Improving the wool product. Using mathematical modelling to improve the efficiency of wool scouring. Our aim is to improve the quality of scoured wool by improving the efficiency of wool scouring. Wool scouring is the process of washing greasy wool once it has been removed from the sheep's back. After being rinsed to remove sweat and salt the wool is passed through a scour bowl consisting of settling tanks from which dirty water is periodically expelled. Mathematical modelling will optimise us ....Improving the wool product. Using mathematical modelling to improve the efficiency of wool scouring. Our aim is to improve the quality of scoured wool by improving the efficiency of wool scouring. Wool scouring is the process of washing greasy wool once it has been removed from the sheep's back. After being rinsed to remove sweat and salt the wool is passed through a scour bowl consisting of settling tanks from which dirty water is periodically expelled. Mathematical modelling will optimise use of the scour bowl, reduce consumption of water, increase the recovery of wool grease and improve the quality and cleanliness of the wool.Read moreRead less
Mathematical modelling of dye-sensitised titania solar cells: a route to improved efficiency in production. Dye-sensitised titania solar cells (DSCs) provide a technically and economically credible alternative to silicon photovotaic devices. Increasing the efficiency of commercially produced DSCs to 12% from the current production cell efficiency of 6%,will result in significantly lower delivered energy costs than the current alternative photovoltaic devices. This project will develop a mathemat ....Mathematical modelling of dye-sensitised titania solar cells: a route to improved efficiency in production. Dye-sensitised titania solar cells (DSCs) provide a technically and economically credible alternative to silicon photovotaic devices. Increasing the efficiency of commercially produced DSCs to 12% from the current production cell efficiency of 6%,will result in significantly lower delivered energy costs than the current alternative photovoltaic devices. This project will develop a mathematical model of a DSC as a first stage in the development of a decision support capability for the manufacture of more efficient DSC's. The model will extend existing models to incorporate full transport modelling and side-reactions in the electrolyte and will be validated by experimental work.Read moreRead less
Polymer Band Gap Engineering. The development of fibre optic communication networks has enabled the provision of low cost long-distance telephony and the dramatic growth of the Internet. This project aims to develop polymeric materials that receive optical signals in the telecommunications (near IR) band. Such a capability would allow RPO to build low cost power monitoring into all its integrated optical devices and would massively enhance its market opportunities and chances of growth. Furtherm ....Polymer Band Gap Engineering. The development of fibre optic communication networks has enabled the provision of low cost long-distance telephony and the dramatic growth of the Internet. This project aims to develop polymeric materials that receive optical signals in the telecommunications (near IR) band. Such a capability would allow RPO to build low cost power monitoring into all its integrated optical devices and would massively enhance its market opportunities and chances of growth. Furthermore, this project lays the foundations for the development of an all-polymer optical chip, whose cost savings over the current technological strategies would revolutionise the photonics and information technology sector.Read moreRead less
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increas ....STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increases in performance. This project will characterize the structures of films grown by this new process, and relate them to both the processing conditions and device performance. A greater understanding of the relationship between processing, structure and properties will assist the commercial development of these devices.Read moreRead less
Higher Order Effects in Miniaturized Piezoelectric Devices. The national benefits of this project are: (a) We will provide opportunities to two postdoctoral researchers to pursue cutting edge research on electromagnetic radiation/scattering and self-heating phenomena in microelectronic devices involving ultrathin lossy electrodes. (b) We will provide industry-oriented research on coating and shielding problems in microelectronic devices to two postgraduate students. (c) We will team up with worl ....Higher Order Effects in Miniaturized Piezoelectric Devices. The national benefits of this project are: (a) We will provide opportunities to two postdoctoral researchers to pursue cutting edge research on electromagnetic radiation/scattering and self-heating phenomena in microelectronic devices involving ultrathin lossy electrodes. (b) We will provide industry-oriented research on coating and shielding problems in microelectronic devices to two postgraduate students. (c) We will team up with world leading industrial partners and transfer high-tech know-how to Australia. (d) The outcomes of our research will position Australia as the prime focal point for the design, modelling and simulation of microacoustic devices.Read moreRead less
