-YAG pulse laser welder. 

Mechanical testing is facilitated by a comprehensive suite of apparatus housed at The University of Queensland. This includes a state-of-the-art Hysitron nanomechanical testing instrument capable of indentation and scratch testing at loads from a few mN to several N with in situ AFM imaging.