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
Advanced Molecular Nanomaterials. The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials is a key step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we mount a major research program into the strategic assembly of molecular nanomaterials that have entirely new and highly useful properties. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental advances in nanoscience and will forge deep understandings of how materials properties relate to nanoscale structure. Th ....Advanced Molecular Nanomaterials. The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials is a key step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we mount a major research program into the strategic assembly of molecular nanomaterials that have entirely new and highly useful properties. 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 electronics, photonics, molecular sensing, drug synthesis and purification, clean energy and the controlled release of agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.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
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.
Advanced Functional Properties in Coordination Framework Materials. 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 synthesis of molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and negative thermal expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental advances ....Advanced Functional Properties in Coordination Framework Materials. 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 synthesis of molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and negative thermal expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental advances in nanoscience and will forge deep understandings of how physical properties relate to nanoscale structure. These advances will spur a wide range of important new technologies, with future application of the materials in molecular separations, sensing, energy conversion, electronics and photonics.Read moreRead less
Capacitance Fade Mechanisms in Carbon-Based Supercapacitors. Energy storage is of significant importance to the global community. This project addresses certain performance issues concerning prolonged energy storage in supercapacitors, which are an emerging technology in the electronics industry. CAP-XX is Australia's only manufacturer of supercapacitors, and the improvements to their products that will result from this work, will lead to significant returns to them and the Australian economy.
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
Designing Nano-Pore Architectures for High Power Battery Materials. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of portable electronic devices. Of the numerous battery systems available, alkaline MnO2/Zn cells are most commonly used to power these devices. However, as the device power requirements increase, so too does the demand on these cells to perform. Delta EMD, Australia, currently exports ~10% of the world's supply of MnO2 for these cells. Their collaboration with p ....Designing Nano-Pore Architectures for High Power Battery Materials. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of portable electronic devices. Of the numerous battery systems available, alkaline MnO2/Zn cells are most commonly used to power these devices. However, as the device power requirements increase, so too does the demand on these cells to perform. Delta EMD, Australia, currently exports ~10% of the world's supply of MnO2 for these cells. Their collaboration with personnel from the University of Newcastle, who have significant expertise in the field of MnO2 research, will focus on designing a superior MnO2 with optimized nano-pore architecture for high power battery applications.Read moreRead less
Self-zoning in natural uraninite: radiation driven chemical separation. In this project we aim to explore and define the effects of the substitution of lead and rare earths on the crystal chemistry of uranium dioxide (uraninite) and related minerals, towards establishing the oxygen stoichiometry (as a measure of oxygen fugacity) of these materials both in nature and in synthetic materials. This project will use synthetic materials to understand the variability of oxygen stoichiometry, establish ....Self-zoning in natural uraninite: radiation driven chemical separation. In this project we aim to explore and define the effects of the substitution of lead and rare earths on the crystal chemistry of uranium dioxide (uraninite) and related minerals, towards establishing the oxygen stoichiometry (as a measure of oxygen fugacity) of these materials both in nature and in synthetic materials. This project will use synthetic materials to understand the variability of oxygen stoichiometry, establish accurate and precise structures for the oxides, and distinguish both long range and short-range order which is critical to understanding both natural and synthetic U-oxides. This will help to define the geochemical conditions leading to the formation of deposits like Olympic Dam towards potential economic benefit.Read moreRead less