Segmental fibres having periodically-repeating multicomponent segments from T-junction microfluidic electrospinning. Segmental fibres, which have periodically-repeating multi-component segments along their length, represent a new fibre type offering enormous potential in creating new fibre functions. The present work aims to develop a technical platform to prepare segmental fibres and new knowledge on how the fibre segments contribute to the property, functionality and inter-fibrous interaction ....Segmental fibres having periodically-repeating multicomponent segments from T-junction microfluidic electrospinning. Segmental fibres, which have periodically-repeating multi-component segments along their length, represent a new fibre type offering enormous potential in creating new fibre functions. The present work aims to develop a technical platform to prepare segmental fibres and new knowledge on how the fibre segments contribute to the property, functionality and inter-fibrous interaction of fibres. This will be achieved using a special microfluidic electrospinning technique. The segmental fibres developed will be useful for development of various new functional fibres for diverse applications. Read moreRead less
Extremely lightweight and superelastic cellular materials. This project aims to synthesise a new generation of extremely lightweight, superelastic yet mechanically robust graphene-based cellular materials, develop new strategies to strengthen and functionalise them with other functional polymers or nanoparticles, and explore new techniques to characterise their unique mechanical, electrical and thermal properties for a range of potential applications. The new knowledge obtained would significant ....Extremely lightweight and superelastic cellular materials. This project aims to synthesise a new generation of extremely lightweight, superelastic yet mechanically robust graphene-based cellular materials, develop new strategies to strengthen and functionalise them with other functional polymers or nanoparticles, and explore new techniques to characterise their unique mechanical, electrical and thermal properties for a range of potential applications. The new knowledge obtained would significantly advance our understanding of extremely lightweight and multifunctional cellular materials as well as graphene-based bulk materials. Project outcomes are expected to help generate high value-added technological applications from natural graphite.Read moreRead less
Water-phase Assembly of Durable, Superamphiphobic, Self-cleaning Surfaces. Self-cleaning surfaces offer an easy to maintain, environmentally friendly way of keeping surfaces clean - important for daily life, healthcare and industry. Using a water-phase process to prepare durable, self-cleaning (based on superamphiphobicity) surfaces is highly promising for practical uses, but remains challenging to perform. The present work aims to develop new knowledge on how to create superamphiphobic, self-cl ....Water-phase Assembly of Durable, Superamphiphobic, Self-cleaning Surfaces. Self-cleaning surfaces offer an easy to maintain, environmentally friendly way of keeping surfaces clean - important for daily life, healthcare and industry. Using a water-phase process to prepare durable, self-cleaning (based on superamphiphobicity) surfaces is highly promising for practical uses, but remains challenging to perform. The present work aims to develop new knowledge on how to create superamphiphobic, self-cleaning surfaces using a marine-mussel-inspired dopamine underwater assembly principle. The new technology developed is expected to be useful for wide production of durable self-cleaning coatings for diverse applications.Read moreRead less
Development of nanoporous materials for capture and release of oxygen. This project aims to develop new materials to make lighter, more efficient oxygen concentrators. The project will combine materials that can capture oxygen with particles that can be magnetically heated, making it possible to release the oxygen rapidly and efficiently when needed. Expected outcomes from this project include new composite materials and better understanding of how gases are trapped and released within composite ....Development of nanoporous materials for capture and release of oxygen. This project aims to develop new materials to make lighter, more efficient oxygen concentrators. The project will combine materials that can capture oxygen with particles that can be magnetically heated, making it possible to release the oxygen rapidly and efficiently when needed. Expected outcomes from this project include new composite materials and better understanding of how gases are trapped and released within composite materials. Benefits from this project may include oxygen concentrators that are more portable and have longer battery life, both with industrial and medical applications.Read moreRead less
Mechanical advantage: biomimetic artificial muscles for micro-machines. This project will develop better ways to operate miniature machines by copying the way that muscle operates in Nature. The outcome will be important for portable devices like digital cameras that need small, efficient motors. The artificial muscles developed in this project may also be used in medical prosthetics and more agile robots.
Functionalising sustainable natural binders for energy storage devices. This project aims to produce low-cost energy storage devices to meet the energy demands and safety requirements of electric appliances, electric vehicles and smart electricity grids. High-cost and non-regenerable resources and existing energy storage devices’ safety issues have hindered the electrification of portable electronic devices and vehicles and use of intermittent solar and wind energy. This project will use sustain ....Functionalising sustainable natural binders for energy storage devices. This project aims to produce low-cost energy storage devices to meet the energy demands and safety requirements of electric appliances, electric vehicles and smart electricity grids. High-cost and non-regenerable resources and existing energy storage devices’ safety issues have hindered the electrification of portable electronic devices and vehicles and use of intermittent solar and wind energy. This project will use sustainable natural polymers to develop green electrode technologies for manufacturing batteries with greatly reduced production and environmental cost. The in-depth understandings from the combination of experiments and computation simulations will help create strategies to realise low cost, long-life and safe batteries.Read moreRead less
Advanced three-dimensional fibrous structures for vascular graft applications. This project will combine advanced three-dimensional fabric structures, surface functionalisation and haemodynamic modelling to tackle critical issues in the design and manufacture of vascular graft materials. It will lead to the next generation of vascular grafts with much enhanced structural and biomedical performance.
Fibrous fabrics with differential transplanar transport properties for moisture and water. The project develops a framework for the development of fibrous fabrics with desired differential transplanar transport properties for moisture and water, integrating various transport mechanisms with hierarchical microstructures of the fabrics. The results will lead to the development of new fabrics for the local and overseas apparel industry.
Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety o ....Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety of surfaces. Given their remarkable properties, such disruptive technology for consumer/industrial-scale production will provide tremendous opportunities for their application in electronics, energy and catalysis, among other uses.Read moreRead less