Photonic crystals: The key to breaking the silicon-solar cell efficiency barrier. This project aims to investigate solar light harvesting using light trapping by photonic crystal on an amorphous-Silicon thin-film combining passivation technologies with light trapping. Using this new light trapping method, based on a specially designed periodic surface structure, the project expects to set a new standard in solar energy conversion efficiency. The expected outcomes of this project represent a ste ....Photonic crystals: The key to breaking the silicon-solar cell efficiency barrier. This project aims to investigate solar light harvesting using light trapping by photonic crystal on an amorphous-Silicon thin-film combining passivation technologies with light trapping. Using this new light trapping method, based on a specially designed periodic surface structure, the project expects to set a new standard in solar energy conversion efficiency. The expected outcomes of this project represent a step change in Silicon solar cell efficiency, applicable to different materials and especially useful for thin flexible cells. The project has the potential to benefit the renewable energy sector, increasing the efficiency of sustainable energy production, with positive economic and environmental impacts.Read moreRead less
Exploring the bio-nano interface in plants to enhance crop growth. This project aims to improve the delivery of nutrients and therapeutics to plants by understanding their interactions with nanomaterials. This will create new knowledge on the impact of air, water, and soilborne nanomaterials utilizing cutting-edge bio-nano characterization techniques, innovative lab testing, and high-throughput nanoparticle coating and screening. Expected outcomes of the project include 1) an understanding into ....Exploring the bio-nano interface in plants to enhance crop growth. This project aims to improve the delivery of nutrients and therapeutics to plants by understanding their interactions with nanomaterials. This will create new knowledge on the impact of air, water, and soilborne nanomaterials utilizing cutting-edge bio-nano characterization techniques, innovative lab testing, and high-throughput nanoparticle coating and screening. Expected outcomes of the project include 1) an understanding into how nanomaterial coating technologies impact nanomaterial properties, which will 2) shed light on how nanomaterials interact with plants, which leads to 3) breakthroughs in using nanomaterials to deliver nutrients, fertilizers, and pesticides to boost crop yields and productivity in Australian agriculture.Read moreRead less
Electronics out of thin air: MAGIC - Metal–Air Gated Integrated Circuits. We constantly seek faster, lighter, and energy-efficient devices. This project will create a new class of electronic devices, re-inventing vacuum tubes that enabled electronics almost a century ago, and scaling them down to the nanoscale realm. The devices are termed vacuum channel transistors, and transistors are the critical functional element of all electronics. At the extremely small size scales for nanoelectronics, th ....Electronics out of thin air: MAGIC - Metal–Air Gated Integrated Circuits. We constantly seek faster, lighter, and energy-efficient devices. This project will create a new class of electronic devices, re-inventing vacuum tubes that enabled electronics almost a century ago, and scaling them down to the nanoscale realm. The devices are termed vacuum channel transistors, and transistors are the critical functional element of all electronics. At the extremely small size scales for nanoelectronics, the charge carriers travel very short distances. This avoids collisions enabling extremely high-speed transport. Such a virtual vacuum environment can potentially enable electronics thousands of times faster than the current silicon-based technology, providing a solution to the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry.Read moreRead less
Nanoelectromechanical Mass Spectrometry with Molecular Imaging. This project aims to develop new technology to enable simultaneous measurement of the mass and conformation of single molecules. Mass spectrometry and high-resolution microscopy are independent analytical tools used widely to characterise the chemical and physical properties of molecules. This project aims to develop new technology based on advanced nanoelectromechanical systems that combines the capabilities of these complementary ....Nanoelectromechanical Mass Spectrometry with Molecular Imaging. This project aims to develop new technology to enable simultaneous measurement of the mass and conformation of single molecules. Mass spectrometry and high-resolution microscopy are independent analytical tools used widely to characterise the chemical and physical properties of molecules. This project aims to develop new technology based on advanced nanoelectromechanical systems that combines the capabilities of these complementary instruments. This would enable synchronous measurement of molecular mass and conformation with nanometre resolution. In contrast to current mass spectrometry, this technology could be operated in fluid and detect neutral species. This significant change in capability could be applied to advance biological and medical research.Read moreRead less
