Novel graphene-based soft materials for versatile applications. This research program will develop new techniques to convert natural graphite into new carbon nanomaterials for use in energy storage/conversion devices, water purification, sensors and biomedical devices. It will enable many technological innovations in related areas and enhance Australia's engineering and manufacturing innovations.
New stimuli-responsive polymer membranes using graphene as a multifunctional scaffold. Membranes are used in a range of applications to filter liquids and gases and increasingly must be able to be activated by stimuli such as temperature, pH and voltage. We will develop a new type of membrane which is easy to make, is strong and allows the incorporation of a variety of stimuli-responsive polymers within a functional graphene scaffold.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100029
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,545,000.00
Summary
Nanoionics: Engineering ion transport with two-dimensional materials. This project aims to use graphene and other emerging two-dimensional materials to investigate and manipulate ion transport in nanoscale channels. Nanoionics focuses on understanding ions for transport and storage in nanoscale systems, central to numerous technologies related to water, energy and biomedicine. The project will provide sophisticated methods for revolutionary technological innovations to solve problems in several ....Nanoionics: Engineering ion transport with two-dimensional materials. This project aims to use graphene and other emerging two-dimensional materials to investigate and manipulate ion transport in nanoscale channels. Nanoionics focuses on understanding ions for transport and storage in nanoscale systems, central to numerous technologies related to water, energy and biomedicine. The project will provide sophisticated methods for revolutionary technological innovations to solve problems in several industries including manufacturing, mining, water management and bioengineering. Providing access to previously unavailable structures and materials, the project will support Australia’s manufacturing sector by transforming established industries with next generation technologies. The project will also build capacity of nanoionics engineers and provide intellectual property for commercialised products.Read moreRead less
Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100063
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$980,000.00
Summary
Focused ion beam microscope for trace element analysis and nanomachining. Focused ion beam microscope for trace element analysis and nanomachining:
This project aims to fill the critical gap in 3-D imaging and compositional characterisation of metals, functional materials, polymers, biomaterials, ceramics and minerals at micro- and nano-scales. Coupling of dual column focused ion beam microscopy with secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis will is designed to overcome the long-standing limitat ....Focused ion beam microscope for trace element analysis and nanomachining. Focused ion beam microscope for trace element analysis and nanomachining:
This project aims to fill the critical gap in 3-D imaging and compositional characterisation of metals, functional materials, polymers, biomaterials, ceramics and minerals at micro- and nano-scales. Coupling of dual column focused ion beam microscopy with secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis will is designed to overcome the long-standing limitation of light and trace element analysis in scanning electron microscopes. This facility would provide Australian researchers with a new capability of characterising light and trace elements using scanning electron microscopy. Along with the ability to characterise a diverse range of materials in 3-D, the new system would enable fabrication of functional nanoscale devices for nanotechnology, biomedical and energy applications. 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
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100004
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,000.00
Summary
Thin film processing cluster: precise synthesis and nano-patterning of functional coatings. This facility will allow Australian researchers to create advanced functional materials with unprecedented control over material configurations and near atomic scale precision in dimensions. This will enable significant advances in high speed photonics and electronics, health and environment monitoring, and micro-energy sources.
Photochemical toolkit based on tetracyanoquinodimethane metal-organic semiconducting hybrids. This project aims to develop low-cost light-activated materials for flexible electronics, wearable sensors, antimicrobial fabrics and highly active catalysts. A photochemical toolkit will be developed comprising ultraviolet-active zinc oxide, visible-active metals and visible/infrared-active charge transfer semiconducting materials. Hybridisation of these components will create materials photoactive acr ....Photochemical toolkit based on tetracyanoquinodimethane metal-organic semiconducting hybrids. This project aims to develop low-cost light-activated materials for flexible electronics, wearable sensors, antimicrobial fabrics and highly active catalysts. A photochemical toolkit will be developed comprising ultraviolet-active zinc oxide, visible-active metals and visible/infrared-active charge transfer semiconducting materials. Hybridisation of these components will create materials photoactive across the solar spectrum, leading to photo-redox catalysis and light-activated antimicrobial applications. These materials are expected to lead to cost-effective industrial processes, efficient environmental monitoring, clean-up of industrially-contaminated water streams, infection control in wounds and healthcare settings, and advancing consumer technology platforms.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100715
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Tunable plasmonics in ultra-doped transition metal oxides and chalcogenides. The project is designed to explore new classes of plasmonic materials based on low-dimensional transition metal oxide and chalcogenide nanostructures. These crystals, with stratified structures and high surface affinities to charged particles, present a new frontier in plasmonics by allowing reversible stimuli induced doping and defect embedding. The project plans to focus on achieving tunable plasmonic properties acros ....Tunable plasmonics in ultra-doped transition metal oxides and chalcogenides. The project is designed to explore new classes of plasmonic materials based on low-dimensional transition metal oxide and chalcogenide nanostructures. These crystals, with stratified structures and high surface affinities to charged particles, present a new frontier in plasmonics by allowing reversible stimuli induced doping and defect embedding. The project plans to focus on achieving tunable plasmonic properties across a broad spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared light. Targets are systems with low propagation losses or ultra-sensitivity towards environmental changes. The anticipated outcomes will serve as a base to establish the next generation plasmonic communication and sensing systems with active on-chip controllability, which could be used as the base of future telecommunications, energy harvesting and sensing systems.Read moreRead less