A modular toolkit of chemical probes for living cells. This project aims to develop a toolkit of fluorescent probes that can be assembled in a highly efficient ‘mix and match’ approach. Fluorescent probes allow unprecedented imaging of biological systems, but current probe design is inefficient due to a disconnection between those who make probes and those who use them. Novel fluorescent molecules will be designed and incorporated into new probes that are both selective for the chemical of inter ....A modular toolkit of chemical probes for living cells. This project aims to develop a toolkit of fluorescent probes that can be assembled in a highly efficient ‘mix and match’ approach. Fluorescent probes allow unprecedented imaging of biological systems, but current probe design is inefficient due to a disconnection between those who make probes and those who use them. Novel fluorescent molecules will be designed and incorporated into new probes that are both selective for the chemical of interest and targeted to the relevant subcellular location. This will advance knowledge across synthetic chemistry, photo-physics and chemical biology, and expand the scope of chemical tools available for imaging, underpinning advances throughout cellular physiology.Read moreRead less
Thallium hydride complexes - synthesis, stabilisation and synthetic utility. Australia has abundant geological deposits of group 13 metals. The hydride chemistries of group 13 elements are critical to modern applications of these elements. There are no hydrides of thallium, the heaviest member of group 13. This project aims to prepare and stabilise thallium hydrides to enable technological applications of thallium.
Improving solar energy utilisation by splitting water with visible light. The project seeks to improve solar-hydrogen fuel production via water splitting by addressing a fundamental scientific roadblock. By engineered nanostructures with controlled charge transfer abilities, the most desirable route to water splitting will be promoted; granting Australia an opportunity to develop a solar-based renewable fuel.
Boron and silicon based pincer ligands for environmentally responsible catalysis. The production of everyday chemicals (pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers) comes at a price, economic and environmental. Metal catalysts significantly reduce the environmental impact of both the associated energy requirements and waste products. New classes of catalysts will be developed based on the unconventional elements boron and silicon.