Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,476.00
Summary
Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device modul ....Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device module for a preconcentrator technology that will sorb explosive analytes, have low power requirements and be compatible with hand held explosives detectors. Security and law enforcement agencies should directly benefit from these findings, which would advance their safety and that of the community as a whole.Read moreRead less
Understanding, controlling and patterning of ferroelectric domain arrays for advanced device applications. The aim of this project is to understand, fabricate and use patterned ferroelectric domain arrays on the fine scale for advanced materials applications. The resultant domain-patterned technology and processing approaches may significantly impact the development of integrated nonlinear optic devices used in information and communication technology.
Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their ....Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their collective behaviour. The project will investigate in detail the geometry, topology, materials science and statistical physics of networks, leading to design and characterization of robust self-assembled materials and complex systems.Read moreRead less
Application of First-principles Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering: Coatings, Catalysis, and Devices. The project addresses areas of high technological interest, namely the development of nitride-based materials for hard-coatings, spintronic (control and use of electron spin) and optoelectronic (in the blue/UV energy range) devices - as well as the area of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Using state-of-the-art methods it will lead to the developme ....Application of First-principles Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering: Coatings, Catalysis, and Devices. The project addresses areas of high technological interest, namely the development of nitride-based materials for hard-coatings, spintronic (control and use of electron spin) and optoelectronic (in the blue/UV energy range) devices - as well as the area of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Using state-of-the-art methods it will lead to the development of new materials and devices of relevance to industry.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Hydrogel-Carbon Nanotube Composites for Artificial Muscles. This collaboration links the expertise of the two groups in advanced functional materials for the development of improved mechanical actuators for artificial muscles. The Korean group provides key know-how in synthetic and natural hydrogels. The Wollongong team has developed expertise in carbon nanotube actuators. The hydrogel-nanotube hybrids resulting from this collaboration are likely to show improved performance co ....Nanostructured Hydrogel-Carbon Nanotube Composites for Artificial Muscles. This collaboration links the expertise of the two groups in advanced functional materials for the development of improved mechanical actuators for artificial muscles. The Korean group provides key know-how in synthetic and natural hydrogels. The Wollongong team has developed expertise in carbon nanotube actuators. The hydrogel-nanotube hybrids resulting from this collaboration are likely to show improved performance compared with existing materials. The improved actuators will be utilised in on-going projects in both countries.Read moreRead less
Nanocrystalline Processing of Polycrystalline Ceramics Exhibiting the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. Piezoelectric materials interconvert electric and mechanical energy. They have been incorporated into a wide range of industrial, medical and domestic applications. The newest, known as PZN-PTs, are only available as single crystals. They have ten times the response of conventional piezoelectric materials, however they are expensive, mechanically fragile and have shape limitations. This project will ....Nanocrystalline Processing of Polycrystalline Ceramics Exhibiting the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. Piezoelectric materials interconvert electric and mechanical energy. They have been incorporated into a wide range of industrial, medical and domestic applications. The newest, known as PZN-PTs, are only available as single crystals. They have ten times the response of conventional piezoelectric materials, however they are expensive, mechanically fragile and have shape limitations. This project will tailor nanostructured intermediate states that will allow the production of stronger, more versatile polycrystalline PZN-PT ceramics. It will develop scientific results on nanocrystalline processing applicable to many materials and allow deeper insight into the mechanism of the anomalous piezoelectric response of these materials.Read moreRead less
Structural Origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Relaxor Ferroelectrics. This project addresses fundamental questions about the origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. The solution of these questions will be will raise the profile of Australian science in this area as well as allowing new directions to be explored both in modifying existing materials and seeking new ones. It will expand the pool of personnel with experience in the synthesis and diffraction based study of these material ....Structural Origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Relaxor Ferroelectrics. This project addresses fundamental questions about the origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. The solution of these questions will be will raise the profile of Australian science in this area as well as allowing new directions to be explored both in modifying existing materials and seeking new ones. It will expand the pool of personnel with experience in the synthesis and diffraction based study of these materials which are slated for inclusion in large numbers of 'Smart' technologies. The training of personnel in advanced diffraction methods is important in the lead up to the new Australian research reactor OPAL in 2006 and the new Australian synchrotron in 2007.Read moreRead less
Combustion Synthesis of Ternary Carbides. Ti3SiC2 belongs to a group of ternary carbides that exhibit an exciting combination of the high temperature properties of ceramics, with the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. A great number of potential applications have been identified, however a cost effective large scale synthesis method has been lacking. Combustion synthesis, which uses the heat of reaction as the primary energy source, has great potential for this purpose. This program ....Combustion Synthesis of Ternary Carbides. Ti3SiC2 belongs to a group of ternary carbides that exhibit an exciting combination of the high temperature properties of ceramics, with the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. A great number of potential applications have been identified, however a cost effective large scale synthesis method has been lacking. Combustion synthesis, which uses the heat of reaction as the primary energy source, has great potential for this purpose. This program will use advanced in-situ neutron diffraction experiments to map and quantify combustion synthesis reactions in the Ti-Si-C system and related systems. The results of these studies will be used to design methods of production for Ti3SiC2 and related materials.Read moreRead less
Core loss mechanisms in soft magnetic nanostructures. This project aims to clarify the mechanism of power losses in magnetic cores used in the petrol-electric hybrid cars by investigating the relationship between the core losses and magnetic correlation lengths in iron alloys. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the effect of magneto-mechanical interaction on the anomalous core loss in iron based alloys. The intended outcomes include an experimental confirmation of the random aniso ....Core loss mechanisms in soft magnetic nanostructures. This project aims to clarify the mechanism of power losses in magnetic cores used in the petrol-electric hybrid cars by investigating the relationship between the core losses and magnetic correlation lengths in iron alloys. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the effect of magneto-mechanical interaction on the anomalous core loss in iron based alloys. The intended outcomes include an experimental confirmation of the random anisotropy model, a major theoretical model in nanostructured materials and identification of ideal magnetic domain configurations for lower power losses. These intended outcomes should bring great benefits to the development of low-carbon vehicle technologies for sustainable motorisation in Australia.Read moreRead less