Enhancing our understanding of metallochemistry in neurobiology with modern electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Many neurological diseases involve protein accumulation that appears causally linked to abnormal levels of metal ions in the brain. This project will use a special technique called electron paramagnetic resonance to uncover how these metals interact with specific proteins at the molecular level and how drug treatments can modify these interactions.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100061
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$710,000.00
Summary
Extending frontiers of structural chemistry and biology through high resolution pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance. Multifrequency high resolution pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) instrumentation will provide forefront technologies in identifying, characterising, quantifying and visualising free radicals and metal ions that are involved in fundamental chemical and biological processes in science and nature.
Switchable molecules for molecular nanoscience. This project targets the development and exploration of switchable molecules for future nanoscale devices. Applications will include individual molecules as: units of magnetic memory for high density data storage, quantum bits in quantum computers, components in electronic devices and switching units in display media.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100060
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,390.00
Summary
Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers ....Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers will enable access to picosecond timescales and facilitate complex multi-laser experiments in a wide variety of projects including reaction dynamics, materials chemistry and photovoltaics.Read moreRead less
Microplastic infiltration of food webs: cells to ecosystem consequences. Using trophic ecological theory as a framework, this project aims to provide the first comprehensive assessment of the fate and effects of microplastics. Plastic pollution is a persistent and increasing problem. Plastics are degraded into small particles, called microplastics, which are ingested by animals. The project aims to develop much-needed techniques to measure microplastics in biological tissue and apply these techn ....Microplastic infiltration of food webs: cells to ecosystem consequences. Using trophic ecological theory as a framework, this project aims to provide the first comprehensive assessment of the fate and effects of microplastics. Plastic pollution is a persistent and increasing problem. Plastics are degraded into small particles, called microplastics, which are ingested by animals. The project aims to develop much-needed techniques to measure microplastics in biological tissue and apply these techniques in food web studies to determine the capacity of microplastics to transfer from the environment into animals, and how microplastics move through a food web to affect biological diversity and animal health. This information will be used to complete the first risk assessment for microplastics in a major coastal habitat.Read moreRead less
A Radical Approach to Multifunctional Coordination Solids. The development of multifunctional coordination solids represents one of the foremost challenges in the field of advanced materials as their properties underpin the next generation of technologically useful devices. Using a highly targeted theoretical and experimental approach for crystal engineering, this project aims to generate coordination solids that integrate radicals as molecular components for charge transfer. At a fundamental le ....A Radical Approach to Multifunctional Coordination Solids. The development of multifunctional coordination solids represents one of the foremost challenges in the field of advanced materials as their properties underpin the next generation of technologically useful devices. Using a highly targeted theoretical and experimental approach for crystal engineering, this project aims to generate coordination solids that integrate radicals as molecular components for charge transfer. At a fundamental level these materials will offer unprecedented insights into charge delocalisation and radical-induced switching phenomena in three-dimensional coordination space. It is expected that the outcomes of the project will spur the development of devices for applications ranging from solid state sensing to energy conversion and storage.Read moreRead less
Enhancing single-molecule magnets. This project aims to design, synthesise and investigate single-molecule magnets that can function at higher temperatures for use in quantum computing and molecular spintronics. Materials science increasingly benefit from molecular approaches, and lanthanoid-based single-molecule magnets could achieve otherwise inaccessible technological developments such as the development of molecular materials for quantum computing and molecular spintronics. Advances in funda ....Enhancing single-molecule magnets. This project aims to design, synthesise and investigate single-molecule magnets that can function at higher temperatures for use in quantum computing and molecular spintronics. Materials science increasingly benefit from molecular approaches, and lanthanoid-based single-molecule magnets could achieve otherwise inaccessible technological developments such as the development of molecular materials for quantum computing and molecular spintronics. Advances in fundamental chemistry are anticipated, and this project is expected to benefit Australia's participation in related high-end technology industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100301
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,000.00
Summary
Planetary Nitrile Chemistry: Synchrotron Spectroscopic Investigations. Observed in planetary atmospheres such as Saturn's moon Titan, cyanide-based aerosols undergo photolytic processing to generate complex organic material of prebiotic interest. However, dedicated spectroscopic experiments directed at nitrile aerosol analogues have not been performed to date. To bridge this gap, a custom cooling cell at the Australian Synchrotron will be used to investigate condensed-phase nitriles at Titan con ....Planetary Nitrile Chemistry: Synchrotron Spectroscopic Investigations. Observed in planetary atmospheres such as Saturn's moon Titan, cyanide-based aerosols undergo photolytic processing to generate complex organic material of prebiotic interest. However, dedicated spectroscopic experiments directed at nitrile aerosol analogues have not been performed to date. To bridge this gap, a custom cooling cell at the Australian Synchrotron will be used to investigate condensed-phase nitriles at Titan conditions. Laser irradiation of nitrile ice particles will then follow; designed to simulate photochemical processes in the Titan atmosphere. The project aims to use data compiled for nitrile aerosols and their photolytic products to assist in assigning these species to unconfirmed bands within infrared surveys of planetary environments.Read moreRead less
Shape-Shifting Molecules: Photoisomerization Action Spectroscopy. This project aims to examine molecules that change shape in response to light in order to gain insight into the biological processes they control. Many biological systems, including the human visual apparatus and bacterial photosynthesis, depend on molecules that change shape in response to light. The project plans to probe shape-shifting molecules with laser light while they are propelled through gas by an electric field. Light-i ....Shape-Shifting Molecules: Photoisomerization Action Spectroscopy. This project aims to examine molecules that change shape in response to light in order to gain insight into the biological processes they control. Many biological systems, including the human visual apparatus and bacterial photosynthesis, depend on molecules that change shape in response to light. The project plans to probe shape-shifting molecules with laser light while they are propelled through gas by an electric field. Light-induced changes in molecular shape produce detectable variations in drift speed. The ensuing knowledge would help calibrate computational approaches for predicting molecular function. It would also establish foundations for understanding essential biological molecules, including retinals, carotenes and peptides, and for developing new light-activated molecular motors and switches.Read moreRead less