Effect of processing on microstructure of 'Biocrete' organo-mortar. 'Biocrete' is a novel organo-mortar whose composition differs substantially from conventional Portland cement based polymer mortars. It is a relatively new product with significant commercial potential because of its acid resistance and ease of application. However, the microstructure of this material is extremely complex and not well understood nor is the way the microstructure develops during the processing and application of ....Effect of processing on microstructure of 'Biocrete' organo-mortar. 'Biocrete' is a novel organo-mortar whose composition differs substantially from conventional Portland cement based polymer mortars. It is a relatively new product with significant commercial potential because of its acid resistance and ease of application. However, the microstructure of this material is extremely complex and not well understood nor is the way the microstructure develops during the processing and application of the material known. This project will use advanced materials characterisation methods to elucidate the microstructure and to quantify the effects of processing parameters on the microstructure. Such information is critical for further formulation and application development in important areas such as sewer relining.Read moreRead less
An innovative approach to fabricate thermally stable polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites. By fully taking advantage of excellent affinity of water with polar layered silicate and polar polymer, an innovative approach to fabricate thermally stable polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites via melt extrusion with the aid of water/water vapour will be developed. In this process, the pristine layered silicate will be directly exfoliated into individual layers with nanometer thickness and high aspe ....An innovative approach to fabricate thermally stable polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites. By fully taking advantage of excellent affinity of water with polar layered silicate and polar polymer, an innovative approach to fabricate thermally stable polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites via melt extrusion with the aid of water/water vapour will be developed. In this process, the pristine layered silicate will be directly exfoliated into individual layers with nanometer thickness and high aspect ratio, and uniformly dispersed in a polymer matrix. This novel approach is environmentally benign and cost-effective since no alkyl ammonium surfactants are required. The resultant nanocomposites will exhibit excellent barrier properties, high thermal stability, environmental durability and superior mechanical properties. These qualities make them very attractive for many applications in the automotive and packaging industries.Read moreRead less
Characterization and design of new soft electrolyte materials. The use of fossil fuels for energy generation contributes heavily to global warming. The development of new types of energy sources (e.g. fuel cells) and energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) is of crucial importance to ease this pressure on the environment. The search for new, high energy-density electrolyte materials for these applications is intense. Recently, plastic crystal materials have been identified as potential electroly ....Characterization and design of new soft electrolyte materials. The use of fossil fuels for energy generation contributes heavily to global warming. The development of new types of energy sources (e.g. fuel cells) and energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) is of crucial importance to ease this pressure on the environment. The search for new, high energy-density electrolyte materials for these applications is intense. Recently, plastic crystal materials have been identified as potential electrolytes in a variety of electrochemical devices. These materials show high conductivity at ambient temperatures in their plastic (or soft) phase. This project aims to further investigate and develop these novel materials.Read moreRead less
Development of Low Cost, High Quality Nitrides for Solid-State Lighting and Other Power Saving Applications. The advent of high brightness, low cost, compact, low power white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will revolutionise lighting as we currently know it. Incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes are inefficient light sources and their replacement with high efficiency solid state LED lighting over the next 10 years will provide a 10% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. The develo ....Development of Low Cost, High Quality Nitrides for Solid-State Lighting and Other Power Saving Applications. The advent of high brightness, low cost, compact, low power white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will revolutionise lighting as we currently know it. Incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes are inefficient light sources and their replacement with high efficiency solid state LED lighting over the next 10 years will provide a 10% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. The development and enhancement of a recent Australian innovation for the fabrication of low cost high brightness LEDs will enable Australia to be at the frontier of this technology and to be a world leader in the next stage of its development.Read moreRead less
Fabrication of High Performance Nanocomposite Photoanodes with Built-in Electron Transport Superhighway for Photoelectrocatalysis Applications. Worldwide, huge fresh water shortage problems force us to recycle/reuse water. For Australia, this is an urgent issue due to our limited fresh water resources. In recent years, rapidly diminishing fossil fuel supplies and dramatically accelerated global warming gives society no alternative but adopt renewable, clean energies. Globally, there is a united ....Fabrication of High Performance Nanocomposite Photoanodes with Built-in Electron Transport Superhighway for Photoelectrocatalysis Applications. Worldwide, huge fresh water shortage problems force us to recycle/reuse water. For Australia, this is an urgent issue due to our limited fresh water resources. In recent years, rapidly diminishing fossil fuel supplies and dramatically accelerated global warming gives society no alternative but adopt renewable, clean energies. Globally, there is a united front calling for action to address these problems. However, a practical solution to the issues can only be found when economically viable alternative technologies are developed. This project aims to tackle the biggest obstacle - the low sunlight conversion efficiency. The success of the project will result in economically viable water treatment and solar energy conversion technologies. Read moreRead less
