Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100087
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,100,000.00
Summary
Plasma-focused ion beam for nanoscale characterisation of materials. This project aims to enable research programmes in functional materials to characterise materials using xenon-plasma focused ion beam (FIB) instrumentation. The plasma FIB, with its fast milling speeds across large areas, will enable new three-dimensional imaging experiments and types of transmission electron microscopy samples. This will have applications in engineering, photovoltaics and environmental geosciences, which all n ....Plasma-focused ion beam for nanoscale characterisation of materials. This project aims to enable research programmes in functional materials to characterise materials using xenon-plasma focused ion beam (FIB) instrumentation. The plasma FIB, with its fast milling speeds across large areas, will enable new three-dimensional imaging experiments and types of transmission electron microscopy samples. This will have applications in engineering, photovoltaics and environmental geosciences, which all need to analyse materials on a nanometre scale.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,000.00
Summary
An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterization. An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterisation: Materials properties are crucial to the performance of devices and structures, and detailed characterisation at a molecular level is important for optimizing new materials. X-rays are a powerful means of achieving the required level of detail in structural characterisation. The aim of this project is to make available an extremely bright X- ....An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterization. An advanced X-ray facility for surface and in-situ materials characterisation: Materials properties are crucial to the performance of devices and structures, and detailed characterisation at a molecular level is important for optimizing new materials. X-rays are a powerful means of achieving the required level of detail in structural characterisation. The aim of this project is to make available an extremely bright X-ray source with a suite of advanced analytical tools, including surface structural analysis by reflectometry and grazing incidence diffraction and materials structure determination using powder diffraction and microdiffraction at high and low temperatures. The functions of this facility are broad and its applications include materials science, organic electronics, biomaterials and engineering.Read moreRead less
Development of a hydroxyapatite-containing ceramic composite core dental implant system with effective variable elastic properties. The proposed dental implant system with a bio-active 'effective ligament' and thus variable elastic properties is closer to the natural tooth structure than the current high modulus metal and ceramic implants. The new implant system provides clinical longevity by promoting hard tissue growth and by reducing the stress concentration.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101795
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating ....Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating the mechanisms of exceptionally large elastic strains achieved in nanowires embedded in a phase-transforming metallic matrix (i.e. NiTi). An understanding of this high performance nanocomposite design has broad application in medicine and engineering.Read moreRead less
Oxide-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most efficient energy conversion technologies for producing electricity from fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. Current PEMFCs use precious metal catalysts, and the performance of liquid methanol fuel is disappointingly low due to the inability of polymer or hybrid membranes to operate at temperatures above 160-180 degrees centigrade. This work aims to develop an all ox ....Oxide-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most efficient energy conversion technologies for producing electricity from fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. Current PEMFCs use precious metal catalysts, and the performance of liquid methanol fuel is disappointingly low due to the inability of polymer or hybrid membranes to operate at temperatures above 160-180 degrees centigrade. This work aims to develop an all oxide-based PEMFC technology using a recently developed sintered and heteropolyacid functionalised mesoporous silica membrane. The utilisation of all-oxide-PEMFCs using non-precious metal catalysts is expected to significantly enhance the power density, reduce costs, and enhance the commercial viability of PEMFC technologies.Read moreRead less
Highly ordered and tuneable mesostructured perfluorosulfonic acid polymers as novel proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. The purpose of the project is to develop an innovative perfluorofonic acid based proton exchange membranes (PEM) with ordered and tuneable mesopores and it is expected that PEM fuel cell power systems based on such new PEMs will have significant impact on the advancement of fuel cell technologies and the reduction in greenhouse gas emission.
New mesoporous materials for use in high temperature proton exchange fuel cell membranes. A novel high temperature proton exchange membrane based on heteropolyacid (HPA) functionalised mesoporous silica will be developed. This research into the fundamental materials science of novel proton exchange membranes is expected to impact significantly on the advancement and commercialisation of portable fuel cell devices.
Advanced macromolecular engineering: novel approaches to self-directed assembly and vesicle formation. The aim of this project is to develop new approaches in nanotechnology for the preparation of well-defined polymeric particles. The research will result in the development of new methodology which has the potential to impact areas of commercial interest including those in the health-care sector.
New carbon nanotube electrocatalysts for water splitting and fuel cells. The demand for clean, secure and sustainable energy sources has stimulated great interest in electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies such as water splitting and fuel cells. The efficiency of water splitting and fuel cells is however strongly dependent on the activity of the electrocatalysts. The objective of the project is to develop new electrocatalysts based on the recently discovered phenomena that car ....New carbon nanotube electrocatalysts for water splitting and fuel cells. The demand for clean, secure and sustainable energy sources has stimulated great interest in electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies such as water splitting and fuel cells. The efficiency of water splitting and fuel cells is however strongly dependent on the activity of the electrocatalysts. The objective of the project is to develop new electrocatalysts based on the recently discovered phenomena that carbon nanotubes with specific size and number of walls are very active and significantly promote the reaction of water splitting and fuel cells. The proposed project is expected to open a new research field in the development of new electrocatalysts and photoelectrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion and storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH140100018
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,711,583.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry. ARC Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry. This research hub aims to transform the Australian fibre industry into a dynamic sector focused on high-performance and high-value fibres and fibre-based products. Capitalising on the research team's combined strength in fibre science and technology, and working with highly innovative small and medium enterprises and international research leaders, the hub seeks to develop advance ....ARC Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry. ARC Research Hub for a World-class Future Fibre Industry. This research hub aims to transform the Australian fibre industry into a dynamic sector focused on high-performance and high-value fibres and fibre-based products. Capitalising on the research team's combined strength in fibre science and technology, and working with highly innovative small and medium enterprises and international research leaders, the hub seeks to develop advanced carbon fibres, nanofibres and high-performance novel fibres, as well as value-added applications of fibre materials. These materials are expected to help to reduce energy costs, minimise the environmental footprint of manufacturing processes and improve public health and safety. The hub will also train the next generation of industry-savvy fibre research leaders.Read moreRead less