Cation Ordering - A Strategy to Prepare Multiferroic Oxides. This project will produce new families of functional metal oxides with technologically relevant properties, especially multiferroic behavior. Such materials are highly sort-after in the rapidly emerging field of spintronics. Through comprehensive experimental studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials.
All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic i ....All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic interfacial layers that change smoothly from hard ceramic to flexible glass and back again, through rigorous chemical design and synthetic control. This will reduce the stress that causes mechanical failure, while increasing chemical stability so that the latest generation of high-power electrodes can be brought into service.Read moreRead less
Amplifying light emission with metal-fluorophore nanostructures for ultrasensitive biosensing. This proposal focuses on translating nanotechnology to ultrasensitive molecular monitoring for biomedicine. We will apply a new tool, amplified fluorophores to proteomics where they will provide an improved method for early detection and understanding of diseases through molecular fingerprints. The project will also generate an ultra-sensitive, rapid technology that can be used for personalized point ....Amplifying light emission with metal-fluorophore nanostructures for ultrasensitive biosensing. This proposal focuses on translating nanotechnology to ultrasensitive molecular monitoring for biomedicine. We will apply a new tool, amplified fluorophores to proteomics where they will provide an improved method for early detection and understanding of diseases through molecular fingerprints. The project will also generate an ultra-sensitive, rapid technology that can be used for personalized point-of-care diagnostics. The applications can include the detection of disease markers, pathogens or the determination of protein content in a clinical sample. These technologies will be applicable across a spectrum or of diseases all of which will benefit the broader community.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The exp ....Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The expected outcome is the achievement of high reversible hydrogen storage capacity to meet all the demands required for energy conversion applications, in particular, for hydrogen storage/fuel-cell vehicular applications.Read moreRead less
Molecular Framework Materials: Nanoporosity and Anomalous Thermal Expansion. The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials represents both a key area of fundamental research and a critical step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we explore the strategic assembly of molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and anomalous thermal expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental ....Molecular Framework Materials: Nanoporosity and Anomalous Thermal Expansion. The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials represents both a key area of fundamental research and a critical step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we explore the strategic assembly of molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and anomalous thermal expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental advances in nanoscience and will forge deep understandings of how materials properties relate to nanoscale structure. These advances will spur a wide range of important new technologies, with application of the materials in molecular separations and sensing, clean energy storage, electronics and photonics.Read moreRead less
Structural and Electronic Properties of Layered Bismuth Oxides. A systematic study of the role of cation substitutions and temperature on the structural and electronic properties of a number of layered bismuth oxides will undertaken with the aim of developing improved ferroelectric materials for use in electronic devices.
Complex Phenomena and Phase Transitions in Ferroric Perovskites. The ultimate aim of this project is to identify high performance, multiferroic magnetoelectrics suitable for use in the next generation electronic devices. These oxides exhibit a strong interaction between the polarisation and magnetic response. Understanding the factors that control the response of such materials to applied magnetic and electric fields is critical to the discovery, optimization and, ultimately, industrial exploi ....Complex Phenomena and Phase Transitions in Ferroric Perovskites. The ultimate aim of this project is to identify high performance, multiferroic magnetoelectrics suitable for use in the next generation electronic devices. These oxides exhibit a strong interaction between the polarisation and magnetic response. Understanding the factors that control the response of such materials to applied magnetic and electric fields is critical to the discovery, optimization and, ultimately, industrial exploitation of such materials. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials. Development of advanced materials is a designated National Research Priority area. Read moreRead less
P-Type Titanium Dioxide for Hydrogen Generation from Water using Solar Energy. This project aims to develop a completely new processing technology for photo-sensitive oxide materials based on titanium dioxide for the conversion of renewable energy (solar energy) into chemical energy (hydrogen) or electrical energy (photovoltaic). When commercialised, the resultant technology will allow Australia to achieve the following: a) reduction in air pollution, b) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, c) ....P-Type Titanium Dioxide for Hydrogen Generation from Water using Solar Energy. This project aims to develop a completely new processing technology for photo-sensitive oxide materials based on titanium dioxide for the conversion of renewable energy (solar energy) into chemical energy (hydrogen) or electrical energy (photovoltaic). When commercialised, the resultant technology will allow Australia to achieve the following: a) reduction in air pollution, b) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, c) reduction in reliance on foreign energy sources, d) development of a range of ancillary technologies and infrastructure, and e) export of solar energy in the form of solar-hydrogen. This project addresses National Priorities #1 and #3.Read moreRead less
TITANIA-BASED MATERIALS WITH ENHANCED PHOTO-SENSITIVITY FOR SOLAR-HYDROGEN. Aims: Enhancement of the photo-sensitivity of titania photo-electrodes will be achieved through the effect of aliovalent ions in the titania lattice, leading to, at a high density of states, the imposition of mid-gap bands. This will result in the reduction of the effective band gap required for ionisation. Significance: The practical application of titania for the photolysis of water using solar energy at efficiencies s ....TITANIA-BASED MATERIALS WITH ENHANCED PHOTO-SENSITIVITY FOR SOLAR-HYDROGEN. Aims: Enhancement of the photo-sensitivity of titania photo-electrodes will be achieved through the effect of aliovalent ions in the titania lattice, leading to, at a high density of states, the imposition of mid-gap bands. This will result in the reduction of the effective band gap required for ionisation. Significance: The practical application of titania for the photolysis of water using solar energy at efficiencies sufficiently high for commercialisation (greater than 10%). Innovation: Examination for the first time of the impact of the electronic structure on the photo-sensitivity of oxide materials, including titania single crystals and polycrystals.Read moreRead less
Scaffolding layered structures to improve insertion electrodes. This project aims to change how positive electrodes are designed and improve battery performance. The positive electrode is arguably the largest bottleneck in battery performance. Modifying layered electrodes to produce better batteries has ramifications ranging from longer-lasting portable power for everyday devices and vehicles to energy storage solutions for intermittent power generation sources (i.e., renewables). This project w ....Scaffolding layered structures to improve insertion electrodes. This project aims to change how positive electrodes are designed and improve battery performance. The positive electrode is arguably the largest bottleneck in battery performance. Modifying layered electrodes to produce better batteries has ramifications ranging from longer-lasting portable power for everyday devices and vehicles to energy storage solutions for intermittent power generation sources (i.e., renewables). This project will develop scaffolded layered crystal structures to improve the ease, speed and amount of ion insertion/extraction. These structures will be incorporated into lithium and sodium ion batteries, resulting in better battery lifetime, energy density and charge/discharge speed (capability). This is expected to improve batteries for the future and decrease reliance on fossil fuels for energy.Read moreRead less