Improved cryopreservation protocols for long term storage of platelets. The aim of this project is to characterise human blood platelet deterioration during cold storage and cryopreservation, and accelerate the development of improved long-term storage options. The project expects to generate important new knowledge about how platelets deteriorate during storage, and how such deterioration can be minimized. The expected outcomes are improved methods for long term platelet storage. This should be ....Improved cryopreservation protocols for long term storage of platelets. The aim of this project is to characterise human blood platelet deterioration during cold storage and cryopreservation, and accelerate the development of improved long-term storage options. The project expects to generate important new knowledge about how platelets deteriorate during storage, and how such deterioration can be minimized. The expected outcomes are improved methods for long term platelet storage. This should benefit blood donation services and hospitals by improving platelet delivery to remote locations, reducing wasted blood and the number of donations required, leading to significant financial savings.Read moreRead less
Diamond membranes for advanced manufacturing. This project aims to unlock the potential of diamond membrane devices in research and industry, by enabling the scalable manufacture of high quality diamond membrane samples. These will be packaged in a form that is easily transportable and with properties that are optimizable and functional for a variety of end-users. This project will allow the distribution of high quality base material to the academic and start-up markets. The expected outcome inc ....Diamond membranes for advanced manufacturing. This project aims to unlock the potential of diamond membrane devices in research and industry, by enabling the scalable manufacture of high quality diamond membrane samples. These will be packaged in a form that is easily transportable and with properties that are optimizable and functional for a variety of end-users. This project will allow the distribution of high quality base material to the academic and start-up markets. The expected outcome includes the development of products in healthcare and security such as infra-red frequency combs for gas-based chemical sensing and nanopore devices for new DNA sequencers.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the performance of high voltage direct current power cables by studying space charge accumulation in their synthetic polymeric insulation. Synthetic polymeric insulation has proved very successful in high voltage alternating current power transmission cables, and cable manufacturers have therefore sought to use it in high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, for which there is a rapidly growing demand. Yet the accumulation of space charge in such cables presently severely limits the m ....Enhancing the performance of high voltage direct current power cables by studying space charge accumulation in their synthetic polymeric insulation. Synthetic polymeric insulation has proved very successful in high voltage alternating current power transmission cables, and cable manufacturers have therefore sought to use it in high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, for which there is a rapidly growing demand. Yet the accumulation of space charge in such cables presently severely limits the maximum operating voltage and transmitted power. Nearly all this space charge is due to the temperature gradient in the insulation. We will analyze space charge profiles in polyethylene and other synthetic polymers, and derive basic scientific data which will inform the design of HVDC cables with greatly enhanced performance.Read moreRead less
Nanotechnology enabled electrochemical energy storage materials from indigenous natural graphite. This project aims to develop a technology package for reclamation of fine-fractions of indigenous natural graphite to create high-value, nano-engineered 'graphene-based' energy storage materials. A multidisciplinary team of experts in materials science, chemical engineering, physics and electrochemistry will address this issue of national priority.
