A New Paradigm for the Solid State Synthesis of Layered Materials. Advanced ceramic materials with outstanding properties or combinations of properties are usually made from three (ternary) or more components. Their solid-state synthesis is hampered by the formation and retention of intermediate phases which degrade their performance. We have devised a method for circumventing intermediate phase formation in advanced materials and reducing synthesis temperatures by up to 600 degrees. This projec ....A New Paradigm for the Solid State Synthesis of Layered Materials. Advanced ceramic materials with outstanding properties or combinations of properties are usually made from three (ternary) or more components. Their solid-state synthesis is hampered by the formation and retention of intermediate phases which degrade their performance. We have devised a method for circumventing intermediate phase formation in advanced materials and reducing synthesis temperatures by up to 600 degrees. This project will explore the underlying atomic scale mechanism of the method. This knowledge will allow the low cost, low greenhouse gas emission synthesis of advanced ceramics for use in renewable, conventional and nuclear power generation.Read moreRead less
Understanding and optimising the microstructure of Germanium-Arsenic-Selenium glasses for superior device performance. The project will seek to use a combined theoretical and experimental approach to develop 'state of the art' optical glass materials for use in integrated nonlinear optical components. Such materials could be used as optical waveguides in broadband communication systems and offer the possibility of significant improvement in telecommunication performance.
Understanding nanostructure in lead-containing piezoceramics - the key to improved and environmentally-friendly materials. Lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics form the basis of multi-billion dollar industries, posing an increasingly serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of lead. By obtaining a detailed understanding of how their properties arise from their nanoscale structure and chemistry, our research will lead to improvements in existing materials and aid the quest for environme ....Understanding nanostructure in lead-containing piezoceramics - the key to improved and environmentally-friendly materials. Lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics form the basis of multi-billion dollar industries, posing an increasingly serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of lead. By obtaining a detailed understanding of how their properties arise from their nanoscale structure and chemistry, our research will lead to improvements in existing materials and aid the quest for environmentally-friendly alternatives. We will use a methodology for the elucidation of local structure and dynamics in which we are world leaders. The project will further enhance our standing in the field, provide excellent research training for students and early-career researchers and highlight the power and potential of Australia's new Synchrotron and OPAL research reactor.Read moreRead less
A high performance and environment-friendly piezoelectric detector platform for biosensor applications. The development of high performance, lead-free, piezoelectric films and their incorporation into devices is rapidly becoming an urgent task as a result of recent legislation banning the use of lead in electronic components. The successful development of piezoelectric biosensors, as proposed in this project, has numerous potential benefits including the prospect of rapid and cheap biosensor dev ....A high performance and environment-friendly piezoelectric detector platform for biosensor applications. The development of high performance, lead-free, piezoelectric films and their incorporation into devices is rapidly becoming an urgent task as a result of recent legislation banning the use of lead in electronic components. The successful development of piezoelectric biosensors, as proposed in this project, has numerous potential benefits including the prospect of rapid and cheap biosensor devices as well as an environment-friendly, sensitive and real time solution for on-site drug, chemical and biological sensing. Successful development of the latter would provide immediate benefit in the areas of national security, food safety as well as in environmental and health monitoring. Read moreRead less
Gel interactions in geopolymers for sustainable construction. This project will benefit Australia by enabling reliable production of environmentally friendly construction materials. These materials, geopolymer cements, have been developed to the point where they are beginning to be commercialised in Australia, but the factors controlling their performance and durability are only beginning to be well understood. Geopolymer cements are made using ash from coal-fired power stations, and are competi ....Gel interactions in geopolymers for sustainable construction. This project will benefit Australia by enabling reliable production of environmentally friendly construction materials. These materials, geopolymer cements, have been developed to the point where they are beginning to be commercialised in Australia, but the factors controlling their performance and durability are only beginning to be well understood. Geopolymer cements are made using ash from coal-fired power stations, and are competitive with traditional Portland cement in terms of both performance and cost. This project will use recently developed experimental techniques and Australian research expertise in this field, and will lead to significant environmental and cost savings in the construction industry.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of novel phases from Group IV elements under extreme pressure. Materials based on the group IV elements carbon, silicon and germanium are technologically important for a wide range of current applications. When exposed to extreme pressure, these materials can form entirely new phases with novel and potentially useful properties. Since there have been few previous attempts to establish which of the new phases are stable on pressure release and to measure their properties for subsequent ....Synthesis of novel phases from Group IV elements under extreme pressure. Materials based on the group IV elements carbon, silicon and germanium are technologically important for a wide range of current applications. When exposed to extreme pressure, these materials can form entirely new phases with novel and potentially useful properties. Since there have been few previous attempts to establish which of the new phases are stable on pressure release and to measure their properties for subsequent exploitation, this project aims to use novel approaches to address these topics. The expected outcome of this project will be new phases of group IV elements with novel properties that have potential for commercial exploitation.Read moreRead less
Geopolymers for nuclear applications. With the pressing need for the reduction of Greenhouse emissions from electricity generation in Australia, one option that must be seriously considered is nuclear energy. However, the issue of waste storage is a highly significant one that must be addressed. Geopolymeric cements are expected to perform much better than traditional Portland cements in nuclear applications, both for solidification of radioactive wastes and also for the construction of undergro ....Geopolymers for nuclear applications. With the pressing need for the reduction of Greenhouse emissions from electricity generation in Australia, one option that must be seriously considered is nuclear energy. However, the issue of waste storage is a highly significant one that must be addressed. Geopolymeric cements are expected to perform much better than traditional Portland cements in nuclear applications, both for solidification of radioactive wastes and also for the construction of underground waste storage bunkers. This project will use Australia's strong existing knowledge in geopolymers research, and apply it to the development of materials to fill the need for environmentally secure waste storage solutions.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
Guided droplet deposition: Microfabrication of advanced materials. The progress of micro and nanofabrication is opening an array of new opportunities with a new degree of freedom for manufacturing. This process will complement the existing micromanufacturing facilities in Melbourne. While metal printing and deposition of polymers is presently available, the guided droplet deposition will extend current capabilities to include ceramics and high melting temperature metals. Direct application to me ....Guided droplet deposition: Microfabrication of advanced materials. The progress of micro and nanofabrication is opening an array of new opportunities with a new degree of freedom for manufacturing. This process will complement the existing micromanufacturing facilities in Melbourne. While metal printing and deposition of polymers is presently available, the guided droplet deposition will extend current capabilities to include ceramics and high melting temperature metals. Direct application to medical devices will provide a more effective surface for improved performance and allow the incorporation of smart and sensor materials for multifunctional devices. Read moreRead less
2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport for energy devices. This project aims to design novel 2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport properties and to modulate the associated optical, electric, catalytic, surface and storage properties by using a combination of experimental and computational approaches for sustainable energy applications, such as fuel generation and energy conversion and storage devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in materials ....2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport for energy devices. This project aims to design novel 2D heterostructures with ultrafast interlayer transport properties and to modulate the associated optical, electric, catalytic, surface and storage properties by using a combination of experimental and computational approaches for sustainable energy applications, such as fuel generation and energy conversion and storage devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in materials science and nanotechnology and make fundamental breakthroughs in new sustainable energy technologies. The outcomes of this project will facilitate the development of novel materials and low-cost sustainable energy in Australia with access to an enormous global market. Read moreRead less