Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0221983
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
Interface, Particle and Complex Fluid Characterisation Laboratory. This laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art characterisation facility for complex fluids. This will service the needs of 27 research staff and 38 postgraduate students and involve collaboration between twelve major research groups based at the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT. The facility will enhance the research activities of the collaborating institutions in key strategic areas. The laborat ....Interface, Particle and Complex Fluid Characterisation Laboratory. This laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art characterisation facility for complex fluids. This will service the needs of 27 research staff and 38 postgraduate students and involve collaboration between twelve major research groups based at the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT. The facility will enhance the research activities of the collaborating institutions in key strategic areas. The laboratory will also act as a facility for undertaking consulting projects with industry groups by the applicants.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100131
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Laser facility for ultra-sensitive molecular characterisation. Lasers are indispensable tools for the characterization and photochemical modification of molecular systems. Powerful lasers produce intense bursts of light across the electromagnetic spectrum, from the infrared to the ultraviolet. This versatility allows chemists to observe the dynamical behaviour of single molecules on ultra-fast timescales, to probe the shape of molecules relevant to the action of therapeutic drugs, to explore the ....Laser facility for ultra-sensitive molecular characterisation. Lasers are indispensable tools for the characterization and photochemical modification of molecular systems. Powerful lasers produce intense bursts of light across the electromagnetic spectrum, from the infrared to the ultraviolet. This versatility allows chemists to observe the dynamical behaviour of single molecules on ultra-fast timescales, to probe the shape of molecules relevant to the action of therapeutic drugs, to explore the characteristics of molecules found in space, and to initiate laser-activated chemical processes in microscopic dimensions to modify sensor surfaces. The proposed laser facility will enable progress in these areas and will help maintain Australia's research edge in nanotechnology and biotechnology.
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Electrochemical Applications of Plastic Crystalline Electrolytes. A number of new and emerging electrochemical device applications such as lithium batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, electrochemical capacitors, actuators and bio-sensors are limited by their need for a liquid electrolyte. Many of these devices are considered vital to energy efficiency and the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions. The recent discovery of ambient temperature plastic crystalline electrolyte materials by the Monas ....Electrochemical Applications of Plastic Crystalline Electrolytes. A number of new and emerging electrochemical device applications such as lithium batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, electrochemical capacitors, actuators and bio-sensors are limited by their need for a liquid electrolyte. Many of these devices are considered vital to energy efficiency and the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions. The recent discovery of ambient temperature plastic crystalline electrolyte materials by the Monash Electrolytes group has raised the possibility of solving this problem. In this project new plastic crystalline electrolyte materials will be developed to suit these applications and their electrochemical properties investigated. Laboratory prototype devices will be prepared and tested and via collaborations with appropriate device developers, their performance evaluted.Read moreRead less
Electrochemistry of redox-active non-metal compounds. Unsaturated compounds of heavier non-metal elements can exist in multiple stable redox states. The interconversion is best assessed by electrochemical techniques, which can measure the energetics and the mechanism of the redox processes involved in both solution and solid state phases. Compounds to be studied will be prepared in the Canadian laboratories of the partner investigator. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties ....Electrochemistry of redox-active non-metal compounds. Unsaturated compounds of heavier non-metal elements can exist in multiple stable redox states. The interconversion is best assessed by electrochemical techniques, which can measure the energetics and the mechanism of the redox processes involved in both solution and solid state phases. Compounds to be studied will be prepared in the Canadian laboratories of the partner investigator. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties will initially be investigated in Australia during the visit of the partner investigator to Monash University with follow up studies in both countries. The mutual skills of synthesis and electrochemistry in the Canadian-Australian laboratories are essential to the project.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and th ....Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment will allow advances in processing and consequently improved final products. The potential growth in market share, by improved product performance, is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Ionic Liquids and Solids - New Designs, Insights and Applications. Ionic Materials in the form of liquid salts and plastic crystals are of interest in a wide range of applications including environmentally benign synthesis of chemicals and high stability electrolytes for batteries, capacitors and other devices. These materials represent some of the most stable chemicals known, making them attractive for any application where complete stability and recycling are issues. Building on our recent wor ....Ionic Liquids and Solids - New Designs, Insights and Applications. Ionic Materials in the form of liquid salts and plastic crystals are of interest in a wide range of applications including environmentally benign synthesis of chemicals and high stability electrolytes for batteries, capacitors and other devices. These materials represent some of the most stable chemicals known, making them attractive for any application where complete stability and recycling are issues. Building on our recent work, this project will design, prepare and characterize novel materials of this type for a number of target applications. Collaborators in Europe and USA will be involved in the analysis and testing of the materials.Read moreRead less
Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commerci ....Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commercial benefits for Australia. Read moreRead less
Low viscosity, high ionic conductivity ionic liquids for lithium metal batteries. Current consumer electronic devices rely on lithium-ion batteries to provide a high energy density power source. There are growing safety concerns about the electrolytes in these devices after recent incidents involving fires in mobile phones. Recent advances in ionic liquids (ILs) have seen the development of new electrolytes for such devices, with enhanced physical properties that offer major safety advantages. H ....Low viscosity, high ionic conductivity ionic liquids for lithium metal batteries. Current consumer electronic devices rely on lithium-ion batteries to provide a high energy density power source. There are growing safety concerns about the electrolytes in these devices after recent incidents involving fires in mobile phones. Recent advances in ionic liquids (ILs) have seen the development of new electrolytes for such devices, with enhanced physical properties that offer major safety advantages. However, the viscosity of these materials currently limit their capabilities. New IL materials to be developed in this project will pave the way for the development of safer devices and new sustainable energy industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,000.00
Summary
Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility will provide a comprehensive range of new spectroscopic techniques that cover all energies (from the ultraviolet to infrared regions of the spectrum) and timescales relevant to the absorption, emission and transformation of light in advanced photo-active materials. Expected outcomes and benefits are more efficient light harvesting, lighting and optical sensing processes; control over light-induced activity in new m ....Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility will provide a comprehensive range of new spectroscopic techniques that cover all energies (from the ultraviolet to infrared regions of the spectrum) and timescales relevant to the absorption, emission and transformation of light in advanced photo-active materials. Expected outcomes and benefits are more efficient light harvesting, lighting and optical sensing processes; control over light-induced activity in new materials, and enhanced chemical reactivity. This will provide a platform to enhance capacity in materials characterisation, and will increase institutional and cross-disciplinary collaborations involving Universities, defence organisations and industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101504
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,026.00
Summary
Crossing restrictive biobarriers with self-assembled lipid nanocarriers. This project aims to determine how nanoscale objects which mimic the surface of cells behave in biologically relevant environments. This project expects to generate new knowledge in physical chemistry by complementing innovative surface chemistry design and characterisation with data science approaches. The expected outcome of this project is identification of the mode of interaction of these biomimetic objects with cells, ....Crossing restrictive biobarriers with self-assembled lipid nanocarriers. This project aims to determine how nanoscale objects which mimic the surface of cells behave in biologically relevant environments. This project expects to generate new knowledge in physical chemistry by complementing innovative surface chemistry design and characterisation with data science approaches. The expected outcome of this project is identification of the mode of interaction of these biomimetic objects with cells, which may then reveal a new pathway for the delivery of pharmaceuticals. This could provide significant future benefits in the treatment of neurological diseases and bacterial infections, by overcoming the barrier that the cell surface presents to the uptake of many medicinal drugs.Read moreRead less