Flute properties without players, and without flutes. This project will measure how the acoustic impedance spectra of some flutes depend upon the detailed shape of the bore and the size, shape and position of the holes. It will develop a model to predict, for the benefit of instrument makers, the effect of proposed changes in the geometry of the instrument on the pitches and ease of playing of notes played on the instrument. Importantly, it will allow museum curators to determine tunings and (un ....Flute properties without players, and without flutes. This project will measure how the acoustic impedance spectra of some flutes depend upon the detailed shape of the bore and the size, shape and position of the holes. It will develop a model to predict, for the benefit of instrument makers, the effect of proposed changes in the geometry of the instrument on the pitches and ease of playing of notes played on the instrument. Importantly, it will allow museum curators to determine tunings and (uncompensated) temperaments of historic instruments that cannot readily be played.Read moreRead less
Multiscale Modelling and Thermal Design Optimisation of Large-Scale Biomass Stockpiles for Use in Renewable Energy Products. By minimising the risk of spontaneous combustion this project will significantly contribute to the ability of the Australian sugar industry to store wet bagasse (sugar cane fibre residue) in large stockpiles. This will facilitate the year-round availability of biomass as a feedstock in renewable energy production. The mathematical models developed in this project deliver a ....Multiscale Modelling and Thermal Design Optimisation of Large-Scale Biomass Stockpiles for Use in Renewable Energy Products. By minimising the risk of spontaneous combustion this project will significantly contribute to the ability of the Australian sugar industry to store wet bagasse (sugar cane fibre residue) in large stockpiles. This will facilitate the year-round availability of biomass as a feedstock in renewable energy production. The mathematical models developed in this project deliver an enabling mechanism for facilitating the diversification of the sugar industry with the potential to produce significant financial returns for the industry. This research has the potential to initiate considerable and extremely positive, down-stream environmental impacts for Australia by enhancing feedstock production for ecologically sustainable power generation systems.Read moreRead less
Switching mechanisms in nonvolatile resistive memory using high-k dielectrics. Growth in the use of portable electronic devices, such as cameras, phones and MP3 players has resulted in an increased demand for low-power, high-density, non-volatile memory (NVM). One class of such memories aims to use resistance changes in thin dielectric films as a means of storing information. This project aims to develop a better understanding of these devices and to develop new and innovative processes for co ....Switching mechanisms in nonvolatile resistive memory using high-k dielectrics. Growth in the use of portable electronic devices, such as cameras, phones and MP3 players has resulted in an increased demand for low-power, high-density, non-volatile memory (NVM). One class of such memories aims to use resistance changes in thin dielectric films as a means of storing information. This project aims to develop a better understanding of these devices and to develop new and innovative processes for controlling data storage. The project is based on collaboration between researchers at the ANU and Silanna, an Australian start-up company aiming to develop and commercialise such technology.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Understanding and Performance of Passivating TiO2 Coatings for Photovoltaic Devices. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely used as an antireflection coating in the silicon (Si) photovoltaics industry as it exhibits excellent optical properties and low deposition cost. However, recently manufacturers have been turning to alternatives such as hydrogenated silicon nitride coatings that exhibit greatly improved electronic properties, but cost 4 - 10 times more to deposit. This proj ....Enhancing the Understanding and Performance of Passivating TiO2 Coatings for Photovoltaic Devices. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely used as an antireflection coating in the silicon (Si) photovoltaics industry as it exhibits excellent optical properties and low deposition cost. However, recently manufacturers have been turning to alternatives such as hydrogenated silicon nitride coatings that exhibit greatly improved electronic properties, but cost 4 - 10 times more to deposit. This project seeks to understand the fundamental limitations behind the poor surface passivation afforded by TiO2 to a Si wafer, and subsequently develop a passivating TiO2 coating that can reduce the cost of electricity generated by Si solar cells.Read moreRead less