Organometallic materials for photonics. New high performance materials are required for applications in photonics, an area of increasing importance for Australia's high technology industries. This project addresses two critically important requirements in photonics: materials with enhanced nonlinear optical merit (both quadratic and cubic), needed for applications in optical communications, data storage and computer systems, and materials with significant optical limiting properties, required fo ....Organometallic materials for photonics. New high performance materials are required for applications in photonics, an area of increasing importance for Australia's high technology industries. This project addresses two critically important requirements in photonics: materials with enhanced nonlinear optical merit (both quadratic and cubic), needed for applications in optical communications, data storage and computer systems, and materials with significant optical limiting properties, required for laboratory optical device protection and military applications. Concomitant with these studies, the fundamental organometallic chemistry of alkynylmetal complexes and clusters will be developed, leading into oligomeric, dendritic and polymeric species which are of intrinsic, as well as applied, interest.Read moreRead less
Towards Oligoclusters: Chemistry, Properties and Applications. Transition metal clusters are closed polyhedral molecules that have been studied intensively for many years, initially for intrinsic interest, and subsequently as models of / precursors for catalysts effecting industrially important chemical transformations. More recently, clusters have been identified as promising optical limiters, required for many technological applications including optical device and eye protection from high pow ....Towards Oligoclusters: Chemistry, Properties and Applications. Transition metal clusters are closed polyhedral molecules that have been studied intensively for many years, initially for intrinsic interest, and subsequently as models of / precursors for catalysts effecting industrially important chemical transformations. More recently, clusters have been identified as promising optical limiters, required for many technological applications including optical device and eye protection from high power lasers. By focussing on the syntheses, electronic and optical properties of specific monomeric, oligomeric (including macrocyclic), dendritic and polymeric cluster-containing systems, we will develop fundamental cluster chemistry, prepare processable functional polymetallic materials, and probe the possible utility of cluster-based materials as optical limiters.Read moreRead less
Organometallic Switches in Nonlinear Optics. Investment in this project (i) will support Australia's research in an international group of researchers investigating materials (particularly NLO) properties of organometallic compounds, (ii) will involve training two PhD students, who will graduate with highly developed interdisciplinary skills, and (iii) may identify new materials with sufficient performance for commercial development.
Advanced Organometallic Materials: Syntheses and Nonlinear Optical Properties. The development of materials for photonics applications has undergone extraordinary growth in the past few years, driven in part by potential commercial applications. Investment in this project (i) will gain Australia entry into an international network of researchers investigating materials (particularly nonlinear optical) properties of organometallic and other compounds necessary for such applications, (ii) will inv ....Advanced Organometallic Materials: Syntheses and Nonlinear Optical Properties. The development of materials for photonics applications has undergone extraordinary growth in the past few years, driven in part by potential commercial applications. Investment in this project (i) will gain Australia entry into an international network of researchers investigating materials (particularly nonlinear optical) properties of organometallic and other compounds necessary for such applications, (ii) will involve training two PhD students, who will graduate with highly developed interdisciplinary skills, and (iii) may identify new materials with sufficient performance for commercial development.Read moreRead less
Single walled carbon nanotubes of one stereochemistry - material for the oncoming carbon age. Carbon nanotubes are finding application in nanotechnology. However currently they are prepared as a mixture of zig-zag, chiral and armchair isomers. Their properties could be improved if they could be prepared with one stereochemistry. The approach here is to use a nanocrystallisation and thermal maturation process involving stereo controlling additives. The new carbons are expected to have outstandin ....Single walled carbon nanotubes of one stereochemistry - material for the oncoming carbon age. Carbon nanotubes are finding application in nanotechnology. However currently they are prepared as a mixture of zig-zag, chiral and armchair isomers. Their properties could be improved if they could be prepared with one stereochemistry. The approach here is to use a nanocrystallisation and thermal maturation process involving stereo controlling additives. The new carbons are expected to have outstanding flexibility and strength and novel thermal and electrical properties. The new products could give Australia a lead in new battery, hydrogen storage, flat screen technology and nanoelectronics.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
Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will desi ....Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will design catalysts with multiple complementary metal centres tailored to bind and activate nitrogen gas to facilitate its reaction with hydrogen or other reagents.Read moreRead less
Studies of metal compounds containing carbon chains - approaches to novel materials. There is an increasing need to design functional devices on the molecular scale ("nanotechnology"). We are developing the chemistry of compounds which contain chains of up to 12 carbon atoms to allow electronic communication between metal centres attached to each end. This projects seeks to extend this work, to discover new and more effective compounds, and to develop the associated chemistry to provide synthese ....Studies of metal compounds containing carbon chains - approaches to novel materials. There is an increasing need to design functional devices on the molecular scale ("nanotechnology"). We are developing the chemistry of compounds which contain chains of up to 12 carbon atoms to allow electronic communication between metal centres attached to each end. This projects seeks to extend this work, to discover new and more effective compounds, and to develop the associated chemistry to provide syntheses of novel compounds of potential use in the fine chemicals industry. Extensive collaboration with French colleagues exists and will continue.Read moreRead less
All-carbon molecules in metal complexes - novel materials and intermediates. An important requirement for the future is new materials with unusual properties that can be controlled. The need for ever smaller electronic devices requires knowledge about appropriate properties (particularly electronic) of molecules designed to model devices such as wires, switches, etc. This work seeks to design, measure and evaluate such molecules, which are based on chains of carbon atoms linking metal centres ....All-carbon molecules in metal complexes - novel materials and intermediates. An important requirement for the future is new materials with unusual properties that can be controlled. The need for ever smaller electronic devices requires knowledge about appropriate properties (particularly electronic) of molecules designed to model devices such as wires, switches, etc. This work seeks to design, measure and evaluate such molecules, which are based on chains of carbon atoms linking metal centres which can gain or lose electrons readily. As the electronic structure changes, so do the physical (photo, solid-state) and chemical properties (reactivity). Improved understanding of these features will benefit development of advanced technology and new materials.Read moreRead less
Free radical generation and reactions in ultrasound assisted processes. The project is designed to give a full quantitative physical and chemical account of the free radicals generated from the passage of ultrasound through a liquid. The study will be end-focused to produce advanced materials of potential use as catalysts in fuel cells and other materials that may be used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.