The Molecular Basis of Nanoparticle Resistance in Mixed-Species Biofilm. The project aims to understand how the globally significant mixed-species growth of pathogens develop resistance to silver nanoparticle, currently one of the most important alternative antimicrobials to antibiotics. The integrated research is to elucidate, for the first time, the nanoparticle multi-targeting toxicity on mixed-species bacterial community and how, in turn, the bacteria activate their cell-to-cell signalling f ....The Molecular Basis of Nanoparticle Resistance in Mixed-Species Biofilm. The project aims to understand how the globally significant mixed-species growth of pathogens develop resistance to silver nanoparticle, currently one of the most important alternative antimicrobials to antibiotics. The integrated research is to elucidate, for the first time, the nanoparticle multi-targeting toxicity on mixed-species bacterial community and how, in turn, the bacteria activate their cell-to-cell signalling for a synergistic defence to adapt to the nanoparticle toxicity. The pioneering knowledge is the foundation for technologies targeting the interspecies metabolite cross-talking to overcome the resistance phenomena, ensuring a long-term efficacy of the alternative antimicrobial on the difficult-to-control pathogenic growth.Read moreRead less
Photonic structures for high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Photovoltaics is a non-polluting, environmentally sustainable way of converting sunlight directly to electricity. The reduction of cost is the most important issue in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This project will lead to the development of solar cell structures and techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of thin film solar cells, which are the major contender for the lowest cost photovoltaic te ....Photonic structures for high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Photovoltaics is a non-polluting, environmentally sustainable way of converting sunlight directly to electricity. The reduction of cost is the most important issue in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This project will lead to the development of solar cell structures and techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of thin film solar cells, which are the major contender for the lowest cost photovoltaic technology. If the cost of photovoltaics was sufficiently reduced it could have a major impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in Australia.Read moreRead less
Metal Alkynyl Materials for Photonics. Investment in this project (i) will gain Australia entry into an international network of researchers investigating materials (particularly NLO) properties of organometallic and other compounds, (ii) will involve training four PhD students, who will graduate with highly developed interdisciplinary skills, (iii) may identify new materials with sufficient performance for commercial development, and (iv) will build bridges between traditional research in organ ....Metal Alkynyl Materials for Photonics. Investment in this project (i) will gain Australia entry into an international network of researchers investigating materials (particularly NLO) properties of organometallic and other compounds, (ii) will involve training four PhD students, who will graduate with highly developed interdisciplinary skills, (iii) may identify new materials with sufficient performance for commercial development, and (iv) will build bridges between traditional research in organometallic chemistry and that in nanophotonics and biophotonics, and position Australia as a major player in these nascent fields.Read moreRead less
Engineering nanoscale material properties by controlled-temperature indentation. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology. The technology is based on semiconductor modification at the nanoscale by nanoindentation. This project will further provide valuable opportunities for a number of research students and early-career researchers to gain skills as well as learn techniques and processes needed for Australia's nanotechnology workforce. Australia will further ....Engineering nanoscale material properties by controlled-temperature indentation. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology. The technology is based on semiconductor modification at the nanoscale by nanoindentation. This project will further provide valuable opportunities for a number of research students and early-career researchers to gain skills as well as learn techniques and processes needed for Australia's nanotechnology workforce. Australia will further benefit as the skills and knowledge garnered from this work will be patented at every opportunity and transferred to a spin-off company, WRiota.Read moreRead less
Nanocavities and Nanoparticles in Silicon-based Materials Tailored by Ion Implantation. Nanometre sized crystals embedded in different host materials can exhibit novel optical behaviour, including light emission. However, the optical properties depend critically on the ability to tailor the size and size distribution of such nanocrystal inclusions, parameters that are extremely difficult to control. This project is based on our previous discovery that small holes of controlled size and distri ....Nanocavities and Nanoparticles in Silicon-based Materials Tailored by Ion Implantation. Nanometre sized crystals embedded in different host materials can exhibit novel optical behaviour, including light emission. However, the optical properties depend critically on the ability to tailor the size and size distribution of such nanocrystal inclusions, parameters that are extremely difficult to control. This project is based on our previous discovery that small holes of controlled size and distribution can be formed in silicon by ion irradiation and that such cavities can be filled with fast diffusing elemental species. We intend to explore this novel concept to tailor the size of desired nanocrystals in silicon-based materials for optoelectronics applications.Read moreRead less
Formation Mechanism and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are exciting nano-materials and important "building blocks" of nanotechnology. Research and application of nanotubes are at the forefront of nanotechnology development. This project will investigate the formation mechanisms and controlled growth of carbon nanotubes in a new mechano-thermal synthesis process in which carbon nanotubes are produced in the order of kilogram from graphite powder by mechanical milling and ....Formation Mechanism and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are exciting nano-materials and important "building blocks" of nanotechnology. Research and application of nanotubes are at the forefront of nanotechnology development. This project will investigate the formation mechanisms and controlled growth of carbon nanotubes in a new mechano-thermal synthesis process in which carbon nanotubes are produced in the order of kilogram from graphite powder by mechanical milling and thermal annealing. The outcomes of this research will be profoundly enhanced understanding of the controlled assembly of carbon atoms into a variety of nanosized tubules with excellent mechanical, chemical and physical properties, and an innovative synthesis/manipulation technology for industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Mechanical deformation of layered semiconductor structures. This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of mechanical deformation in thin film layered semiconductors structures. Currently, there is little knowledge in this area despite the importance of such structures in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Layered structures are not expected to respond to mechanical stress in the same way as bulk materials, as a result of size constraints in nanoscale films, the critical importance of strai ....Mechanical deformation of layered semiconductor structures. This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of mechanical deformation in thin film layered semiconductors structures. Currently, there is little knowledge in this area despite the importance of such structures in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Layered structures are not expected to respond to mechanical stress in the same way as bulk materials, as a result of size constraints in nanoscale films, the critical importance of strain, and the possibility of disparities between the mechanical properties of the individual layers. The results of this project will dramatically enhance the understanding of the deformation responses of nanoscale structures to mechanical stress.Read moreRead less
Nanometrology of laser-trapped airborne particles. This project aims to develop a new concept of touch-free measuring of physical characteristics of nanoparticles using specially designed optical vortex beams. The new concept will be of direct importance in developing new nanotechnologies demanding ever-increasing purity of every element in the industrial environment and production processes.
Synchrotron radiation techniques applied to melting and resolidification at a nanometric scale. By delivering underpinning knowledge of melting characteristics of nanoparticles, the proposal seeks results that can lead to breakthrough applications in advanced materials engineering. Measurements of the liquid nanoparticle structure performed at the Australian Synchrotron are unprecedented and are thus likely to include the development of new methodology. National and international exposure of Aus ....Synchrotron radiation techniques applied to melting and resolidification at a nanometric scale. By delivering underpinning knowledge of melting characteristics of nanoparticles, the proposal seeks results that can lead to breakthrough applications in advanced materials engineering. Measurements of the liquid nanoparticle structure performed at the Australian Synchrotron are unprecedented and are thus likely to include the development of new methodology. National and international exposure of Australian science and the Australian Synchrotron will have both scientific and economic ramifications. Involvement of students will contribute to developing the local synchrotron knowledge base and is beneficial to the Australian synchrotron-research community as a whole.Read moreRead less
New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriat ....New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriate rigidity and toughness, and stimulate better bone growth at the interface. In this way the implant should be much longer lasting and the need for undesirable revision surgery reduced. The processing technique proposed could also be a useful platform coating technology in a number of other industries.Read moreRead less