Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commerci ....Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commercial benefits for Australia. Read moreRead less
Exploiting the properties of gold nanoparticles for nanolithography using visible wavelengths. The next generation of nano-devices, such as biosensors and molecular electronics, will require nanopatterning as part of the production process. Conventional optical lithographies cannot provide sufficient resolution, and alternative techniques, such as e-beam lithographies are expensive. This project aims to demonstrate a solution to this problem with obvious commercial benefit. It is the first t ....Exploiting the properties of gold nanoparticles for nanolithography using visible wavelengths. The next generation of nano-devices, such as biosensors and molecular electronics, will require nanopatterning as part of the production process. Conventional optical lithographies cannot provide sufficient resolution, and alternative techniques, such as e-beam lithographies are expensive. This project aims to demonstrate a solution to this problem with obvious commercial benefit. It is the first time a multidisciplinary team has made such a concerted effort to understand the unusual science of gold nanoparticles and will strengthen Australia's already considerable reputation in this field.Read moreRead less
Self-Organised 3-D Arrays of Stimulus Responsive Block Copolymer Micelles. At the core of developments in nanotechnology is a desire to manufacture functional devices from molecular or colloidal building blocks. A significant component of this effort is directed at the self-assembly of these materials on solid substrates. Ultimately, the development of higher order functional nanomaterials requires a fine control over the 3-dimensional location of each component; this is a significant problem. I ....Self-Organised 3-D Arrays of Stimulus Responsive Block Copolymer Micelles. At the core of developments in nanotechnology is a desire to manufacture functional devices from molecular or colloidal building blocks. A significant component of this effort is directed at the self-assembly of these materials on solid substrates. Ultimately, the development of higher order functional nanomaterials requires a fine control over the 3-dimensional location of each component; this is a significant problem. In this project our aim is to develop novel self-assembled surface coatings using block copolymer micelles. Spatial control of the micelle adsorption at the solid-aqueous interface will give us a significant degree of control over molecular location in 3-dimensions.Read moreRead less
Preparation of nanostructured surfaces by electrochemical deposition through lyotropic liquid-crystal templates. Hexagonal-phase lyotropic liquid crystals may be used as templates to deposit metals on electrodes. The sizes of the structures made by this method are a few nanometres. We propose to exploit both the aqueous and non-aqueous parts of the liquid crystal to deposit different metals, polymers or metals and polymers. Thin metal wires (nano-wires) sheathed in polymer will be the thinnest i ....Preparation of nanostructured surfaces by electrochemical deposition through lyotropic liquid-crystal templates. Hexagonal-phase lyotropic liquid crystals may be used as templates to deposit metals on electrodes. The sizes of the structures made by this method are a few nanometres. We propose to exploit both the aqueous and non-aqueous parts of the liquid crystal to deposit different metals, polymers or metals and polymers. Thin metal wires (nano-wires) sheathed in polymer will be the thinnest insulated wires ever made. Carbon nanotubes will also be aligned in the hexagonal hole in the template allowing exploitation of these unique species. The structures that will be fabricated will be candidates for catalysts, sensor arrays and electronic devices.Read moreRead less
The Interface of Oil-in-Water Emulsions. The interface between two immiscible liquids controls many phenomena including the formation and properties of emulsions, the nature of many chemical separation processes and the behaviour of biological systems. There are few methods to study such interfaces and most of these are susceptible to trace contamination by adventitious surfactants, but emulsions with their large surface area avoid this problem. Significant advances are possible with the new Aus ....The Interface of Oil-in-Water Emulsions. The interface between two immiscible liquids controls many phenomena including the formation and properties of emulsions, the nature of many chemical separation processes and the behaviour of biological systems. There are few methods to study such interfaces and most of these are susceptible to trace contamination by adventitious surfactants, but emulsions with their large surface area avoid this problem. Significant advances are possible with the new Australian technique of electroacoustics, complemented by neutron scattering, nmr, rheological and dielectric response measurements on concentrated emulsions. Our surfactant-free emulsions provide a fundamental breakthrough in such studies, leading to new materials from nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Structure