Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their ....Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their collective behaviour. The project will investigate in detail the geometry, topology, materials science and statistical physics of networks, leading to design and characterization of robust self-assembled materials and complex systems.Read moreRead less
Environmental stability of nanoscale materials for catalysis and sensing. After two decades of research, the first wave of 'nanotechnology' consumer products are entering the market, and large quantities of nanoparticles (less than millionth of a centimetre in size) are now being produced annually. However, before any new product can be manufactured, we need to know how stable engineered nanomaterials are before we bring them into our home, or we find them (unintentionally) free in our waterways ....Environmental stability of nanoscale materials for catalysis and sensing. After two decades of research, the first wave of 'nanotechnology' consumer products are entering the market, and large quantities of nanoparticles (less than millionth of a centimetre in size) are now being produced annually. However, before any new product can be manufactured, we need to know how stable engineered nanomaterials are before we bring them into our home, or we find them (unintentionally) free in our waterways and other ecosystems. For the first time, this project uses high performance supercomputing and advanced theoretical modelling to predict the stability of nanomaterials under a wide range of environmental conditions, to help safe guard Australia from potential 'nano-hazards' associated with these tiny pieces of matter.Read moreRead less
Self-assembled polyphiles: molecular nanopatterns. 21st century technology is certain to rely on advanced materials, utterly new in character, function and manufacturing process. Control of material structure, from the atomic and molecular scales and upward will be a central focus, to engineer specific features from electronic or photonic functionality, to chemical selectivity. The manufacturing principle of biological materials, made routinely in vivo with exquisite economy and control at all l ....Self-assembled polyphiles: molecular nanopatterns. 21st century technology is certain to rely on advanced materials, utterly new in character, function and manufacturing process. Control of material structure, from the atomic and molecular scales and upward will be a central focus, to engineer specific features from electronic or photonic functionality, to chemical selectivity. The manufacturing principle of biological materials, made routinely in vivo with exquisite economy and control at all length scales, will be adopted for materials design. The route to these materials is self-assembly. We will explore in detail theory and practical manufacture of self-assembled nanostructured materials, building molecular honeycombs combining composite material features at the nanoscale.Read moreRead less