Resolving surface nanobubbles as cavitation nuclei. This project aims to investigate the onset and control of cavitation, a challenging problem for over half a century. Cavitation is a process of bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and causes noise and damage to adjacent surfaces, e.g. the failure of ship propellers and valves. This project expects to unravel the mystery of cavitation nuclei, and to develop cavitation-free designs to mitigate the cavitation caused damage to propellers and val ....Resolving surface nanobubbles as cavitation nuclei. This project aims to investigate the onset and control of cavitation, a challenging problem for over half a century. Cavitation is a process of bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and causes noise and damage to adjacent surfaces, e.g. the failure of ship propellers and valves. This project expects to unravel the mystery of cavitation nuclei, and to develop cavitation-free designs to mitigate the cavitation caused damage to propellers and valves, and noise. The anticipated outcomes will significantly advance existing fundamental knowledge at the forefront of fluid physics and provide Australia with a significant advantage in the marine, pump and valve industries, and significantly benefit the Australian industry and economy. Read moreRead less
New photoinitiators and polymers for tack-free LED cured surface coatings. This project aims to develop surface coatings curable by energy from Light Emitting Diodes (LEDS) by overcoming existing hurdles, while improving workplace health and safety.
The project expects to achieve this by developing a new class of photoinitiator molecules, with enhanced reactivity, via a unique understanding of synthesis, photochemistry and commercial coatings formulation.
Outcomes will be new surface coatings ....New photoinitiators and polymers for tack-free LED cured surface coatings. This project aims to develop surface coatings curable by energy from Light Emitting Diodes (LEDS) by overcoming existing hurdles, while improving workplace health and safety.
The project expects to achieve this by developing a new class of photoinitiator molecules, with enhanced reactivity, via a unique understanding of synthesis, photochemistry and commercial coatings formulation.
Outcomes will be new surface coatings for a wide range of end uses, publication in high ranking journals and commercialisation of the technology.
Benefits of this project will include elimination of mercury and reduction in exposure to solvents in the Australian workplace, and a lower energy requirement to produce high-quality surface coated products.Read moreRead less
A platform technology for developing mesoporous polymer particles. This project aims to apply polymerisation-induced self-assembly process to develop triggerable mesoporous polymer particles as advanced functional materials for various applications. By combining this scalable process and automated synthesis technique, mesoporous polymer particles that can disassemble in response to external triggers, such as light, redox conditions and enzymes, will be developed. The knowledge gained from this r ....A platform technology for developing mesoporous polymer particles. This project aims to apply polymerisation-induced self-assembly process to develop triggerable mesoporous polymer particles as advanced functional materials for various applications. By combining this scalable process and automated synthesis technique, mesoporous polymer particles that can disassemble in response to external triggers, such as light, redox conditions and enzymes, will be developed. The knowledge gained from this research will allow researchers to fully understand the formation and evolution mechanism of inverse bicontinuous structures observed in nature and produced in synthetic labs. Importantly, the applications of these novel stimuli-responsive particles as nano-carriers and templating scaffolds will be investigated.Read moreRead less
Advancing the chemistry of rare earths - an Australian resource. This project aims to advance knowledge of the synthesis, structures and reactivity of highly reactive rare earth metal-organic compounds. The project expects to build the knowledge and skills to underpin many developments of Australia's still under utilized rare earth resources to diversify from Chinese domination. The anticipated outcomes will be new synthetic and reaction chemistry including a demonstration of how size and electr ....Advancing the chemistry of rare earths - an Australian resource. This project aims to advance knowledge of the synthesis, structures and reactivity of highly reactive rare earth metal-organic compounds. The project expects to build the knowledge and skills to underpin many developments of Australia's still under utilized rare earth resources to diversify from Chinese domination. The anticipated outcomes will be new synthetic and reaction chemistry including a demonstration of how size and electronic factors can be used to modify and advance rare earth chemistry. This project should provide significant benefit such as are a better knowledge base in rare earth chemistry to underpin future applications in chemical manufacturing, new materials, catalysis and recycling.Read moreRead less
Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for ....Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for nanodevices or advanced materials. As well as achieving important advances in fundamental chemistry, this project is anticipated to help lay the foundations for development of novel materials for high density data storage, quantum computing, molecular electronics/spintronics, optical displays or temperature/solvent sensors.Read moreRead less
Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising ....Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising for molecular electronics, spintronics and colour-based sensing and display devices. Their fast response time and small component size imply less heat to dissipate and therefore less electricity required for cooling upon implementation in information communications and other technologies.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis promises sustainable alternatives to synthesise high-value chemicals using energy converted from visible light. The project aims to address the current lack of understanding about how these reactions operate at the molecular level, using innovative electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The expected outcomes include new catalytic systems containing multiple light-driven steps that provide reactivities beyond ....Unlocking the potential of multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis promises sustainable alternatives to synthesise high-value chemicals using energy converted from visible light. The project aims to address the current lack of understanding about how these reactions operate at the molecular level, using innovative electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The expected outcomes include new catalytic systems containing multiple light-driven steps that provide reactivities beyond those attainable in single-photon cycles. These will be applied to challenging modifications of large biomolecules under mild aqueous conditions. Anticipated benefits include adding value to Australia’s growing chemical industry through efficient green syntheses with reduced dependence on toxic solvents.Read moreRead less
Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be ....Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be of use as tracers for molecular imaging will be investigated. An expected outcome of this research will be an increased understanding of how chemical properties dictate the biological activity of metal complexes informing the potential long-term translation of this chemistry to to new molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Counting the Electrons: Nickel Catalysed Electrochemical C-H Activation. Modern chemical synthetic methods using organometallic catalysts are highly prized in chemical industry and provide a multibillion dollar driver for world economies. However, traditional catalysis is expensive because of the reliance on rare earth metals often conjunction with toxic additives or reagents. The aim of this work is to develop new inexpensive transition metal catalysts based on earth abundant nickel and harness ....Counting the Electrons: Nickel Catalysed Electrochemical C-H Activation. Modern chemical synthetic methods using organometallic catalysts are highly prized in chemical industry and provide a multibillion dollar driver for world economies. However, traditional catalysis is expensive because of the reliance on rare earth metals often conjunction with toxic additives or reagents. The aim of this work is to develop new inexpensive transition metal catalysts based on earth abundant nickel and harness the power of electrons through electrochemistry to dramatically improve the reactivity of these catalysts. This project will seek to improve the way both complex and commonly used chemicals constructed through an atom economical process with potentially renewably produced electrons.Read moreRead less