Unravelling the structural origin of cyclic fatigue in ferroelectrics. Ferroelectric materials have extensive applications in electromechanical devices and memories and in service are often subjected to repeat mechanical and/or electrical loading, leading to cyclic fatigue and failure. This project aims to apply in-situ electron microscopy techniques and computational modelling to explore cyclic ferroelectric fatigue behaviour and to understand the relationships between local atomic scale struct ....Unravelling the structural origin of cyclic fatigue in ferroelectrics. Ferroelectric materials have extensive applications in electromechanical devices and memories and in service are often subjected to repeat mechanical and/or electrical loading, leading to cyclic fatigue and failure. This project aims to apply in-situ electron microscopy techniques and computational modelling to explore cyclic ferroelectric fatigue behaviour and to understand the relationships between local atomic scale structure and fatigue. The structural origin of ferroelectric fatigue has not been clear because of the limitations of previous measurement capabilities. This project will provide guidance in materials design to increase ferroelectric fatigue lifetime for more reliable ferroelectric-based electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101105
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,856.00
Summary
Probing the nanomechanics of single grain boundary with decorated solutes. Grain boundaries (GBs) are thermodynamically susceptible to attract solutes to reduce system energy. Elaborately manipulating the GB nanostructure and chemistry via segregation can essentially be conducive, rather than detrimental, to materials performance. However, the underlying mechanism of GB segregation and its detailed effect on material properties remain elusive due to the GB complexities in the polycrystals. Throu ....Probing the nanomechanics of single grain boundary with decorated solutes. Grain boundaries (GBs) are thermodynamically susceptible to attract solutes to reduce system energy. Elaborately manipulating the GB nanostructure and chemistry via segregation can essentially be conducive, rather than detrimental, to materials performance. However, the underlying mechanism of GB segregation and its detailed effect on material properties remain elusive due to the GB complexities in the polycrystals. Through correlative in-situ nanomechanical testing and atom probe tomography, this project aims to unravel the rationale of segregation behaviour of individual GBs and its effectiveness to enhance the material performance, and hence enable nanostructural design of advanced metallic materials with unprecedented properties.Read moreRead less
Developing novel two-dimensional hybrid nanostructures for renewable energy. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional (2D) hybrid nanostructures with new physical and chemical properties. This innovation intends to address the critical challenges of control functionalisation of 2D hybrid nanostructures: essential to understanding the potential of nanomaterials in key applications of energy generation. Expected outcomes include scalable technology to produce functional 2D nanomaterials ....Developing novel two-dimensional hybrid nanostructures for renewable energy. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional (2D) hybrid nanostructures with new physical and chemical properties. This innovation intends to address the critical challenges of control functionalisation of 2D hybrid nanostructures: essential to understanding the potential of nanomaterials in key applications of energy generation. Expected outcomes include scalable technology to produce functional 2D nanomaterials and hybrid nanostructures to accelerate research to advanced materials and frontier material manufacturing technologies. This project will provide significant social and economic benefits to Australia in the growth of sectors in advanced materials, energy generation, and advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Mitigating hydrogen embrittlement in high-strength steels. Hydrogen wreaks havoc in many alloys, leading to embrittlement that can cause catastrophic failure. This is a very serious issue for any industry in which structures are exposed to hydrogen and is a limiting factor for the production, transport, storage and use of hydrogen in a potential hydrogen economy. However, understanding the behaviour of hydrogen in alloys is restricted by the difficulty of observing it. In this project we will ob ....Mitigating hydrogen embrittlement in high-strength steels. Hydrogen wreaks havoc in many alloys, leading to embrittlement that can cause catastrophic failure. This is a very serious issue for any industry in which structures are exposed to hydrogen and is a limiting factor for the production, transport, storage and use of hydrogen in a potential hydrogen economy. However, understanding the behaviour of hydrogen in alloys is restricted by the difficulty of observing it. In this project we will obtain accurate 3D maps showing the position of hydrogen atoms in steel by combining deuteration with cryogenic atom probe microscopy. In this way we will will elucidate how a proposed solution, hydrogen trapping, reduces hydrogen embrittlement, contributing to design criteria for hydrogen-resistant steels.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Novel high-performance copper-based materials via additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop novel high-performance copper-based materials produced by additive manufacturing for the electrification revolution, which will provide significantly higher mechanical performance, superior electrical and thermal properties and enable flexible complex shape options. Atomic-scale microstructural analysis using advanced microscopy techniques will reveal profound new insights into the process-stru ....Novel high-performance copper-based materials via additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop novel high-performance copper-based materials produced by additive manufacturing for the electrification revolution, which will provide significantly higher mechanical performance, superior electrical and thermal properties and enable flexible complex shape options. Atomic-scale microstructural analysis using advanced microscopy techniques will reveal profound new insights into the process-structure-property relationship. Expected outcomes include new understandings of the fundamental physics of new functional materials, eco-friendly products, and an ability to facilitate the increasingly widespread use of the copper-based materials for renewable electricity towards a more sustainable society and economy.Read moreRead less
