Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Mechano-Regulation of Stem Cell Fate. Mechanical stimulation plays a critical role in regulating stem cell fate. Nanostructure-mediated mechanical cues can precisely stimulate stem cells, but predicting their impact on stem cell differentiation is challenging. This project aims to engineer nanostructures to regulate stem cell fate and gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanical properties that affect cell function. The expected outcomes and benefits of this ....Bio-inspired Nanoparticles for Mechano-Regulation of Stem Cell Fate. Mechanical stimulation plays a critical role in regulating stem cell fate. Nanostructure-mediated mechanical cues can precisely stimulate stem cells, but predicting their impact on stem cell differentiation is challenging. This project aims to engineer nanostructures to regulate stem cell fate and gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanical properties that affect cell function. The expected outcomes and benefits of this project include a new fundamental understanding of the effect of mechanical properties on cell function, novel insights into the regulation of stem cell fate, and the development of a new class of roughness-tunable materials suitable for use in tissue engineering and pharmaceutical applications. Read moreRead less
Single molecule sensing on nanopillars: Reading complex molecular circuits. This project aims to develop an entirely new nanotechnology to visualise dynamic molecular circuits in real time, and within any biological sample as small as a single cell. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of cell biology and sensor technology, using innovative nanofabrication and nanoscopic fluid flows to advance understanding of the emerging field of single protein molecule interactions in c ....Single molecule sensing on nanopillars: Reading complex molecular circuits. This project aims to develop an entirely new nanotechnology to visualise dynamic molecular circuits in real time, and within any biological sample as small as a single cell. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of cell biology and sensor technology, using innovative nanofabrication and nanoscopic fluid flows to advance understanding of the emerging field of single protein molecule interactions in cellular pathways. Expected outcomes include a universal technology platform to detect single molecules in single cells, with potential to deliver valuable intellectual property of commercial interest and economic benefit through technological advancements.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100324
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,318.00
Summary
Cooperative Single Atom Catalysts for Zn-CO2 Batteries. This project aims to develop cooperative single-atom catalysts for efficient and selective electrocatalytic CO2 conversion and Zn-CO2 batteries. Cooperative catalysts at the single atom limit can potentially achieve enhanced electrochemical properties beyond state-of-the-art and will trigger significant theoretical and technological interests in energy conversion and storage fields. It is expected to generate new knowledge in materials scie ....Cooperative Single Atom Catalysts for Zn-CO2 Batteries. This project aims to develop cooperative single-atom catalysts for efficient and selective electrocatalytic CO2 conversion and Zn-CO2 batteries. Cooperative catalysts at the single atom limit can potentially achieve enhanced electrochemical properties beyond state-of-the-art and will trigger significant theoretical and technological interests in energy conversion and storage fields. It is expected to generate new knowledge in materials science and electrochemistry, using interdisciplinary approaches of atom-precise material engineering, in situ characterisation and full-cell optimisation. Significant economic and environmental benefits are expected from developing carbon-neutral CO2 electrolysers with low cost and high energy efficiency.Read moreRead less
Towards Robust Hydrogen Electrode for High-Rate Alkaline Electrolysis. This project aims to develop robust, efficient porous hybrid hydrogen electrodes for electrochemical hydrogen production in anion exchange membrane water electrolyser. anion exchange membrane water electrolyser powered by renewable energy has emerged as a key avenue towards clean hydrogen with zero carbon footprint. However, the electrochemical turnover on the hydrogen electrode has been significantly hindered by the sluggish ....Towards Robust Hydrogen Electrode for High-Rate Alkaline Electrolysis. This project aims to develop robust, efficient porous hybrid hydrogen electrodes for electrochemical hydrogen production in anion exchange membrane water electrolyser. anion exchange membrane water electrolyser powered by renewable energy has emerged as a key avenue towards clean hydrogen with zero carbon footprint. However, the electrochemical turnover on the hydrogen electrode has been significantly hindered by the sluggish reaction kinetics in alkaline solution. The project is expected to generate cost-effective hydrogen electrodes for hydrogen electrolyzers, advanced knowledge in the electrode material engineering, electrochemical reaction mechanistic insights, and eventually promoted development of disruptive electrolysis technology.Read moreRead less
Diamane: A New Frontier in Materials Science. Single-layer diamond (‘diamane’) is a new frontier of material research although its preparation is still in infancy with many structures predicted possible but have not been made experimentally. Built on a new chemical route for 'graphite to diamane' transformation, this project will address a research gap towards synthesising new diamane(-like) nanostructures and developing an in-depth understanding of the chemically induced phase transformation an ....Diamane: A New Frontier in Materials Science. Single-layer diamond (‘diamane’) is a new frontier of material research although its preparation is still in infancy with many structures predicted possible but have not been made experimentally. Built on a new chemical route for 'graphite to diamane' transformation, this project will address a research gap towards synthesising new diamane(-like) nanostructures and developing an in-depth understanding of the chemically induced phase transformation and structure-property correlations, which will have far-reaching impact on scientific fields beyond carbon research. Preliminary data points to both feasibility and impact for discovering new materials and technologies, which will bring foreseeable scholarly, economic, and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH210100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC