An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefi ....An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefits, as the predictive surface-wettability model will enhance controllability and productivity of diverse manufacturing processes and lead to new applications, high-value products and economic benefits in mining, energy, electronics, biomedicine and other fields.Read moreRead less
Multiferroic Skyrmion Materials for Next Generation Nanoelectronics. Topological structures, such as domain walls, vortices and skyrmions have recently seen considerable attention due to their potential application in nanoelectronics and new electronic device concepts. These structures are key to the design and understanding of novel functionalities in ferroic materials. The aim of the project is the investigation of fundamental properties of multiferroic skyrmion materials, i.e. their nanoscal ....Multiferroic Skyrmion Materials for Next Generation Nanoelectronics. Topological structures, such as domain walls, vortices and skyrmions have recently seen considerable attention due to their potential application in nanoelectronics and new electronic device concepts. These structures are key to the design and understanding of novel functionalities in ferroic materials. The aim of the project is the investigation of fundamental properties of multiferroic skyrmion materials, i.e. their nanoscale structure, surface topology, dynamics and their interaction with external stimuli. The control of these structures through external electric and magnetic fields, as well as strain and light will be investigated for applications in nanoelectronics and data storage.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101185
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,400.00
Summary
Engineering ferroelectric topologies in freestanding membranes. This DECRA proposal is focused on the exploiting controlled motion, annihilation and creation of real space topological defects (polar skyrmions, vortices and merons) in free-standing ferroelectric superlattices. Topological states in ferroic materials arise from spin/dipolar textures (the spins/dipoles can be considered as quasiparticles) which condense to form topological defects. The imposition of precisely controlled elastic bou ....Engineering ferroelectric topologies in freestanding membranes. This DECRA proposal is focused on the exploiting controlled motion, annihilation and creation of real space topological defects (polar skyrmions, vortices and merons) in free-standing ferroelectric superlattices. Topological states in ferroic materials arise from spin/dipolar textures (the spins/dipoles can be considered as quasiparticles) which condense to form topological defects. The imposition of precisely controlled elastic boundary conditions through an applied bending stress, temperature profiles and electric fields to the membranes enables tailored functional responses without any interference from substrate clamping effect. This yields multifunctional materials with enhanced operational speed, sensitivity and energy-efficiencies.Read moreRead less
Porosity in Si, Ge and the Si(x)Ge(1-x) alloys induced by ion irradiation. Ion beam methods will be used to form porous layers in Si, Ge and their alloys with a range of technological applications. The distributions of pore size and shape will be characterised with laboratory and synchrotron-based analytical techniques including a 3D reconstruction of the irradiation-induced porous structure.
Hybrid photocatalytic nanomaterials for water purification. This project aims to synthesise and characterise a range of porous photocatalytic materials (materials that absorb light to catalyse a reaction), and to establish high-throughput processes to simultaneously test the effectiveness of multiple photocatalytic materials. This interdisciplinary project expects to develop two new techniques that will lead to faster materials optimisation of materials that breakdown organic pollutants in water ....Hybrid photocatalytic nanomaterials for water purification. This project aims to synthesise and characterise a range of porous photocatalytic materials (materials that absorb light to catalyse a reaction), and to establish high-throughput processes to simultaneously test the effectiveness of multiple photocatalytic materials. This interdisciplinary project expects to develop two new techniques that will lead to faster materials optimisation of materials that breakdown organic pollutants in water under light irradiation. The intended outcomes include the production of industrially relevant photocatalysts and building capability in Australia to decrease photocatalytic testing time and cost. This should provide significant benefits to industry and the environment, and have an impact on human health.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artifici ....Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artificial ion-transporter membranes and bring new technologies to applications such as in solar energy harvesting, osmotic power generation, ionic batteries, and ionic circuits. The proposed research should provide significant benefits such as new energy conversion and storage technologies for Australian manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Spin manipulation in oxide magnetic semiconductors towards spintronics applications. The project is to develop high quality diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) with magnetic element dopant for practical spintronics applications. The properties for the qualified DMS include intrinsic ferromagnetism, effective spin manipulation, high spin polarisation and long distance of spin transport, which have not been well addressed so far. This project will investigate these issues using advance tools, in ....Spin manipulation in oxide magnetic semiconductors towards spintronics applications. The project is to develop high quality diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) with magnetic element dopant for practical spintronics applications. The properties for the qualified DMS include intrinsic ferromagnetism, effective spin manipulation, high spin polarisation and long distance of spin transport, which have not been well addressed so far. This project will investigate these issues using advance tools, including muon spin relaxation and neutron reflectometry. This project expects to establish criteria for evaluating DMS, understanding spin dynamics and mechanisms of spin manipulation and achieve qualified DMSs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$832,648.00
Summary
Magneto-optical facility for the search of novel multifunctional materials. This project aims to establish a comprehensive photomagnetic materials characterisation facility. Novel transition metal oxide materials provide new functionalities, which by far exceed present semiconductor and IT technology. The project will enable new observations of materials’ behaviour by combining Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry with optical illumination, under systematically contro ....Magneto-optical facility for the search of novel multifunctional materials. This project aims to establish a comprehensive photomagnetic materials characterisation facility. Novel transition metal oxide materials provide new functionalities, which by far exceed present semiconductor and IT technology. The project will enable new observations of materials’ behaviour by combining Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry with optical illumination, under systematically controlled conditions. The photomagnetic measurement system will cover a diverse process parameter space for studying magnetic materials properties under light illumination, enabling measurements of the smallest magnetisation signals possible so far, for example in ultrathin films and nanomaterials.Read moreRead less
Engineered ion channels for selective and switchable ion conduction. This project aims to develop an innovative bioinspired approach for fabricating angstrom-sized ion-channel membranes with specific ion selectivity, high ion conductivity and efficient gating function comparable to biological ion channels. Engineering of artificial channels with ion-channel-like shapes, ion selectivity filters and functional gates is expected to bring high-efficiency technologies to applications such as membrane ....Engineered ion channels for selective and switchable ion conduction. This project aims to develop an innovative bioinspired approach for fabricating angstrom-sized ion-channel membranes with specific ion selectivity, high ion conductivity and efficient gating function comparable to biological ion channels. Engineering of artificial channels with ion-channel-like shapes, ion selectivity filters and functional gates is expected to bring high-efficiency technologies to applications such as membrane separation and energy conversion. This project has potential to result in new knowledge of biomimetic design of artificial ion-channel membranes and directly benefit manufacturing industry for Australia.Read moreRead less
Doped alumina with tailored material properties for battery applications. This project aims to develop tailored alumina materials for lithium ion battery separators through a novel in-situ approach that will: (1) produce uniform doped alumina for improved safety, (2) target specific surface and bulk material properties to increase the overall performance, and (3) reduce manufacturing costs by integrating the process with new technology developed for the production of high purity alumina. Signifi ....Doped alumina with tailored material properties for battery applications. This project aims to develop tailored alumina materials for lithium ion battery separators through a novel in-situ approach that will: (1) produce uniform doped alumina for improved safety, (2) target specific surface and bulk material properties to increase the overall performance, and (3) reduce manufacturing costs by integrating the process with new technology developed for the production of high purity alumina. Significant advances are proposed for overcoming current manufacturing limitations of doped alumina. Building research capacity and knowledge in battery material manufacturing will benefit a range of industries across Australia, whilst providing new opportunities for growth in local communities.Read moreRead less