Electro-Optical Primers for Safe Use and Clean Manufacturing. Conventional primers contain a mechanically-sensitive primary explosive that is used to detonate the more stable propellant in a bullet. This project aims to address the health and environmental impacts of heavy metals in current primers by replacing them with benign, electrically or optically activated silicon-based materials. Modern semiconductor fabrication techniques will be used to develop safe and clean primers through cost-effe ....Electro-Optical Primers for Safe Use and Clean Manufacturing. Conventional primers contain a mechanically-sensitive primary explosive that is used to detonate the more stable propellant in a bullet. This project aims to address the health and environmental impacts of heavy metals in current primers by replacing them with benign, electrically or optically activated silicon-based materials. Modern semiconductor fabrication techniques will be used to develop safe and clean primers through cost-effective doping and deposition protocols. The expected outcomes of the project include a sovereign primer manufacturing capability for Australia. This will provide a significant strategic advantage and health benefits for law enforcement and defence personnel during live fire training and firing range exercises.Read moreRead less
Nanobionic plants. This project aims to develop nanobionic plants as network of semi-permanent sensors capable of rapid, sensitive, selective and unmanned detection and detoxification of chemical warfare agents in aquatic environments and in open air on-site, to allow timely and effective countermeasures. The anticipated goal is to advance the field of advanced manufacturing, environmental change, and nanotechnology with potential to support new national defence capabilities and to value-add Aus ....Nanobionic plants. This project aims to develop nanobionic plants as network of semi-permanent sensors capable of rapid, sensitive, selective and unmanned detection and detoxification of chemical warfare agents in aquatic environments and in open air on-site, to allow timely and effective countermeasures. The anticipated goal is to advance the field of advanced manufacturing, environmental change, and nanotechnology with potential to support new national defence capabilities and to value-add Australian manufacturing industries with innovative, disruptive technologies that lead to achievable opportunities to address its unique needs and to claim Australia’s position within the competitive global manufacturing and defence technology market.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems will develop the next-generation of miniaturised optical systems with functionalities beyond what is conceivable today. By harnessing the disruptive concept of meta-optics, the Centre will overcome complex challenges in light generation, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale. The Centre brings together a trans-disciplinary team of world-leaders in science, ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems will develop the next-generation of miniaturised optical systems with functionalities beyond what is conceivable today. By harnessing the disruptive concept of meta-optics, the Centre will overcome complex challenges in light generation, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale. The Centre brings together a trans-disciplinary team of world-leaders in science, technology and engineering to deliver scientific innovations in optical systems for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research outcomes will underpin future technologies, including real-time holographic displays, artificial vision for autonomous systems to see the invisible, and ultra-fast light-based WiFi.Read moreRead less
Quantum Nanostructure Positioning for Breakthrough Quantum Photonics. The integration of quantum nanostructures in optical devices has been proposed to improve the efficiencies of existing optical devices and create new classes of quantum photonics. Limiting progress is that many nanostructures are made through bottom-up processes with inherently randomly distributions, making integration into devices problematic. Lithographic nanostructure fabrication is rarely an option as it leads to diminish ....Quantum Nanostructure Positioning for Breakthrough Quantum Photonics. The integration of quantum nanostructures in optical devices has been proposed to improve the efficiencies of existing optical devices and create new classes of quantum photonics. Limiting progress is that many nanostructures are made through bottom-up processes with inherently randomly distributions, making integration into devices problematic. Lithographic nanostructure fabrication is rarely an option as it leads to diminishes performance. Here, we propose a new and unique nanostructure positioning technique incorporated directly into the growth process. It interfaces bottom-up technologies with device fabrication, facilitating incorporation of nanostructures in photonic devices, and may be transferrable to a variety of other systems.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitativel ....Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitatively at multiscales and the nanoscale phenomena will be linked to macroscopic performance. The results of this research should provide a fundamental understanding of tunable adhesion mechanisms for the design and development of optimized materials with superb performance of practical significance.
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Quantum Nanophotonics with Atomically Thin Materials . This project aims to deliver new hardware for scalable integrated quantum photonics based on fluorescent defects in hexagonal boron nitride. The project will generate new knowledge in advanced manufacturing of two-dimensional systems, to pivot towards engineering of new optical qubits. Expected outcomes include a solid-state platform for on-chip quantum technologies and development of sovereign quantum capabilities. The results will constitu ....Quantum Nanophotonics with Atomically Thin Materials . This project aims to deliver new hardware for scalable integrated quantum photonics based on fluorescent defects in hexagonal boron nitride. The project will generate new knowledge in advanced manufacturing of two-dimensional systems, to pivot towards engineering of new optical qubits. Expected outcomes include a solid-state platform for on-chip quantum technologies and development of sovereign quantum capabilities. The results will constitute an important step towards implementation of secure communications and quantum information protocols. Benefits include advances in emerging manufacturing capabilities, training of young Australians, generation of intellectual property and securing major economic benefits to all Australians.Read moreRead less