Unlocking the potential of quantitative x-ray micro-tomography. This project aims to build on two new ideas in data acquisition and 3D image reconstruction to bring 3D X-ray microscopy or computed tomography (CT) into advanced research use as well as common industrial applications. In the past 10 years, CT has improved our understanding in areas ranging from the evolution of life and osteoporosis to composite material failure and oil recovery. However, the full potential of CT remains unrealised ....Unlocking the potential of quantitative x-ray micro-tomography. This project aims to build on two new ideas in data acquisition and 3D image reconstruction to bring 3D X-ray microscopy or computed tomography (CT) into advanced research use as well as common industrial applications. In the past 10 years, CT has improved our understanding in areas ranging from the evolution of life and osteoporosis to composite material failure and oil recovery. However, the full potential of CT remains unrealised because crucial features in structure and composition are overlooked by simplistic algorithms. Users cannot directly capture quantities of interest such as key compositional variation or defects, and workflows are poorly adapted for large-scale use in industrial fabrication or phenomics. This project aims to address these shortcomings using advanced mathematics and algorithms.Read moreRead less
Optical Information Processing with Diamond. The explosive growth in ideas for applications of quantum mechanics to practical devices for information processing has been a worldwide phenomenon of the past 4 years. A leading material which promises many of the desirable quantum properties is diamond. We aim to build on our extensive expertise in fundamental diamond research to design, fabricate and analyse novel quantum devices made from diamond. We will seek to attain the glittering prize of ....Optical Information Processing with Diamond. The explosive growth in ideas for applications of quantum mechanics to practical devices for information processing has been a worldwide phenomenon of the past 4 years. A leading material which promises many of the desirable quantum properties is diamond. We aim to build on our extensive expertise in fundamental diamond research to design, fabricate and analyse novel quantum devices made from diamond. We will seek to attain the glittering prize of constructing diamond devices that will absorb, store and re-emit single light-photons with revolutionary applications to information storage and processing.Read moreRead less
Advanced X-ray investigation of atomic and condensed matter science for Australian industry and scientific research. This project aims to improve the precision and calibration of measurements involving X-rays. This in turn will improve outcomes and instrumentation which utilise X-ray sources to probe structures and properties of advanced materials and biological samples.
Environmentally responsive clean coatings. Nature makes use of a range of fascinating surface properties, such as the leaves of the Lotus plant which stay clean even in dirty environments. In this project we will explore the molecular properties of novel polymer coated surfaces that-similar to some natural surfaces-can adapt to changing environmental stimuli and be resistant to contamination. Specifically, we aim to develop self-cleaning polymer coatings which can reversibly switch from wettab ....Environmentally responsive clean coatings. Nature makes use of a range of fascinating surface properties, such as the leaves of the Lotus plant which stay clean even in dirty environments. In this project we will explore the molecular properties of novel polymer coated surfaces that-similar to some natural surfaces-can adapt to changing environmental stimuli and be resistant to contamination. Specifically, we aim to develop self-cleaning polymer coatings which can reversibly switch from wettable to non-wettable with changing temperature and humidity. These self-cleaning polymer surfaces with environmentally responsive properties will add value to pre-painted steel products and other coatings.Read moreRead less
Manufacturing diamond membranes for quantum industries. Diamond materials are ideal for quantum technologies and are leading the charge in the new wave of real-world quantum industries. The aim of this project is to develop a reliable source of quantum-active diamond membranes to enable the development of new industries. This would be significant for technologies including quantum telecommunication, medical imaging and nano-scale quantum sensing. Of particular interest, expected outcomes include ....Manufacturing diamond membranes for quantum industries. Diamond materials are ideal for quantum technologies and are leading the charge in the new wave of real-world quantum industries. The aim of this project is to develop a reliable source of quantum-active diamond membranes to enable the development of new industries. This would be significant for technologies including quantum telecommunication, medical imaging and nano-scale quantum sensing. Of particular interest, expected outcomes include the development of materials for advanced medical imaging technologies. Successful development in any of these industries has the potential to greatly benefit society through improved healthcare, the development of new high-tech industries and advanced secure computing. Read moreRead less
Connecting man to machine: Wireless brain-machine interface. This project aims to enable direct wireless transmission of brain signals leading to reliable thought control of computers, wheelchairs, exoskeletons and vehicles. Such technology is currently limited by the fidelity, reliability, safety and longevity of the electrodes used to record signals from the brain. Partner organisation, SmartStent, has developed a novel stent-based electrode array which allows the extraction of high fidelity n ....Connecting man to machine: Wireless brain-machine interface. This project aims to enable direct wireless transmission of brain signals leading to reliable thought control of computers, wheelchairs, exoskeletons and vehicles. Such technology is currently limited by the fidelity, reliability, safety and longevity of the electrodes used to record signals from the brain. Partner organisation, SmartStent, has developed a novel stent-based electrode array which allows the extraction of high fidelity neural information without risky brain surgery and implant rejection. The project aims to combine SmartStent's stent-electrode technology with the diamond materials technology developed by the research team for hermetic encapsulation of electronics.Read moreRead less