Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms ....Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind the exceptional properties in ns SiC and to explore the possibility of realizing the two properties in the same ns SiC. The results obtained from this research will be very important for guiding the structural design of SiC with exceptional mechanical properties which will have a wide range of structural applications.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and processing of fine powders and nano-materials by electric discharge assisted milling under hot and cold plasmas. The discovery of a new materials synthesis and processing technique, called Electric Discharge Assisted Ball Milling, has generated great interest within the materials science community. Preliminary results, recently published in Nature, have demonstrated that mechanical milling using both hot and cold plasmas can result in extremely rapid synthesis of a wide range of ma ....Synthesis and processing of fine powders and nano-materials by electric discharge assisted milling under hot and cold plasmas. The discovery of a new materials synthesis and processing technique, called Electric Discharge Assisted Ball Milling, has generated great interest within the materials science community. Preliminary results, recently published in Nature, have demonstrated that mechanical milling using both hot and cold plasmas can result in extremely rapid synthesis of a wide range of materials. The fundamental mechanisms for this rapid mechano-synthesis method will be elucidated by detailed studies of a range of technologically important materials including, ultrafine, nanostructural and nanosized powders, carbides, nitrides and borides, and energy efficient high surface area products for hydrogen storage and electrode applications.Read moreRead less
Development of High Performance Ceramic Based Thermoelectric Materials for Power Regeneration Applications. Thermoelectric materials offer an opportunity for economic recovery of the waste heat from exhaust gases to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions. An increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a few percent, in power production, would translate to significant cost saving on a national scale, which is about several billions of Australian dollars worth of products per year in ....Development of High Performance Ceramic Based Thermoelectric Materials for Power Regeneration Applications. Thermoelectric materials offer an opportunity for economic recovery of the waste heat from exhaust gases to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions. An increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a few percent, in power production, would translate to significant cost saving on a national scale, which is about several billions of Australian dollars worth of products per year in this area alone. Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy independence for Australia. Success of this program will facilitate the development of thermoelectric materials and renewable energy technologies, which have enormous national and international markets.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989858
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,230.00
Summary
Fabrication Facilities of Atomic-Scale and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Novel Devices, Sensors, and Biomedical Components. Australia's energy, mining, metallurgical, defence, biomedical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new ....Fabrication Facilities of Atomic-Scale and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Novel Devices, Sensors, and Biomedical Components. Australia's energy, mining, metallurgical, defence, biomedical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new dimension to high-level research performance and significantly enhance the capability for the development of advanced materials and biomedical components in Australia. The continual development of advanced material and biomedical components will potentially provide a sustainable means for meeting the increasing global challenge for the industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100121
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
An analytical transmission electron microscope for the investigation of functional materials, earth processes and novel condensed matter. Sustainablity depends on the delivery of clean energy, pristine water and air, and the manufacture of consumer products with small environmental footprints. Modelling long-term impacts requires an understanding of the hydro-geological cycles. The technologies are well known—efficient electronics, fuel cells, lightweight composites, and so on—but delivery is ....An analytical transmission electron microscope for the investigation of functional materials, earth processes and novel condensed matter. Sustainablity depends on the delivery of clean energy, pristine water and air, and the manufacture of consumer products with small environmental footprints. Modelling long-term impacts requires an understanding of the hydro-geological cycles. The technologies are well known—efficient electronics, fuel cells, lightweight composites, and so on—but delivery is not straightforward. It is clear, however, that novel materials manipulated at fine scales will be key. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) guides the development of sustainable technologies. The new TEM facility at ANU will accelerate current studies, by enhancing the materials research portfolio, and extending national and international collaborations in materials, geological and earth sciences.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and im ....Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and implementation of advanced nanoceramics and nanocomposites created by innovative nanotechnologies. The project will also contribute to other national research priorities such as materials and frontier technologies, reduction of atmospheric pollution, and decrease in the energy dependence of our country on oil.Read moreRead less
Development of Advanced Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors for Spin Transistors. Recent advances in diluted magnetic semiconductors hold the promise of surmounting the fundamental limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin degree of freedom in semiconductors to realize spin-transistors with enhanced functionality, higher speeds and integration densities, and lower power consumption in future. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semiconductors, an international mar ....Development of Advanced Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors for Spin Transistors. Recent advances in diluted magnetic semiconductors hold the promise of surmounting the fundamental limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin degree of freedom in semiconductors to realize spin-transistors with enhanced functionality, higher speeds and integration densities, and lower power consumption in future. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semiconductors, an international market worth US$200bn in 2003 and this market will grow to US$1000bn per year in next 12 years. In 8 years time, the spin transistor will be on par with electronics. Therefore, success of this program will facilitate the development of spintronic materials and technologies, which have enormous international market, in Australia.Read moreRead less
Flotation separation of nanoparticles. This project deals with the separation of fine nanoparticles suspended in water, by attachment to small gas bubbles. It aims to find a way of removing nanoparticles from water, or of separating one species from another. The process could be used for simple solids such as metal oxides, and for biological materials such as large molecules, viruses and small bacteria. The work will be both theoretical and experimental. This ground-breaking project will build u ....Flotation separation of nanoparticles. This project deals with the separation of fine nanoparticles suspended in water, by attachment to small gas bubbles. It aims to find a way of removing nanoparticles from water, or of separating one species from another. The process could be used for simple solids such as metal oxides, and for biological materials such as large molecules, viruses and small bacteria. The work will be both theoretical and experimental. This ground-breaking project will build upon past successes of the applicant, whose invention in the field of resource recovery is contributing close to $1 billion a year to Australia's exports.Read moreRead less
Directed assembly and photoelectric properties of core-shell nanowire networks of PbSe-TiO2 heterostructures for high efficiency low-cost solar cells. The proposed program is aimed at studying numerous fundamental properties and phenomena of photoelectrochemical cells that have an important impact on environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems. Specifically, solar cells have a significant role in energy markets and in lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. Solar cell ....Directed assembly and photoelectric properties of core-shell nanowire networks of PbSe-TiO2 heterostructures for high efficiency low-cost solar cells. The proposed program is aimed at studying numerous fundamental properties and phenomena of photoelectrochemical cells that have an important impact on environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems. Specifically, solar cells have a significant role in energy markets and in lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. Solar cell technology, coupled with renewable energy sources, has the potential to provide a long-term solution to the energy crisis and the global warming threat. In addition, the strong team to be assembled will reach a leading position in this area of cutting edge technology. The outcomes will benefit Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Production and nano-characterisation of II-VI semiconductor quantum dots from plant cell cultures. Nanocrystallites with semiconductor properties have potential applications in medicine, microelectronics and waste treatment. Cheap, reliable methods for producing large quantities of monodisperse nanoparticles are required. Solution techniques have been used most commonly; however, production of stable, high-quality particles remains difficult. Biological synthesis using plant cell culture offers ....Production and nano-characterisation of II-VI semiconductor quantum dots from plant cell cultures. Nanocrystallites with semiconductor properties have potential applications in medicine, microelectronics and waste treatment. Cheap, reliable methods for producing large quantities of monodisperse nanoparticles are required. Solution techniques have been used most commonly; however, production of stable, high-quality particles remains difficult. Biological synthesis using plant cell culture offers several important advantages. As peptide capping is incorporated into the biological assembly process, the nanoparticles are restricted in size, their stability is improved, and their surfaces are passivated. Application of plant cultures for nanocrystallite production is a novel approach with the potential to yield significant improvements in the quality of manufactured quantum dots.Read moreRead less