Enhanced pigment weathering resistance by coating with high dielectric ceramic. The partner company, Tiwest, based in Western Australia, is a major contributor to the economy, and earns more than $A400m annually in exports. It is the only company in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titania products, including pigments, in one region. The current post-titania particle formation wet-coating process, however, presents a major capital and recurrent cost and necessitates a pi ....Enhanced pigment weathering resistance by coating with high dielectric ceramic. The partner company, Tiwest, based in Western Australia, is a major contributor to the economy, and earns more than $A400m annually in exports. It is the only company in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titania products, including pigments, in one region. The current post-titania particle formation wet-coating process, however, presents a major capital and recurrent cost and necessitates a pigment regrind stage. The research will investigate the development of a highly durable dry-coated pigment utilising a novel high dielectric coating. This development has the potential to ensure the partner company's future competitiveness through reduced processing costs and improved product performance.Read moreRead less
Surface Processing of Photo-Sensitive Semiconducting Oxides for Solar-Hydrogen. Aim: To enhance the performance of titania-based semiconducting photo-electrodes for the generation of hydrogen from water using sunlight. Means: Engineering of the surface and near-surface layers so as to increase photo-sensitivity and reactivity with water. Significance: Success will provide the key functional component of photo-electrochemical cells for the mass production of renewable and clean hydrogen. In ....Surface Processing of Photo-Sensitive Semiconducting Oxides for Solar-Hydrogen. Aim: To enhance the performance of titania-based semiconducting photo-electrodes for the generation of hydrogen from water using sunlight. Means: Engineering of the surface and near-surface layers so as to increase photo-sensitivity and reactivity with water. Significance: Success will provide the key functional component of photo-electrochemical cells for the mass production of renewable and clean hydrogen. Innovation: For the first time, the properties controlling photo-sensitivity (defect disorder; charge transport; and chemically-induced, local, surface electric fields) will be modified. Outcomes: Technologies for the production of fuel (hydrogen) using renewable energy (solar energy) and a renewable resource (water).
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Chip-scale implantable bionics for next generation therapeutic neural prostheses. Australia has an unmatched reputation as a world leader in neuroprostheses. Most notable of these is the bionic ear and, more recently, leading edge research towards a bionic eye. This project will combine the research strengths and experiences from both the hearing and visual bionics fields to address the main obstacles that prevent the number of electrical stimulation channels (equating to the number of frequenci ....Chip-scale implantable bionics for next generation therapeutic neural prostheses. Australia has an unmatched reputation as a world leader in neuroprostheses. Most notable of these is the bionic ear and, more recently, leading edge research towards a bionic eye. This project will combine the research strengths and experiences from both the hearing and visual bionics fields to address the main obstacles that prevent the number of electrical stimulation channels (equating to the number of frequencies heard by the deaf, and the number of spots of light seen by the blind) from increasing. The study will improve our understanding of the electrode-tissue interface, the life-long implantablity, and electrical circuitry that will allow future bionic devices to significantly improve their performance.Read moreRead less
Development of advanced ceramic membranes: a robust solution to sustainable water treatment. Australia is one of the driest nations on Earth. While available fresh water supplies dwindle, options to treat 'used' water for reuse are gaining rapid popularity. Membranes are now state-of-the-art for water treatment, including all new desalination plants, but as they are polymeric based, they must be routinely cleaned with chemicals and replaced. The outcomes of this research will demonstrate innovat ....Development of advanced ceramic membranes: a robust solution to sustainable water treatment. Australia is one of the driest nations on Earth. While available fresh water supplies dwindle, options to treat 'used' water for reuse are gaining rapid popularity. Membranes are now state-of-the-art for water treatment, including all new desalination plants, but as they are polymeric based, they must be routinely cleaned with chemicals and replaced. The outcomes of this research will demonstrate innovative functional ceramic membranes which last longer and have lower requirement for cleaning chemicals and expert maintenance. This, in turn, will deliver water at lower cost and reduced environmental burden (chemical and membrane disposal), giving industry more sustainable solutions to treat water, which has now become an essential practice in society.Read moreRead less
Concentrating solar thermal energy storage using metal hydrides. This project will investigate energy storage for concentrating solar thermal energy systems. These systems can be used to efficiently generate electricity in remote locations, day and night, using solar energy. The solar energy is converted to heat energy and then chemical energy stored in a metal-hydrogen compound.
