The role of structure in the formation and properties of glasses. This project aims to investigate the role of local atomic structure in the formation and mechanical properties of glasses by applying newly developed structure-determination methods. This project expects to establish why glasses form and how their structure gives rise to their undesirable, and limiting, brittle mechanical failure. The anticipated outcomes of this project are better ways to measure the atomic structure of disorder ....The role of structure in the formation and properties of glasses. This project aims to investigate the role of local atomic structure in the formation and mechanical properties of glasses by applying newly developed structure-determination methods. This project expects to establish why glasses form and how their structure gives rise to their undesirable, and limiting, brittle mechanical failure. The anticipated outcomes of this project are better ways to measure the atomic structure of disordered materials and the generation of more clear-cut structure-property relationships for glasses. This will provide significant benefit to Australian industries by enabling the design of better glass-forming systems and stronger, tougher glasses.Read moreRead less
Complex Interfaces and Solid-State Precipitation in Advanced Materials. Solid-state precipitates are key features of the microstructures of many natural and artificial materials and govern their properties. Yet understanding, let alone designing, the microstructures of materials remains a formidable challenge. The recent discovery of a new class of embedded interfaces in aluminium alloys offers the prospect of determining the atomic-scale mechanisms of precipitation. This project aims to apply t ....Complex Interfaces and Solid-State Precipitation in Advanced Materials. Solid-state precipitates are key features of the microstructures of many natural and artificial materials and govern their properties. Yet understanding, let alone designing, the microstructures of materials remains a formidable challenge. The recent discovery of a new class of embedded interfaces in aluminium alloys offers the prospect of determining the atomic-scale mechanisms of precipitation. This project aims to apply the latest microscopy and computational techniques synergistically to characterise such interfaces and develop atomic-scale mechanisms of nucleation and growth in model alloy systems. It is expected that this work will constitute a major step towards practical control of solid-state precipitation in technologically important materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Advanced surface imaging and spectroscopy facility: Scanning auger nanoprobe. Understanding advanced materials and nano-fabricated devices on the nanometre scale is essential for innovation in the manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, energy and mining sectors. The next generation Scanning Auger Nanoprobe will support research rated well-above world standard and dramatically increase national surface analytical capacity.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100033
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Equipment for Advanced Surface Analysis. Equipment for advanced surface analysis:
This project aims to establish equipment for advanced surface analysis to provide Australian researchers with cutting-edge capabilities in surface science. Vital chemical and physical reactions often occur at surfaces. Understanding these reactions requires analysis of the composition and electronic structure of the surface and near-surface regions. Neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy and inverse ....Equipment for Advanced Surface Analysis. Equipment for advanced surface analysis:
This project aims to establish equipment for advanced surface analysis to provide Australian researchers with cutting-edge capabilities in surface science. Vital chemical and physical reactions often occur at surfaces. Understanding these reactions requires analysis of the composition and electronic structure of the surface and near-surface regions. Neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy and inverse photoemission spectroscopy measure concentration depth profiles and electronic structure. The depth resolution of the profiles is in the order of the distance between two neighbouring atoms in a solid or liquid and is the best currently achievable. The equipment providing these capabilities is expected to support research with applications in photovoltaics, catalysis, colloid surfaces and interfaces, coatings and nanocomposites.Read moreRead less
From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for thre ....From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for three-dimensional characterisation and simulations at the atomic-scale of embedded nanostructures. This should provide significant benefits for the improved design of light alloys, such as for the automotive and aerospace sectors, but also for high-tech materials whose function depends on precipitates. Read moreRead less
Exploiting shear to form new structures of carbon. This project aims to create new, technologically-interesting, materials by combining shear (sliding forces) with high pressure. The work will use both modelling and experiments to understand the pathways to form new materials such as a different form of diamond that is predicted to be harder than regular diamond. Such a material could be used in coatings for cutting tools or ultra-low-scratch surfaces. Expected outcomes include both an understan ....Exploiting shear to form new structures of carbon. This project aims to create new, technologically-interesting, materials by combining shear (sliding forces) with high pressure. The work will use both modelling and experiments to understand the pathways to form new materials such as a different form of diamond that is predicted to be harder than regular diamond. Such a material could be used in coatings for cutting tools or ultra-low-scratch surfaces. Expected outcomes include both an understanding of the importance of shear in the study of high-pressure science, and as a tool to manufacture new functional materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Scanning auger microscope facility for elemental imaging and characterisation of surfaces and interfaces. This project will establish a scanning auger microprobe facility as part of the Australian microscopy and microanalysis research facility. It will provide advanced characterisation and ultra-high resolution imaging of elemental species on surfaces, for researchers working in the areas of nano- and green technologies, and minerals processing.
Two dimensional conjugated polymers: a new class of functional nanomaterials. New technologies depend on the design and development of novel materials. This project will synthesise a new class of materials, namely two dimensional conjugated polymers, which have enormous potential for creating new technologies, for example in electronics and sensing.
Exploring the Fundamentals of Atomically Precise Manufacturing with Scanning Probe Microscopes. Over the past five years, Australian researchers have pioneered the development of a new method for fabricating electrical devices in silicon with atomic precision. By partnering with the world leader in nanotechnology manufacturing, these same researchers now have an opportunity to extend Australia's early lead in this area. The proposed research will lead to new capabilities for Australia within the ....Exploring the Fundamentals of Atomically Precise Manufacturing with Scanning Probe Microscopes. Over the past five years, Australian researchers have pioneered the development of a new method for fabricating electrical devices in silicon with atomic precision. By partnering with the world leader in nanotechnology manufacturing, these same researchers now have an opportunity to extend Australia's early lead in this area. The proposed research will lead to new capabilities for Australia within the growing field of electro-mechanical devices. It will strengthen and broaden Australia's leadership in atomic-scale device fabrication in silicon. It will assist world-leading Australian researchers to evaluate and prioritise the commercial potential of their technologies.Read moreRead less
Helium Atom Detection in Scanning Helium Microscopy. The development of an imaging helium atom detector based on carbon nanotubes would be world-first achievement and would place Australia at the forefront of technology in this field. The concurrent goal of understanding the contrast mechanisms that occur in helium atom scattering is also fundamental to the development of the scanning helium microscope. This project secures Australia's position at the forefront of atom microscopy by strategicall ....Helium Atom Detection in Scanning Helium Microscopy. The development of an imaging helium atom detector based on carbon nanotubes would be world-first achievement and would place Australia at the forefront of technology in this field. The concurrent goal of understanding the contrast mechanisms that occur in helium atom scattering is also fundamental to the development of the scanning helium microscope. This project secures Australia's position at the forefront of atom microscopy by strategically targeting the cutting-edge science critical for this emerging technology. A significant side-benefit of a nanotube based detector is that it could be incorporated into battery-operated portable gas sensors for use in environmental, industrial and even counter-terrorism applications.Read moreRead less