Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Doped alumina with tailored material properties for battery applications. This project aims to develop tailored alumina materials for lithium ion battery separators through a novel in-situ approach that will: (1) produce uniform doped alumina for improved safety, (2) target specific surface and bulk material properties to increase the overall performance, and (3) reduce manufacturing costs by integrating the process with new technology developed for the production of high purity alumina. Signifi ....Doped alumina with tailored material properties for battery applications. This project aims to develop tailored alumina materials for lithium ion battery separators through a novel in-situ approach that will: (1) produce uniform doped alumina for improved safety, (2) target specific surface and bulk material properties to increase the overall performance, and (3) reduce manufacturing costs by integrating the process with new technology developed for the production of high purity alumina. Significant advances are proposed for overcoming current manufacturing limitations of doped alumina. Building research capacity and knowledge in battery material manufacturing will benefit a range of industries across Australia, whilst providing new opportunities for growth in local communities.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100235
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,000.00
Summary
Spectroscopy and imaging platform for photoactive materials. This project aims to establish a comprehensive analytic tool-box to characterise solution-processable materials for thin-film solar cells based on materials such as perovskites. These materials have light harvesting properties with absorption edges beyond 800 nm. This project will focus on time-resolved transient absorption and microwave conductivity phenomena and on lock-in thermographic imaging capabilities. This will accelerate mate ....Spectroscopy and imaging platform for photoactive materials. This project aims to establish a comprehensive analytic tool-box to characterise solution-processable materials for thin-film solar cells based on materials such as perovskites. These materials have light harvesting properties with absorption edges beyond 800 nm. This project will focus on time-resolved transient absorption and microwave conductivity phenomena and on lock-in thermographic imaging capabilities. This will accelerate materials and technological development in this research field. This project is expected to help the local and global energy sector transition to sustainable energy, provide a competitive edge for commercialisations of solar technologies in Australia, and benefit the economy, environment and national security.Read moreRead less
Hybrid photocatalytic nanomaterials for water purification. This project aims to synthesise and characterise a range of porous photocatalytic materials (materials that absorb light to catalyse a reaction), and to establish high-throughput processes to simultaneously test the effectiveness of multiple photocatalytic materials. This interdisciplinary project expects to develop two new techniques that will lead to faster materials optimisation of materials that breakdown organic pollutants in water ....Hybrid photocatalytic nanomaterials for water purification. This project aims to synthesise and characterise a range of porous photocatalytic materials (materials that absorb light to catalyse a reaction), and to establish high-throughput processes to simultaneously test the effectiveness of multiple photocatalytic materials. This interdisciplinary project expects to develop two new techniques that will lead to faster materials optimisation of materials that breakdown organic pollutants in water under light irradiation. The intended outcomes include the production of industrially relevant photocatalysts and building capability in Australia to decrease photocatalytic testing time and cost. This should provide significant benefits to industry and the environment, and have an impact on human health.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,476.00
Summary
Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device modul ....Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device module for a preconcentrator technology that will sorb explosive analytes, have low power requirements and be compatible with hand held explosives detectors. Security and law enforcement agencies should directly benefit from these findings, which would advance their safety and that of the community as a whole.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artifici ....Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artificial ion-transporter membranes and bring new technologies to applications such as in solar energy harvesting, osmotic power generation, ionic batteries, and ionic circuits. The proposed research should provide significant benefits such as new energy conversion and storage technologies for Australian manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$832,648.00
Summary
Magneto-optical facility for the search of novel multifunctional materials. This project aims to establish a comprehensive photomagnetic materials characterisation facility. Novel transition metal oxide materials provide new functionalities, which by far exceed present semiconductor and IT technology. The project will enable new observations of materials’ behaviour by combining Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry with optical illumination, under systematically contro ....Magneto-optical facility for the search of novel multifunctional materials. This project aims to establish a comprehensive photomagnetic materials characterisation facility. Novel transition metal oxide materials provide new functionalities, which by far exceed present semiconductor and IT technology. The project will enable new observations of materials’ behaviour by combining Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry with optical illumination, under systematically controlled conditions. The photomagnetic measurement system will cover a diverse process parameter space for studying magnetic materials properties under light illumination, enabling measurements of the smallest magnetisation signals possible so far, for example in ultrathin films and nanomaterials.Read moreRead less
Engineered ion channels for selective and switchable ion conduction. This project aims to develop an innovative bioinspired approach for fabricating angstrom-sized ion-channel membranes with specific ion selectivity, high ion conductivity and efficient gating function comparable to biological ion channels. Engineering of artificial channels with ion-channel-like shapes, ion selectivity filters and functional gates is expected to bring high-efficiency technologies to applications such as membrane ....Engineered ion channels for selective and switchable ion conduction. This project aims to develop an innovative bioinspired approach for fabricating angstrom-sized ion-channel membranes with specific ion selectivity, high ion conductivity and efficient gating function comparable to biological ion channels. Engineering of artificial channels with ion-channel-like shapes, ion selectivity filters and functional gates is expected to bring high-efficiency technologies to applications such as membrane separation and energy conversion. This project has potential to result in new knowledge of biomimetic design of artificial ion-channel membranes and directly benefit manufacturing industry for Australia.Read moreRead less
Increasing solid electrolyte conductivity through defect design. This project aims to engineer electrolyte materials, based on organic ionic plastic crystals, and use isomeric doping to improve the ionic conductivity. The development of safer batteries relies on eliminating the volatile and flammable solvents commonly used as the electrolyte. Improving the safety and performance of batteries is important as electricity costs increase. Solid state ionic electrolytes can address leakage and volati ....Increasing solid electrolyte conductivity through defect design. This project aims to engineer electrolyte materials, based on organic ionic plastic crystals, and use isomeric doping to improve the ionic conductivity. The development of safer batteries relies on eliminating the volatile and flammable solvents commonly used as the electrolyte. Improving the safety and performance of batteries is important as electricity costs increase. Solid state ionic electrolytes can address leakage and volatility problems, but the conductivity must be improved if these materials are to support high battery power. The project’s electrolyte materials can be used in lithium metal batteries, which have higher theoretical energy densities than traditional lithium ion batteries. This project will develop new solid state electrolytes, with improved conductivity, and use these materials in emerging lithium battery technologies.Read moreRead less
New materials for manipulating intracellular communication. This project aims to identify new techniques for incorporating cell-signalling triggers into macromolecules, therefore enabling the development of next-generation stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that can emit signalling molecules on demand. Harnessing nanomaterials to stimulate specific sub-cellular processes is a neglected area in nanotechnology research. These nanoparticles could potentially be used to deliver signalling molecules fo ....New materials for manipulating intracellular communication. This project aims to identify new techniques for incorporating cell-signalling triggers into macromolecules, therefore enabling the development of next-generation stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that can emit signalling molecules on demand. Harnessing nanomaterials to stimulate specific sub-cellular processes is a neglected area in nanotechnology research. These nanoparticles could potentially be used to deliver signalling molecules for agricultural, pharmaceutical and veterinary applications. The project is expected to develop a new suite of materials that could ultimately be used to improve the yield of important commercial crops, or revitalise the use of medicines limited by their poor side effect profile.Read moreRead less