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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction. This project aims to synthesise highly active electrochemical catalysts of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanostructure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen gas could generate clean energy, but the platinum catalyst’s cost and low activity make it impractical. This project will develop 2D inorganic nanosheets with tuneable pores and electronic band structures, hybridised ....Two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction. This project aims to synthesise highly active electrochemical catalysts of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanostructure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen gas could generate clean energy, but the platinum catalyst’s cost and low activity make it impractical. This project will develop 2D inorganic nanosheets with tuneable pores and electronic band structures, hybridised with organic and/or inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials for HER, and use density functional theory calculation to investigate these hybridised nanosheets’ mechanisms for HER. These highly efficient and low-cost catalysts are expected to generate clean energy and create opportunities for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefi ....An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefits, as the predictive surface-wettability model will enhance controllability and productivity of diverse manufacturing processes and lead to new applications, high-value products and economic benefits in mining, energy, electronics, biomedicine and other fields.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured non-precious metal and metal-free catalysts for sustainable clean energy generation. The innovative technologies for substitution of precious metal catalysts will be developed and used in fuel cells for clean energy generation in a highly efficient and sustainable form. This effort will lead to the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and the alleviation of environmental and climate change problems.
The development of flexible, graded plasma surface engineered coatings for superior interfacial performance. The next generation of intraocular lenses, medical devices to treat patients with cataracts, will be developed through application of advanced surface engineering technologies. These superior coated lenses will improve biocompatibility and function, leading to additional benefit for the forecasted 2.7 million Australians with cataracts by 2021.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
UV to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry, and laser materials characterisation. Ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry and laser materials characterisation: This project will provide equipment with a vast capability to collect ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence with high temporal measurement accuracy, and highly flexible excitation (spectral and temporal). This will enhance ....UV to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry, and laser materials characterisation. Ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry and laser materials characterisation: This project will provide equipment with a vast capability to collect ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence with high temporal measurement accuracy, and highly flexible excitation (spectral and temporal). This will enhance active research into new glasses and laser crystals, probing of defect states resulting from ionising radiation absorption in environmental and medical dosimetry materials, investigation of novel fluorescence techniques for mineral identification, through to improving chemical detection capability (for example, detection of explosives). The instrument comprises modules that enable excitation in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared from a tunable laser system, and high-efficiency collection and processing of fluorescence spectra.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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100104
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Collaborative facility for high resolution fabrication, imaging, and characterisation of nanostructured materials. Collaborative facility for high resolution fabrication, imaging, and characterisation of nanostructured materials: The development of the next generation of electronic, optical, and biomedical devices requires methods that can quickly manipulate and characterise matter at the nanoscale. This project will establish new tools that will allow researchers to build novel device structure ....Collaborative facility for high resolution fabrication, imaging, and characterisation of nanostructured materials. Collaborative facility for high resolution fabrication, imaging, and characterisation of nanostructured materials: The development of the next generation of electronic, optical, and biomedical devices requires methods that can quickly manipulate and characterise matter at the nanoscale. This project will establish new tools that will allow researchers to build novel device structures and analyse them at nanoscale spatial resolutions. The new facilities are required to meet the demands of a growing number of innovative projects being undertaken within a large multidisciplinary consortium of research groups. The facilities will be housed in state-of-the art laboratories and managed as open access resources for researchers which will enable advances in the areas of energy harvesting, environmental monitoring, and electronics.Read moreRead less
Development of novel high performance aluminium alloys containing scandium. Development of novel high performance aluminium alloys containing scandium. This project aims to develop a new generation of aerospace aluminium alloys containing scandium. Over 30 million tonnes of high performance aluminium alloys are produced annually. Early investigations showed many beneficial effects of scandium on alloy behaviour, but research was abandoned due to scandium’s high cost. Australia has the largest de ....Development of novel high performance aluminium alloys containing scandium. Development of novel high performance aluminium alloys containing scandium. This project aims to develop a new generation of aerospace aluminium alloys containing scandium. Over 30 million tonnes of high performance aluminium alloys are produced annually. Early investigations showed many beneficial effects of scandium on alloy behaviour, but research was abandoned due to scandium’s high cost. Australia has the largest deposit of scandium in the world, and Australian sustainable extraction technology will markedly lower the price. This project believes that now is an ideal time to capitalise scandium’s beneficial effects and be at the forefront of this new alloy development strategy. Anticipated outcomes are the creation of a new market with economic and sustainable opportunities for the Australian mining sector.Read moreRead less
Taming light and electrons in optical fibres. This project aims to add electrical conduction functionality to optical fibres to manipulate light with electrons and vice versa in a photonics platform, which could bridge the gap between photonics and electronics. It will achieve electrical conduction in optical fibres by creating conductive phases within and onto glass using fibre drawing and polymerisation. The project is expected to lead to breakthroughs in fundamental science at the interfaces ....Taming light and electrons in optical fibres. This project aims to add electrical conduction functionality to optical fibres to manipulate light with electrons and vice versa in a photonics platform, which could bridge the gap between photonics and electronics. It will achieve electrical conduction in optical fibres by creating conductive phases within and onto glass using fibre drawing and polymerisation. The project is expected to lead to breakthroughs in fundamental science at the interfaces between photonics, electronics and materials engineering, and develop optical fibres that change functionalities and applications of optical fibre devices.Read moreRead less