Towards Next Generation Anthelmintics. The agricultural industry is in urgent need of new, safe and cost effective treatments for parasite infections in commercial livestock (sheep, cattle, goats). The current multi billion dollar agrochemical industry provides only three classes of antiparasitic drug, all of which are >25 yrs old and are largely ineffective due to the widespread resistance. This project will advance the development of a new class of antiparasitic treatment, improving outcomes f ....Towards Next Generation Anthelmintics. The agricultural industry is in urgent need of new, safe and cost effective treatments for parasite infections in commercial livestock (sheep, cattle, goats). The current multi billion dollar agrochemical industry provides only three classes of antiparasitic drug, all of which are >25 yrs old and are largely ineffective due to the widespread resistance. This project will advance the development of a new class of antiparasitic treatment, improving outcomes for Australian farmers by reducing reliance on expensive ineffective agrochemical imports, reducing chemical load on the environment, improving pastures and increasing yields. In short, improved livestock health will lead to more sustainable and productive farming, and a stronger economy.Read moreRead less
Converting Biomass into Value-Added Catalysts for Water Electrolysis. This project aims to employ agricultural waste to manufacture new highly active and stable non-precious metal catalysts for accelerating hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the development of low-cost and sustainable catalysts for renewable hydrogen production and new technology for converting agricultural waste into value-added catalysts. The project outcomes are expec ....Converting Biomass into Value-Added Catalysts for Water Electrolysis. This project aims to employ agricultural waste to manufacture new highly active and stable non-precious metal catalysts for accelerating hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the development of low-cost and sustainable catalysts for renewable hydrogen production and new technology for converting agricultural waste into value-added catalysts. The project outcomes are expected to benefit Australia by creating new commercial opportunities in ‘waste-to-catalyst’ conversion and generating a new pathway for managing and recycling agricultural waste, thus providing both environmental and economic benefits while contributing to a sustainable economy.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Degradable Polymer for Drug Delivery. The success of synthesising nanostructured degradable polymers will position Australia at the world forefront in the field of nanotechnology, bioengineering and healthcare sectors in both fundamental and applied research. This multi-disciplinary research has the potential to generate patentable technologies with economic benefits to Australia. The project also involves fundamental research into surface chemistry, nanostructure, polymer science ....Nanostructured Degradable Polymer for Drug Delivery. The success of synthesising nanostructured degradable polymers will position Australia at the world forefront in the field of nanotechnology, bioengineering and healthcare sectors in both fundamental and applied research. This multi-disciplinary research has the potential to generate patentable technologies with economic benefits to Australia. The project also involves fundamental research into surface chemistry, nanostructure, polymer sciences and will be a meaningful contribution to the advancement of scientific knowledge in Australia. All these will enhance the international competitive profile of Australia in the field of nanotechnology for drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting e ....Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting edge ligands will reveal interesting coordination modes. The discovery of new reaction pathways will be of interest to the wider chemical community. The chemical reactivity and potential catalytic or luminescent properties of these compounds will be studied and will result in publications in international journals.Read moreRead less
New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tack ....New Synthetic Routes to the Immobilisation of Mixed Valence Transition Metal Complexes on Conducting Metal Oxides. Highly coloured, electrochemically active transition metal dyes may find application electrochromic devices, where they may switch between contrasting coloured forms through a simple redox reaction. A prerequisite is that the dye be immobilised onto a solid conducting support whilst preserving the electrochemical and optical properties of the dye found in solution. This project tackles this problem through a combination of organic and inorganic synthesis to develop new electrochromic dyes that may be attached to mesoporous titania.Read moreRead less
Understanding and improving rare earth corrosion inhibitors. This project aims to investigate rare earth corrosion inhibitors by an interdisciplinary program of chemistry and materials science.
The project will generate new knowledge as to how rare earth corrosion inhibitors function and can be improved.
Expected outcomes include a better understanding of inhibitor induced protective films and improved inhibitors.
Significant benefits are eventually better protection of infrastructure from .... Understanding and improving rare earth corrosion inhibitors. This project aims to investigate rare earth corrosion inhibitors by an interdisciplinary program of chemistry and materials science.
The project will generate new knowledge as to how rare earth corrosion inhibitors function and can be improved.
Expected outcomes include a better understanding of inhibitor induced protective films and improved inhibitors.
Significant benefits are eventually better protection of infrastructure from corrosion with greener inhibitors and a new bulk use for rare earths to aid Australia’s emerging rare earth industry.
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Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. ....Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding Agents for DNA. Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. Using the combined expertise of the applicants, it is proposed to stereospecifically synthesise dinuclear complexes and study their DNA binding. This will greatly assist in the development of drugs that can selectively target genes and altered DNA.Read moreRead less
Novel Nanostructures of Metal Oxides and Sulfides Intercalated Laponite for Catalytic Applications. The project aims to develop a novel synthesis approach for making nanocomposites of transition metal oxides and sulfides intercalated laponite clay. Such nanomaterials made by integrating template synthesis and intercalation have superior pore and surface properties promising for advanced catalytic applications. The project will provide insights into mechanisms of nanostructure formation and inter ....Novel Nanostructures of Metal Oxides and Sulfides Intercalated Laponite for Catalytic Applications. The project aims to develop a novel synthesis approach for making nanocomposites of transition metal oxides and sulfides intercalated laponite clay. Such nanomaterials made by integrating template synthesis and intercalation have superior pore and surface properties promising for advanced catalytic applications. The project will provide insights into mechanisms of nanostructure formation and interactions of molecular species during synthesis. The best catalysts screened will be tested for two important reactions to establish the relationships between processing parameters, nanostructural properties and catalytic performance. Optimised synthesis parameters for high catalytic performance will be obtained. The project contributes to significant knowledge creation in nanomaterials science and catalysis.Read moreRead less
Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis. Enzymes that catalyse oxidation and reduction reactions need to exchange electrons with their substrate and this supply of electrons needs to be sustained. Artificially reconstituted systems can be developed where the enzyme is coupled with an electrode and the current (electrons) exchanged during the reaction are measured directly. In this project we will reveal whether some unusual and unexplained electrochemical phenomena seen before are relat ....Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis. Enzymes that catalyse oxidation and reduction reactions need to exchange electrons with their substrate and this supply of electrons needs to be sustained. Artificially reconstituted systems can be developed where the enzyme is coupled with an electrode and the current (electrons) exchanged during the reaction are measured directly. In this project we will reveal whether some unusual and unexplained electrochemical phenomena seen before are related to the properties of the enzymes themselves or the ways in which their experiments have been conducted.Read moreRead less