Development of novel high efficiency thermoelectric oxides for high temperature power generation. Thermoelectric materials are considered as a key factor in clean energy production, based on the conversion of waste heat emitted by power plants and automobiles to electricity. A series of novel high performance Co-based oxide thermoelectric materials will be developed by this project using nanotechnology and advanced material processing techniques. Significant improvement of the heat-to-electricit ....Development of novel high efficiency thermoelectric oxides for high temperature power generation. Thermoelectric materials are considered as a key factor in clean energy production, based on the conversion of waste heat emitted by power plants and automobiles to electricity. A series of novel high performance Co-based oxide thermoelectric materials will be developed by this project using nanotechnology and advanced material processing techniques. Significant improvement of the heat-to-electricity conversion factor is expected to result from the proposed program. The novel thermoelectric oxides with high thermoelectric performance will be practically used for high temperature power generation. This will provide a long-term solution to the global warming threat through decreasing amounts of waste heat presently generated. Read moreRead less
Development of a photoelectrochemical system based on Titanium dioxide nanotubes/boron doped diamond heterojunction for online water quality monitoring. The reuse of purified recycled wastewater (PRW) creates an additional water supply source and improves the sustainability of the overall water resources. This calls for online water quality monitoring systems to prevent potential water quality risk from organic contaminants in PRW and enable industries and government bodies to monitor and manage ....Development of a photoelectrochemical system based on Titanium dioxide nanotubes/boron doped diamond heterojunction for online water quality monitoring. The reuse of purified recycled wastewater (PRW) creates an additional water supply source and improves the sustainability of the overall water resources. This calls for online water quality monitoring systems to prevent potential water quality risk from organic contaminants in PRW and enable industries and government bodies to monitor and manage our water resources effectively. The success of the project would lead to a robust and reliable environmental monitoring system capable of online, real-time monitoring of organic pollutants and toxins, which will transform the existing water quality monitoring technology and directly benefit water resource management practice in Australia.Read moreRead less
Charge transfer mechanism in 3-dimensional pore-solid nanoarchitectures for electrochemical systems. This project represents a significant scientific and economic advance for Australia because: 1) it is likely to create advanced energy storage and conversion devices, with excellent working efficiency and kinetics, which will induce dramatic improvements to our environment 2) the project will establish local expertise and scientific know-how on electrochemical energy storage and conversion system ....Charge transfer mechanism in 3-dimensional pore-solid nanoarchitectures for electrochemical systems. This project represents a significant scientific and economic advance for Australia because: 1) it is likely to create advanced energy storage and conversion devices, with excellent working efficiency and kinetics, which will induce dramatic improvements to our environment 2) the project will establish local expertise and scientific know-how on electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems, which will place Australia at the forefront of this important area of lithium ion battery and PEM fuel cells; 3)relevant Australian enterprises in electric vehicle and portable device manufacturing will reap the benefits of these discoveries.
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Materials science and superconductivity in the new Fe-based high temperature superconductors. Novel superconducting materials with high superconducting transition temperature and upper critical field are one of the most important research fields in the community of materials science and condensed matter physics. Any significant breakthrough in Fe-based superconductors will result in exotic physics and possible novel superconducting electronic devices, and will have the potential for ground-break ....Materials science and superconductivity in the new Fe-based high temperature superconductors. Novel superconducting materials with high superconducting transition temperature and upper critical field are one of the most important research fields in the community of materials science and condensed matter physics. Any significant breakthrough in Fe-based superconductors will result in exotic physics and possible novel superconducting electronic devices, and will have the potential for ground-breaking research. The purpose of this project is to bring Australia to the forefront of this field and to work with world leading researchers within Australia and worldwide to make advancements in this field.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882347
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
High field magnet for materials processing and characterisation. The proposed infrastructure project will bring many Australian-based researchers together to create a completely new niche of materials processing research. Such a facility will be the first of its kind in Australia. This facility will be located in Australia and thus the time required to process and characterize materials will be significantly reduced without a need to send them overseas. As a consequence of the proposed collabora ....High field magnet for materials processing and characterisation. The proposed infrastructure project will bring many Australian-based researchers together to create a completely new niche of materials processing research. Such a facility will be the first of its kind in Australia. This facility will be located in Australia and thus the time required to process and characterize materials will be significantly reduced without a need to send them overseas. As a consequence of the proposed collaboration, a large number of high quality papers and patents are expected. The facility will increase Australia's position in the field of advanced materials processing and will also provide new ideas and concepts, which will be used in practical applications.Read moreRead less