Advanced hard metals: microstructure-property-processing relationships. Our aim is to understand the origins of the properties of tungsten-carbide cobalt based hard metals and how these may be tuned via alloying and processing. This is significant because hard metals are used in industrial-scale turning, milling and drilling processes to cut other materials into finished parts with precise tolerance and surface finish. The expected outcomes are increased competitiveness of Australia's aerospace, ....Advanced hard metals: microstructure-property-processing relationships. Our aim is to understand the origins of the properties of tungsten-carbide cobalt based hard metals and how these may be tuned via alloying and processing. This is significant because hard metals are used in industrial-scale turning, milling and drilling processes to cut other materials into finished parts with precise tolerance and surface finish. The expected outcomes are increased competitiveness of Australia's aerospace, agriculture, biomedical, construction, defence, mechatronics, mining, and oil and gas industries, which depend on this materials technology. The benefits will be the creation of leading expertise in advanced manufacturing, support of end-user industries and the establishment of a regional R&D focal point in hard metals.Read moreRead less
Ultra-high mobility Dirac semimetal nanostructures for solid state devices. This project aims to develop novel Dirac semimetal nanostructures and determine their structural and chemical characteristics to ultimately assemble high-performance devices. The growth of band-engineered nanostructures and understanding their evolution, fine structure and unique properties are key steps for developing high-performance nanostructure-based devices. The new knowledge and skills developed in this project wi ....Ultra-high mobility Dirac semimetal nanostructures for solid state devices. This project aims to develop novel Dirac semimetal nanostructures and determine their structural and chemical characteristics to ultimately assemble high-performance devices. The growth of band-engineered nanostructures and understanding their evolution, fine structure and unique properties are key steps for developing high-performance nanostructure-based devices. The new knowledge and skills developed in this project will greatly enhance the knowledge base of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and will have a significant impact on practical applications of nanostructure-based devices. This project will underpin the development of next-generation electronic nanomaterials that will enhance the long-term viability of Australia’s high-technology industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100025
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,000.00
Summary
Electron microscopy facilities for in-situ materials characterisation. This project aims to significantly strengthen our national capability in high resolution in-situ transmission electron microscopy through the introduction of special in-situ specimen holders and an imaging detector. The project expects to advance knowledge critical for the design of advanced materials with outstanding properties. Expected outcomes of this project will provide critical support for thorough understanding of how ....Electron microscopy facilities for in-situ materials characterisation. This project aims to significantly strengthen our national capability in high resolution in-situ transmission electron microscopy through the introduction of special in-situ specimen holders and an imaging detector. The project expects to advance knowledge critical for the design of advanced materials with outstanding properties. Expected outcomes of this project will provide critical support for thorough understanding of how the microstructures of materials affect their mechanical, thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties and will facilitate strategic collaborations among Australian scientists. This should promote Australia’s global leadership in materials research and advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Ferroelectric bilayer composites with giant electromechanical properties. This project aims to create a novel bilayer ferroelectric material structure that provides giant electromechanical response at the nano-scale. Traditional electromechanical devices based on ferroelectric materials including position sensors, mechanical actuators, and ultrasonic transducers rely on bulk form. As technology moves toward integrated functionalities, future electro-mechanical materials need to be scaled down t ....Ferroelectric bilayer composites with giant electromechanical properties. This project aims to create a novel bilayer ferroelectric material structure that provides giant electromechanical response at the nano-scale. Traditional electromechanical devices based on ferroelectric materials including position sensors, mechanical actuators, and ultrasonic transducers rely on bulk form. As technology moves toward integrated functionalities, future electro-mechanical materials need to be scaled down to thin film form. Currently, doing this induces mechanical constraints that dramatically suppress the electromechanical response. Using this approach one layer relieves this mechanical constraint while the other gives a giant electromechanical response, providing a pathway for future functional devices. Read moreRead less
Developing high performance nanocomposite coatings for domestic appliances. Insufficient robustness and durability of the polymeric coatings on precoated metal sheets has resulted in unacceptably high product defects and reject rates. This project aims to develop novel and high performance nanocomposite multilayer coatings through the systematic optimisation of epoxy and polyester/ graphene and nanoclay systems. These complex coatings are expected to have considerably improved toughness, hardnes ....Developing high performance nanocomposite coatings for domestic appliances. Insufficient robustness and durability of the polymeric coatings on precoated metal sheets has resulted in unacceptably high product defects and reject rates. This project aims to develop novel and high performance nanocomposite multilayer coatings through the systematic optimisation of epoxy and polyester/ graphene and nanoclay systems. These complex coatings are expected to have considerably improved toughness, hardness and interfacial adhesion, thus enhancing formability and wear resistance of precoated metal sheets. Successful outcomes from this study will not only solve a long-standing problem in the manufacturing of precoated metals, but generate breakthrough technologies for next-generation nanocomposite coatings. Read moreRead less