Caveospheres: A versatile peptide delivery system. Nanotechnology has the potential to transform the way we treat many diseases. This project will investigate a new type of nanoparticle, the caveosphere, and tests its effectiveness as a peptide delivery system. Caveospheres can protect delicate cargo from degradation, target cargo to specific cells that induce the maximum therapeutic response, and can be synthesised in large-scale, cost-effective batch fermentation. This study will:
1: Engineer ....Caveospheres: A versatile peptide delivery system. Nanotechnology has the potential to transform the way we treat many diseases. This project will investigate a new type of nanoparticle, the caveosphere, and tests its effectiveness as a peptide delivery system. Caveospheres can protect delicate cargo from degradation, target cargo to specific cells that induce the maximum therapeutic response, and can be synthesised in large-scale, cost-effective batch fermentation. This study will:
1: Engineer biological function into caveospheres
2: Investigate the cellular behavior of the engineered caveospheres
3: Determine the therapeutic activity of caveospheres in vitro
It will develop a fundamental understanding of nanoparticles trafficking in cells, to make improved nanoparticle delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Next generation enzymes using stimuli responsive protein/polymer hybrids. Improved stability and control over activity are key to unlocking the full potential of enzymes. Advanced polymer synthesis and synthetic biology will be combined to engineer stable, bioresponsive enzyme/polymer hybrids. This study will:
1: Develop a rapid screening method to identify the optimal sites for polymer-to-enzyme attachment
2: Evaluate the stability and bioresponsive activity of enzyme/polymer hybrids
3: Formula ....Next generation enzymes using stimuli responsive protein/polymer hybrids. Improved stability and control over activity are key to unlocking the full potential of enzymes. Advanced polymer synthesis and synthetic biology will be combined to engineer stable, bioresponsive enzyme/polymer hybrids. This study will:
1: Develop a rapid screening method to identify the optimal sites for polymer-to-enzyme attachment
2: Evaluate the stability and bioresponsive activity of enzyme/polymer hybrids
3: Formulate enzyme/polymer hybrids into a targeted nanoparticle delivery system
This project will examine the performance of polymer-enzyme hybrids with cells, however these innovations will also have significant applications in other fields using enzymatic processes, such as food processing, biofuel production, and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Electro-Optical Primers for Safe Use and Clean Manufacturing. Conventional primers contain a mechanically-sensitive primary explosive that is used to detonate the more stable propellant in a bullet. This project aims to address the health and environmental impacts of heavy metals in current primers by replacing them with benign, electrically or optically activated silicon-based materials. Modern semiconductor fabrication techniques will be used to develop safe and clean primers through cost-effe ....Electro-Optical Primers for Safe Use and Clean Manufacturing. Conventional primers contain a mechanically-sensitive primary explosive that is used to detonate the more stable propellant in a bullet. This project aims to address the health and environmental impacts of heavy metals in current primers by replacing them with benign, electrically or optically activated silicon-based materials. Modern semiconductor fabrication techniques will be used to develop safe and clean primers through cost-effective doping and deposition protocols. The expected outcomes of the project include a sovereign primer manufacturing capability for Australia. This will provide a significant strategic advantage and health benefits for law enforcement and defence personnel during live fire training and firing range exercises.Read moreRead less
Scalable atom-thin materials for monolithic electronics & optoelectronics. This project aims to understand large-area growth mechanisms and create practical, controllable doping methodologies for developing manufacturing-compatible tunable materials to overcome technological challenges presented by silicon. The project expects to generate new understanding of physico-chemical mechanisms that govern the optical and electrical properties of an emerging class of materials only few-atoms thick that ....Scalable atom-thin materials for monolithic electronics & optoelectronics. This project aims to understand large-area growth mechanisms and create practical, controllable doping methodologies for developing manufacturing-compatible tunable materials to overcome technological challenges presented by silicon. The project expects to generate new understanding of physico-chemical mechanisms that govern the optical and electrical properties of an emerging class of materials only few-atoms thick that offer unprecedented opportunities. This is expected to establish a suite of atomically-thin materials that will be deployed in miniaturised, high-density electronics and optoelectronics of which proof-of-concept functional devices are proposed to be demonstrated. These will be leveraged to explore industry partnerships.Read moreRead less