RESEARCH HUB FOR CONNECTED SENSORS FOR HEALTH. This Hub aims to develop, manufacture and deploy high-tech, cyber-secure, medically-certified IoT sensors to global health markets by integrating disparate Australian capabilities into a productive end-to-end value chain. This Hub expects to position Australia at the forefront of connected health by integrating sensor science with cyber-secure data analytics, regulatory approval and certified manufacturing capabilities. Expected outcomes of this ....ARC RESEARCH HUB FOR CONNECTED SENSORS FOR HEALTH. This Hub aims to develop, manufacture and deploy high-tech, cyber-secure, medically-certified IoT sensors to global health markets by integrating disparate Australian capabilities into a productive end-to-end value chain. This Hub expects to position Australia at the forefront of connected health by integrating sensor science with cyber-secure data analytics, regulatory approval and certified manufacturing capabilities. Expected outcomes of this Hub include advanced manufacturing capacity for connected sensors, strategic partnerships and commercialisation skills to translate sensors research to create economic benefits such as jobs and locally-made products for domestic and export markets, as well as improving the health of Australians.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100846
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,388.00
Summary
Ordering photon energy carriers for efficient upconversion. This project aims to tackle the major challenge of upconversion nanosystems – their brightness. It will centre on building a donor/acceptor-ordered nanosystem to improve the energy transfer efficiency in hybrid nanomaterials. This ordered system will significantly improve the brightness of hybrid nanoparticles at low irradiance. Expected outcomes include a fundamental understanding of energy transfer mechanisms at sub-nm scales and a ne ....Ordering photon energy carriers for efficient upconversion. This project aims to tackle the major challenge of upconversion nanosystems – their brightness. It will centre on building a donor/acceptor-ordered nanosystem to improve the energy transfer efficiency in hybrid nanomaterials. This ordered system will significantly improve the brightness of hybrid nanoparticles at low irradiance. Expected outcomes include a fundamental understanding of energy transfer mechanisms at sub-nm scales and a new strategy to brighten the upconversion nanomaterials. This project should push upconversion nanoscience to a new generation and provide significant benefits in ultra-sensitive biomolecular assays and in vivo bioimaging.Read moreRead less
Molecular Thermoelectric Materials: A New Hot Topic. This project aims to use the principles of chemistry and molecular electronics to synthesize and study molecules able to directly convert waste heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect. This project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the wire-like properties of molecules and conditions that lead to a high Seebeck coefficient, together with interference effects to suppress thermal conductance. Expected outcomes of this project ....Molecular Thermoelectric Materials: A New Hot Topic. This project aims to use the principles of chemistry and molecular electronics to synthesize and study molecules able to directly convert waste heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect. This project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the wire-like properties of molecules and conditions that lead to a high Seebeck coefficient, together with interference effects to suppress thermal conductance. Expected outcomes of this project include a deeper understanding of chemical structure - molecular electronic property relationships, and enhanced international collaboration with the UK. This should provide benefits in terms of low-cost conversion of waste heat to electrical energy. Read moreRead less
Molecular transistors: from strings and rings to other things. This project aims to use chemical approaches to develop molecular transistors, which are critical components for a future molecular electronics technology. The use of molecules as ultra-miniaturised electronic components is gathering attention from industry and academia, as a solution to the approaching limits of top-down scaling. However, current molecular designs based on gating through chemical reaction or redox state changes are ....Molecular transistors: from strings and rings to other things. This project aims to use chemical approaches to develop molecular transistors, which are critical components for a future molecular electronics technology. The use of molecules as ultra-miniaturised electronic components is gathering attention from industry and academia, as a solution to the approaching limits of top-down scaling. However, current molecular designs based on gating through chemical reaction or redox state changes are slow and inefficient. The project will develop molecular transistors with exceptionally high gain and fast response based on gating the energy of quantum interference features in molecules with cross-conjugated or ring-like shapes. This will provide significant benefits including new strategies for nanofabrication of molecular devices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$950,000.00
Summary
A customised triple-beam microscope for precise fabricating/characterising . This project aims to establish a customised triple-beam microscope to enable precise fabrication and polishing (using ion beams) and characterisation (using electron beam) of a wide range of advanced materials. It will provide solutions to prepare ultra-high quality and artefact-free specimens for transmission electron microscopy studies, and allow fabrication of unique nanostructures and nanostructured templates for hi ....A customised triple-beam microscope for precise fabricating/characterising . This project aims to establish a customised triple-beam microscope to enable precise fabrication and polishing (using ion beams) and characterisation (using electron beam) of a wide range of advanced materials. It will provide solutions to prepare ultra-high quality and artefact-free specimens for transmission electron microscopy studies, and allow fabrication of unique nanostructures and nanostructured templates for high-performance applications. The customised features of the proposed instrument are the first of its kind in Australia. The new knowledge developed through this project will significantly impact on scientific insights and practical applications of new materials related to physics, chemistry, biology, geology and engineering.Read moreRead less