Organometallic Transformations of Organic Compounds. The program will develop new metal-based catalysts for two main purposes (i) transforming basic hydrocarbons eg. natural gas and low-molecular-weight petroleum products into more advanced compounds (such as alcohols, alkenes and carboxylic acids); and (ii) converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen-containing compounds eg. ammonia or ammonia derivatives. In both projects, the aim is to take readily available and abundant starting materials that ar ....Organometallic Transformations of Organic Compounds. The program will develop new metal-based catalysts for two main purposes (i) transforming basic hydrocarbons eg. natural gas and low-molecular-weight petroleum products into more advanced compounds (such as alcohols, alkenes and carboxylic acids); and (ii) converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen-containing compounds eg. ammonia or ammonia derivatives. In both projects, the aim is to take readily available and abundant starting materials that are currently difficult to utilise and to design and develop specific reagents to convert them to "value-added" products. The program will also explore the mode of action of metal-based reagents leading to better reagent and catalyst design.Read moreRead less
Why is ColorbondR steel greener on the other side of the fence? Designing additives to retard weathering of surface coatings. COLORBONDR steel, the flagship pre-painted steel product of BlueScope Steel Limited, has become an iconic part of both suburban and outback landscapes whether installed as roofing, walling or water conservation accessories (tanks, down-pipes etc). This proposal aims to provide a detailed understanding of molecular level changes in COLORBONDR steel surface coatings brought ....Why is ColorbondR steel greener on the other side of the fence? Designing additives to retard weathering of surface coatings. COLORBONDR steel, the flagship pre-painted steel product of BlueScope Steel Limited, has become an iconic part of both suburban and outback landscapes whether installed as roofing, walling or water conservation accessories (tanks, down-pipes etc). This proposal aims to provide a detailed understanding of molecular level changes in COLORBONDR steel surface coatings brought about by levels of heat and radiation encountered in-service. These insights will lead to further improvements in both lifetime and aesthetic durability of COLORBONDR steel, ensuring continuing economic success of BlueScope in the domestic building market with consequent benefits to manufacturing communities throughout the supply-chain nationwide.Read moreRead less
Metallographitic Discs as New Materials. Materials science plays a pivotal role in determining and improving economic performance and quality of life. While application of materials is the ultimate goal, basic understanding of a material's behaviour from the atomic/nano-level to macrostructural level is also of critical importance. This project builds upon the recent success of soluble, well-defined carbon discs in molecular electronics, through the preparation and study of metal-containing deri ....Metallographitic Discs as New Materials. Materials science plays a pivotal role in determining and improving economic performance and quality of life. While application of materials is the ultimate goal, basic understanding of a material's behaviour from the atomic/nano-level to macrostructural level is also of critical importance. This project builds upon the recent success of soluble, well-defined carbon discs in molecular electronics, through the preparation and study of metal-containing derivatives as new advanced crystalline and liquid crystalline materials. The possibility of enhanced electronic, optical and/or magnetic properties, along with good processability, make these materials potential candidates as the active component of future, technologically important devices.Read moreRead less
Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will desi ....Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will design catalysts with multiple complementary metal centres tailored to bind and activate nitrogen gas to facilitate its reaction with hydrogen or other reagents.Read moreRead less
Resolving Critical Knowledge Gaps Relating to Light and Free-Radical Mediated Transformations of Iron and Copper in Oxic Natural Waters. Understanding the transformation kinetics of iron and copper species is critical to maintaining Australia's water resources since i) iron transformations are key to generation and transport of acid in Australia's coastal environment; ii) growth of toxic algae are stimulated by dissolution of iron-rich sediments with subsequent release of nutrients phosphorus an ....Resolving Critical Knowledge Gaps Relating to Light and Free-Radical Mediated Transformations of Iron and Copper in Oxic Natural Waters. Understanding the transformation kinetics of iron and copper species is critical to maintaining Australia's water resources since i) iron transformations are key to generation and transport of acid in Australia's coastal environment; ii) growth of toxic algae are stimulated by dissolution of iron-rich sediments with subsequent release of nutrients phosphorus and iron, and iii) algal toxicity is related to iron and copper nutrition and interplay of these metals with oxygen. Additionally, global cycles of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen are influenced by iron and copper interactions with light and oxygen. Improved understanding of these processes should lead to an awareness of how to prevent these problems and, if they occur, approaches to their mitigation.Read moreRead less
Organometallic Transformations of Organic Molecules. Simple hydrocarbons such as natural gas and petroleum are amongst the most abundant and readily available natural feedstocks for the organic chemical industry. However, apart from simply burning them for fuel, there are very few methods for using these materials as starting materials for industry. In chemical terms, simple hydrocarbons are very stable and this makes them difficult substances to convert cleanly to other more useful compounds. ....Organometallic Transformations of Organic Molecules. Simple hydrocarbons such as natural gas and petroleum are amongst the most abundant and readily available natural feedstocks for the organic chemical industry. However, apart from simply burning them for fuel, there are very few methods for using these materials as starting materials for industry. In chemical terms, simple hydrocarbons are very stable and this makes them difficult substances to convert cleanly to other more useful compounds. This research program investigates new approaches for converting hydrocarbons to more useful materials by using metals such as iron and ruthenium. This research program will provide a new route to ?value-added? products from hydrocarbons and develop new uses for these abundant raw materials.Read moreRead less
From Nanostructured Functional Materials to Sustainable Processes. Nano-structured functional materials in the areas of catalysis and reversible hydrogen storage will be developed with the view to arrive at (a) sustainable processes and (b) the adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier. These aims are driven by a global need to change the industrial paradigm due to environmental pressures and limited resources, particularly in terms of energy. Expected outcomes are new avenues to process intens ....From Nanostructured Functional Materials to Sustainable Processes. Nano-structured functional materials in the areas of catalysis and reversible hydrogen storage will be developed with the view to arrive at (a) sustainable processes and (b) the adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier. These aims are driven by a global need to change the industrial paradigm due to environmental pressures and limited resources, particularly in terms of energy. Expected outcomes are new avenues to process intensification, leading to novel commercial routes, and a hydrogen storage technology which has the potential to play a strong part in the global economy.Read moreRead less