Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100736
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,446.00
Summary
High performing multifunctional silicon nanomaterials for bio-applications. This project aims to develop high-performance, multifunctional silicon nanomaterials, and to understand their physicochemical properties for bio-imaging. A range of high-quality multifunctional silicon-based bio-probes with novel fluorescent and magnetic properties will be developed for enhancing bio-imaging. The outcomes of the project will further strengthen Australia’s leading position in the targeted areas of Advance ....High performing multifunctional silicon nanomaterials for bio-applications. This project aims to develop high-performance, multifunctional silicon nanomaterials, and to understand their physicochemical properties for bio-imaging. A range of high-quality multifunctional silicon-based bio-probes with novel fluorescent and magnetic properties will be developed for enhancing bio-imaging. The outcomes of the project will further strengthen Australia’s leading position in the targeted areas of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100748
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Mechanofluorescent Surfaces for Understanding Complex Cell Traction Forces. This project aims to develop pressure-sensing surfaces that directly quantify surface forces, focused towards measuring complex cell traction forces. Understanding cell traction forces is a crucial challenge towards developing new materials for regenerative medicine. The surfaces, consisting of fluorescent polymer brushes, are expected to provide direct information on singular and clustered cell forces, which can reveal ....Mechanofluorescent Surfaces for Understanding Complex Cell Traction Forces. This project aims to develop pressure-sensing surfaces that directly quantify surface forces, focused towards measuring complex cell traction forces. Understanding cell traction forces is a crucial challenge towards developing new materials for regenerative medicine. The surfaces, consisting of fluorescent polymer brushes, are expected to provide direct information on singular and clustered cell forces, which can reveal new insight into how cells interact together. This may provide currently missing information on how cell-surface interaction forces modulate cell growth, differentiation and tissue formation. This insight is crucial to providing the underpinning science that can position Australia at the forefront of regenerative medicine.Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride heterostructures for solar hydrogen production. This project aims to develop a low cost and efficient photo-catalyst for splitting water into clean hydrogen fuel. Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals hetero-structures (stacked 2D crystals) can modulate optical absorption, charge separation and hydrogen evolution activity better than a single 2D material and thus produce hydrogen more efficiently. The approach will build on recent success in controlling elec ....Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride heterostructures for solar hydrogen production. This project aims to develop a low cost and efficient photo-catalyst for splitting water into clean hydrogen fuel. Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals hetero-structures (stacked 2D crystals) can modulate optical absorption, charge separation and hydrogen evolution activity better than a single 2D material and thus produce hydrogen more efficiently. The approach will build on recent success in controlling electron coupling at the hetero-interface. The materials and knowledge achieved from this project will advance the development of renewable energy technology, providing solutions to the global energy and environmental issues.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100153
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,264.00
Summary
Integrated In situ Characterisation Facilities for Energy Studies. This project aims to establish a new capability to reveal catalytic behaviour of materials under practical working conditions at multi-scale levels. Through in situ monitoring of surface, interface and structural properties of catalysts, this unique integrated facility will overcome current limitations due to a lack of understanding of reaction mechanism, by ex situ and/or individual in situ characterisations. This world-class fa ....Integrated In situ Characterisation Facilities for Energy Studies. This project aims to establish a new capability to reveal catalytic behaviour of materials under practical working conditions at multi-scale levels. Through in situ monitoring of surface, interface and structural properties of catalysts, this unique integrated facility will overcome current limitations due to a lack of understanding of reaction mechanism, by ex situ and/or individual in situ characterisations. This world-class facility will significantly advance a range of electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and battery applications for renewable energy-storage and clean-fuel generation. This will be Australia’s only platform; it will benefit a number of innovative research projects in energy, catalysis and environmental and materials science.Read moreRead less
Non-precious fuel cell cathode catalysts from carbon-based nanohybrids: a computational to experimental quest. This joint computational-experimental project will address significant problems including high cost, limited availability and poor performance in traditional platinum-based fuel cell technology. The outcomes are expected to help address global energy problems through the development of inexpensive fuel cell catalysts based on carbon nanohybrids.
Polymer nanodiscs. This project aims to produce disc-shaped polymer nanomaterials by utilising a new self-assembly concept based on oppositely charged polymers. This project expects to generate a modular technology that allows synthesis and control over the geometry and functionality of polymer nanoparticles. This level of control will permit a precise investigation of polymer nanodisc properties for nanomedicine applications. Expected outcomes of this project will be the fundamental understandi ....Polymer nanodiscs. This project aims to produce disc-shaped polymer nanomaterials by utilising a new self-assembly concept based on oppositely charged polymers. This project expects to generate a modular technology that allows synthesis and control over the geometry and functionality of polymer nanoparticles. This level of control will permit a precise investigation of polymer nanodisc properties for nanomedicine applications. Expected outcomes of this project will be the fundamental understanding of how nanoparticle geometry affects particle-cell interaction and how nanoscale polymer discs can be used to mimic biological nanoparticles in shape and function.Read moreRead less
Exploring electronic functionality in low-dimensional carbon and boron-nitride nanomaterials via advanced theoretical modelling. This project will spawn innovative carbon/boron nitride materials for next-generation electronics devices by devising new strategies to manipulate and control electronic structure as well as charge/spin transport properties. Outcomes will include technological breakthroughs leading to truly smaller, faster and smarter electronics materials.
Boosting Carbon Dioxide Reduction via Surface and Interface Engineering . This project will develop innovative catalysts for the reduction of CO2 into carbon fuels via cost effective computational design. The approach aims at engineering catalytic surface and interface to modulate the coordination environment around catalytic active copper atom. The expected outcomes will be high performance catalyst materials that can significantly boost the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels. The new knowle ....Boosting Carbon Dioxide Reduction via Surface and Interface Engineering . This project will develop innovative catalysts for the reduction of CO2 into carbon fuels via cost effective computational design. The approach aims at engineering catalytic surface and interface to modulate the coordination environment around catalytic active copper atom. The expected outcomes will be high performance catalyst materials that can significantly boost the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels. The new knowledge achieved in this project will dramatically advance the development of sustainable carbon cycle, providing solutions to the global energy supply and environmental issues. The smarter energy and environmental technologies will potentially result in the enhancements to the quality of the everyday lives of Australian.Read moreRead less
A New Platform of Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Delivery. Delivery of various molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors are safer delivery vehicles, but their delivery efficiency must be improved before they can be broadly used. Inspired by the surface topography of viruses with high infectivity, this project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of surface roughness on cellular delivery efficiency; and ....A New Platform of Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Delivery. Delivery of various molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors are safer delivery vehicles, but their delivery efficiency must be improved before they can be broadly used. Inspired by the surface topography of viruses with high infectivity, this project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of surface roughness on cellular delivery efficiency; and to use this knowledge in the designed synthesis of a new family of bio-inspired non-viral nanoparticles with both safety and high cellular delivery efficiency. The new and high performance nano-carriers will become a platform technology with broad bio-applications in gene therapy, cancer therapy and bio-imaging.Read moreRead less
Solar-driven thermochemical dissociation of carbon dioxide and water to produce carbon-neutral fuels. The biggest challenge to humanity of the century is to develop enabling clean energy resources to encounter rapidly diminished fossil fuel and accelerated global warming conditions. This project will offer a solution by developing a unique solar-driven thermochemical system capable of cleaving carbon dioxide and water to produce artificial syngas.