Mechanical advantage: biomimetic artificial muscles for micro-machines. This project will develop better ways to operate miniature machines by copying the way that muscle operates in Nature. The outcome will be important for portable devices like digital cameras that need small, efficient motors. The artificial muscles developed in this project may also be used in medical prosthetics and more agile robots.
Electronic coupling and nanoscale engineering of two-dimensional nanojunctions. This project aims to improve the design of photovoltaic, energy storage, and nanocatalytic devices by using quantum-size tuning, orientation control, strain engineering, and surface modification to manipulate the electronic coupling and charge transfer of two-dimensional nanojunctions. The limitations of and potential environmental damage from fossil-fuel-based energy resources have increased interest in renewable en ....Electronic coupling and nanoscale engineering of two-dimensional nanojunctions. This project aims to improve the design of photovoltaic, energy storage, and nanocatalytic devices by using quantum-size tuning, orientation control, strain engineering, and surface modification to manipulate the electronic coupling and charge transfer of two-dimensional nanojunctions. The limitations of and potential environmental damage from fossil-fuel-based energy resources have increased interest in renewable energy research. The expected outcomes are electron-scale understanding of the tuneable functionalisation of two-dimensional nanojunctions and the design of low-cost and high-efficiency renewable energy devices.Read moreRead less
Next generation core-shell materials based on biomolecular dual-templating. This project aims to discover and develop new methods and knowledge for the precision engineering of next-generation core-shell materials using sustainable biomolecular dual-templating processes. This research builds on a recent breakthrough - emulsion and biomimetic dual-templating technology for facile preparation of silica capsules, and is expected to revolutionise current approaches for making core-shell materials. S ....Next generation core-shell materials based on biomolecular dual-templating. This project aims to discover and develop new methods and knowledge for the precision engineering of next-generation core-shell materials using sustainable biomolecular dual-templating processes. This research builds on a recent breakthrough - emulsion and biomimetic dual-templating technology for facile preparation of silica capsules, and is expected to revolutionise current approaches for making core-shell materials. Significant outcomes are expected to be achieved through building fundamental understanding around this breakthrough, including new concepts for hierarchical nanomaterials based on biomolecular design, new molecular and engineering design rules for core-shell materials, and novel materials for applications in sustained release and delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Precision-Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials. Designing polymer nanoparticles that interact with or mimic biological systems represents a challenge in the field of polymer science. The project will address this challenge to deliver a quantitative and qualitative understanding linking synthetic materials and biological systems. Structurally perfect polymeric dendrimers, prepared using break through synthetic approaches and kinetic and computer modelling, are the ideal structure to introduce this fu ....Precision-Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials. Designing polymer nanoparticles that interact with or mimic biological systems represents a challenge in the field of polymer science. The project will address this challenge to deliver a quantitative and qualitative understanding linking synthetic materials and biological systems. Structurally perfect polymeric dendrimers, prepared using break through synthetic approaches and kinetic and computer modelling, are the ideal structure to introduce this function with predictable behaviour. The project will achieve tangible impacts for global communities and industries including the development of biomimetic nanodevices for smart drug delivery devices and peptide mimics.Read moreRead less
Catalysts for hydrogen-free ammonia production by electrochemical method. This project aims to realise the next generation of ammonia production under ambient conditions without hydrogen feedstock. Through a combination of theoretical molecular-level understanding and experimental materials engineering, a range of catalysts will be developed under a materials discovery scheme for electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia. These new catalysts, featuring high activity, efficiency, selectivity, ....Catalysts for hydrogen-free ammonia production by electrochemical method. This project aims to realise the next generation of ammonia production under ambient conditions without hydrogen feedstock. Through a combination of theoretical molecular-level understanding and experimental materials engineering, a range of catalysts will be developed under a materials discovery scheme for electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia. These new catalysts, featuring high activity, efficiency, selectivity, and stability, will facilitate an alternative artificial nitrogen fixation technology powered by renewable energies. This technology will enable the production of green fertilisers and provide renewable energy storage, which are key environmental and energy challenges that Australia and the world currently face.Read moreRead less
Advanced electrochemical capacitors. This project aims to design electrochemical capacitors that can provide self-sustaining power for equipment using renewable energy sources, such as sunlight. Electrical power systems are needed to supply both the peak power and the energy demand that users, particularly those without grid electricity, and their equipment need. This project will match the capacitator electrochemistry to the power attributes of the load and charging source, making them more eff ....Advanced electrochemical capacitors. This project aims to design electrochemical capacitors that can provide self-sustaining power for equipment using renewable energy sources, such as sunlight. Electrical power systems are needed to supply both the peak power and the energy demand that users, particularly those without grid electricity, and their equipment need. This project will match the capacitator electrochemistry to the power attributes of the load and charging source, making them more efficiently charged and able to supply both peak power and energy demand for improved off-grid power supplies and integration of renewable energy into electricity grids.Read moreRead less
Develop Catalyst Materials for Future Fuels by Operando Computation. This project aims to design catalyst materials for the production of future fuels (green ammonia, hydrocarbon and alcohol). Using carbon and nitrogen as energy carriers, these fuels are generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar; they are safe, reliable, and possess high energy density. The outcomes include advance in computational electrochemistry to the Opeando level, electrocatalysts design principles with clearl ....Develop Catalyst Materials for Future Fuels by Operando Computation. This project aims to design catalyst materials for the production of future fuels (green ammonia, hydrocarbon and alcohol). Using carbon and nitrogen as energy carriers, these fuels are generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar; they are safe, reliable, and possess high energy density. The outcomes include advance in computational electrochemistry to the Opeando level, electrocatalysts design principles with clearly articulated reaction mechanisms, and candidate materials for experimental validation. Facilitated by advanced computation techniques and reliable catalyst materials design procedure, this project will address the biggest challenge in future fuel generation, which is the lack of efficient catalyst materials. Read moreRead less
Advanced macromolecular engineering: novel approaches to self-directed assembly and vesicle formation. The aim of this project is to develop new approaches in nanotechnology for the preparation of well-defined polymeric particles. The research will result in the development of new methodology which has the potential to impact areas of commercial interest including those in the health-care sector.
Piezoelectric nanofibre membranes with built-in p-n junction: new self-rectifying piezoelectric power generators. This project will aim to develop new knowledge about how to efficiently convert small mechanical energy into directly usable electric power using piezoelectric nanofibre membranes and will fill this knowledge gap by systematically understanding the influence of doping agents on the charge transport during energy conversion.