Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100906
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,150.00
Summary
Nanoengineering of low-CO2 geopolymer cements. With increasing pressure for Australia to use environmentally-conscious building materials, geopolymer concrete is an important emerging alternative to traditional concretes. This project will enhance use of this new material by discovering how to control performance and durability through nanoscale experiments and atom-based simulations.
Novel Nanofibre-Templated Nanotubes Prepared by Using ABA Block Copolymers. The aim of this project is to prepare new, highly functional nanomaterials using layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes on a three-dimensional template. Using this approach, a core-shell fibre is initially prepared by alternate deposition of oppositely charged materials onto an electrospun fibre template. The initial fibre can then be dissolved to give hollow nanotubes. New block copolymers, incorporating both charg ....Novel Nanofibre-Templated Nanotubes Prepared by Using ABA Block Copolymers. The aim of this project is to prepare new, highly functional nanomaterials using layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes on a three-dimensional template. Using this approach, a core-shell fibre is initially prepared by alternate deposition of oppositely charged materials onto an electrospun fibre template. The initial fibre can then be dissolved to give hollow nanotubes. New block copolymers, incorporating both charged and uncharged domains, will be used in the assembly, in order to design tubes with novel properties. The behaviour of these tubes under a variety of pH and solvent conditions will then be examined, and the tubes characterized using various microscopy techniques.Read moreRead less
Enabling diamond nanoelectronics with metal oxide induced surface doping. This project aims to use diamond for radio frequency power electronics. This builds on the investigator’s success in controlling diamond surface conductivity using transition metal oxides. Diamond is highly desirable for building high-power, high-frequency electronic devices, particularly for use in electrical power control/conversion and telecommunication. The lack of effective and stable doping methods has impeded the re ....Enabling diamond nanoelectronics with metal oxide induced surface doping. This project aims to use diamond for radio frequency power electronics. This builds on the investigator’s success in controlling diamond surface conductivity using transition metal oxides. Diamond is highly desirable for building high-power, high-frequency electronic devices, particularly for use in electrical power control/conversion and telecommunication. The lack of effective and stable doping methods has impeded the realisation of this prospect. This project expects the high performance and technically viable device technologies will enable diamond electronic devices for applications in telecommunications, radars and the next-generation electricity grid.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560679
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$932,870.00
Summary
Materials and Surface Characterisation Facility. Australian scientists are well positioned to be at the forefront of nanotechnology, biotechnology and advanced materials development. The proposed Facility, housing state-of-the-art equipment, will enable cutting-edge research in these areas by internationally renowned researchers at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, and CSIRO. Such research will facilitate the development of advanced materials for diverse applicatio ....Materials and Surface Characterisation Facility. Australian scientists are well positioned to be at the forefront of nanotechnology, biotechnology and advanced materials development. The proposed Facility, housing state-of-the-art equipment, will enable cutting-edge research in these areas by internationally renowned researchers at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, and CSIRO. Such research will facilitate the development of advanced materials for diverse applications including drug delivery, quantum computing, photonics and tissue engineering. The multi-user Facility will enable closer collaboration with researchers in academia and industry, and will be integral in training the next generation of Australian scientists in the nano- and biosciences.Read moreRead less
Controlled Macromolecular Architectures for Functional Nanomaterials Design. The research involves an exciting and innovative collaboration between two internationally recognized Australian research groups, cementing Australia's position as a leading country for research in polymer science and nanotechnology. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to make ?smart? polymers that can controllably respond to changes in their surroundings. These will then be assembled to form materials with dimensio ....Controlled Macromolecular Architectures for Functional Nanomaterials Design. The research involves an exciting and innovative collaboration between two internationally recognized Australian research groups, cementing Australia's position as a leading country for research in polymer science and nanotechnology. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to make ?smart? polymers that can controllably respond to changes in their surroundings. These will then be assembled to form materials with dimensions of the order of millionths of millimeters - forming so-called "smart nanomaterials". The materials prepared are expected to find application in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors, contributing to the well-being of Australian citizens and the development of a robust Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Exploiting the self-assembly of hydrophobin proteins to engineer functional nanostructuring surfaces. There is an increasing world-wide demand for advanced nano-biomaterials with novel properties. We will use natural hydrophobin proteins to coat nanodevices and make them more compatible with biological systems. Hydrophobin coatings will be applicable to biosensors, medical devices, diagnostics and drug delivery systems. The research will lead to an understanding of the basic mechanisms of protei ....Exploiting the self-assembly of hydrophobin proteins to engineer functional nanostructuring surfaces. There is an increasing world-wide demand for advanced nano-biomaterials with novel properties. We will use natural hydrophobin proteins to coat nanodevices and make them more compatible with biological systems. Hydrophobin coatings will be applicable to biosensors, medical devices, diagnostics and drug delivery systems. The research will lead to an understanding of the basic mechanisms of protein self-assembly and will have application outcomes that contribute to Australia being an important player in the field of nanotechnology. This is critical for Australia's long term competitiveness and productivity in and beyond the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Green Manufacturing of Graphene from Indigenous Natural Graphite and Graphene-based Nanofiltration Membranes. This project aims to investigate radical new approaches to reduce chemical and energy requirements for transformation of indigenous natural graphite to a high-value material graphene. The graphite which will be used is the by-product of the Uley mines of South Australia. Graphene is an atomically thin arrangement of carbon atoms with combinations of remarkable chemical inertness, strengt ....Green Manufacturing of Graphene from Indigenous Natural Graphite and Graphene-based Nanofiltration Membranes. This project aims to investigate radical new approaches to reduce chemical and energy requirements for transformation of indigenous natural graphite to a high-value material graphene. The graphite which will be used is the by-product of the Uley mines of South Australia. Graphene is an atomically thin arrangement of carbon atoms with combinations of remarkable chemical inertness, strength, and massive surface area. Utilising fluid phase dispersed graphene, this project aims to develop scalable and industrially-adaptable methods to manufacture thin yet mechanically robust, inert, fouling-resistant, highly-permeable graphene-based asymmetric membranes. These advanced membranes are expected to find wide application in reducing discharge of mining effluents and recovery of precious metals.Read moreRead less
Nanotribology-The Chemical Rolling Resistance of Single Nanocrystals. Australian efforts in biosensors, environmental monitoring and mobile-health are predicated on the establishment of a nanotechnology based manufacturing sector. The key to this will be understanding how ultrasmall mechanical devices work. This application explores how we can make novel mechanical devices from molecules and small crystals.
Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provi ....Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provide direct advantages to society, including minimally invasive and fast in-vivo diagnostics, localised delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents with increased bioavailability, patient acceptability and reduced healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
Advanced nanoparticle stabilisation and functionalisation: small particles with huge potential. Australia is strongly investing in nanotechnology and through the governments priority goals 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' it has been recognised as an important area for investment. This proposal will help develop an internationally recognised nano-industry. It is envisaged that the particles made during this work will have direct implications for the pub ....Advanced nanoparticle stabilisation and functionalisation: small particles with huge potential. Australia is strongly investing in nanotechnology and through the governments priority goals 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' it has been recognised as an important area for investment. This proposal will help develop an internationally recognised nano-industry. It is envisaged that the particles made during this work will have direct implications for the public - creating a new class of medical diagnostic particles with better resolution and specificity. These particles have the potential to diagnose patients more precisely and at an earlier stage than is currently available. Additionally, these particles could be designed to load drugs and hence could be used to treat diseases such as cancer.Read moreRead less