Use of rammed earth in Aboriginal communities of Australia. An exhaustive set of engineering and construction guidelines for rammed earth will be elaborated in order to produce affordable, safe and cost-effective houses in Aboriginal areas of Australia. The outcome of this project is the production of a 'Proposal Form for Standards Development' for rammed earth to be submitted to Standards Australia.
Non-destructive characterisation of residual stresses for the silicon-on-sapphire technology. Every sapphire wafer for the fabrication of integrated circuits using the silicon-on-sapphire technology is worth more than a thousand dollars, and the cost grows exponentially with successive processing of circuitry. Early detection and prevention of wafer failure is therefore an economic and quality necessity. The fast, non-destructive method to be developed by the proposed research will enable semic ....Non-destructive characterisation of residual stresses for the silicon-on-sapphire technology. Every sapphire wafer for the fabrication of integrated circuits using the silicon-on-sapphire technology is worth more than a thousand dollars, and the cost grows exponentially with successive processing of circuitry. Early detection and prevention of wafer failure is therefore an economic and quality necessity. The fast, non-destructive method to be developed by the proposed research will enable semiconductor electronics manufacturers to achieve a cost-effective fabrication of integrated circuits by detecting damages in wafers at the very early stage of production.Read moreRead less
Development of new-generation autoclaved cellulose fibre-cement composites using alumina-silica rich industrial waste. Autoclaved cellulose fibre-cement (FC) composites are used for construction purposes globally. Alumina-silica rich industrial waste, such as fired clay bricks and tiles, are proven to be highly reactive under autoclaving conditions and are generated in abundance either during the production process or demolition of buildings worldwide. The project aims to utilise this renewable ....Development of new-generation autoclaved cellulose fibre-cement composites using alumina-silica rich industrial waste. Autoclaved cellulose fibre-cement (FC) composites are used for construction purposes globally. Alumina-silica rich industrial waste, such as fired clay bricks and tiles, are proven to be highly reactive under autoclaving conditions and are generated in abundance either during the production process or demolition of buildings worldwide. The project aims to utilise this renewable waste for the manufacture of improved FC products. The successful outcomes of the project could allow a new range of cost-effective building products which need less energy for their manufacture, to be realised for both developed and developing countries.Read moreRead less
PROCESSING OF REDUCED-BAND-GAP TITANIA FOR SOLAR-HYDROGEN. The present project involves the development of materials and devices for solar-hydrogen using photo-assisted water decomposition. The research focusses on the processing of titanium dioxide (titania) with substantially enhanced photo-sensitivity and, consequently, increased efficiency of the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy (hydrogen) through imposition of the optimal Ti/O ratio. Significance: processing technology of tit ....PROCESSING OF REDUCED-BAND-GAP TITANIA FOR SOLAR-HYDROGEN. The present project involves the development of materials and devices for solar-hydrogen using photo-assisted water decomposition. The research focusses on the processing of titanium dioxide (titania) with substantially enhanced photo-sensitivity and, consequently, increased efficiency of the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy (hydrogen) through imposition of the optimal Ti/O ratio. Significance: processing technology of titania for photo-electrochemical devices for hydrogen generation and water decontamination. Innovation: processing of titania with reduced band-gap to be achieved through optimised oxygen nonstoichiometry. Outcome: processing technology of titania with outstanding photo-sensitivity.Read moreRead less
ROBUST SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY FOR SMALL-SCALE APPLICATIONS. The project aims to develop nano-materials for the next generation planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) that will operate at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. The goal is to identify and demonstrate materials that meet the robust requirements for small scale power generators at the 3-5kW scale. It is expected that these will be used in stationary power generation applications, in remote area power supplies, and for providing ....ROBUST SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY FOR SMALL-SCALE APPLICATIONS. The project aims to develop nano-materials for the next generation planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) that will operate at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. The goal is to identify and demonstrate materials that meet the robust requirements for small scale power generators at the 3-5kW scale. It is expected that these will be used in stationary power generation applications, in remote area power supplies, and for providing auxiliary power in vehicles. The work builds on the world-leading position that Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. has in planar SOFC technology, utilising micro-analysis and fuel cell expertise at the University of Queensland.Read moreRead less