of Water-Based Polymer and Surfactant Lubricant Layers. The aim of this work is to understand the structures formed by mixtures of polymers and surfactant (detergent or soap) on solid surfaces, and especially how this structure affects the performance of the mixed layer as a lubricant. We will investigate a variety of polymer and surfactant molecules and their mixtures, determining the structure directly by atomic force microscopy imaging and measuring the sliding and adhesive forces ....Structure of Water-Based Polymer and Surfactant Lubricant Layers. The aim of this work is to understand the structures formed by mixtures of polymers and surfactant (detergent or soap) on solid surfaces, and especially how this structure affects the performance of the mixed layer as a lubricant. We will investigate a variety of polymer and surfactant molecules and their mixtures, determining the structure directly by atomic force microscopy imaging and measuring the sliding and adhesive forces using the surface force appararus. This will enable us to better understand water-based lubricants and design new lubricating layers.Read moreRead less
Designing Nano-Pore Architectures for High Power Battery Materials. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of portable electronic devices. Of the numerous battery systems available, alkaline MnO2/Zn cells are most commonly used to power these devices. However, as the device power requirements increase, so too does the demand on these cells to perform. Delta EMD, Australia, currently exports ~10% of the world's supply of MnO2 for these cells. Their collaboration with p ....Designing Nano-Pore Architectures for High Power Battery Materials. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of portable electronic devices. Of the numerous battery systems available, alkaline MnO2/Zn cells are most commonly used to power these devices. However, as the device power requirements increase, so too does the demand on these cells to perform. Delta EMD, Australia, currently exports ~10% of the world's supply of MnO2 for these cells. Their collaboration with personnel from the University of Newcastle, who have significant expertise in the field of MnO2 research, will focus on designing a superior MnO2 with optimized nano-pore architecture for high power battery applications.Read moreRead less
Surfactant Self-Assembly in Ionic Liquids. Room temperature ionic liquids have emerged recently as important environmentally-friendly solvents for synthesis, catalysis, and electrochemical applications. This project will generate significant new fundamental understanding, and train young researchers in the use of RTILs and advanced characterization techniques at honours, postgraduate and postdoctoral levels. The results of this project will enable the development of new technologies by adaptin ....Surfactant Self-Assembly in Ionic Liquids. Room temperature ionic liquids have emerged recently as important environmentally-friendly solvents for synthesis, catalysis, and electrochemical applications. This project will generate significant new fundamental understanding, and train young researchers in the use of RTILs and advanced characterization techniques at honours, postgraduate and postdoctoral levels. The results of this project will enable the development of new technologies by adapting water-based surfactant technologies to a range of low-volatility RTILs. Examples include new mesoporous catalysts, nanostructured self-assembled scaffolds and composite materials, nanoparticle synthesis, novel lubricants and drug-delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Adsorption and Structure at Ionic Liquid Interfaces. Ionic liquids (ILs) have recently emerged as important environmentally-friendly solvents for synthesis, but applications based on their unusual physical properties have been vastly under-exploited. This project will generate significant new fundamental understanding of ILs, and train young researchers in the use of ILs and advanced characterization techniques at honours, postgraduate and postdoctoral levels. The results of this project will en ....Adsorption and Structure at Ionic Liquid Interfaces. Ionic liquids (ILs) have recently emerged as important environmentally-friendly solvents for synthesis, but applications based on their unusual physical properties have been vastly under-exploited. This project will generate significant new fundamental understanding of ILs, and train young researchers in the use of ILs and advanced characterization techniques at honours, postgraduate and postdoctoral levels. The results of this project will enable the development of new or improved technologies by facilitating the use of ILs in specialised products. Examples include novel lubricants, catalytic mediums, surface coatings, nanostructured self-assembled scaffolds and composite materials, nanoparticle synthesis, and drug-delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0221983
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
Interface, Particle and Complex Fluid Characterisation Laboratory. This laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art characterisation facility for complex fluids. This will service the needs of 27 research staff and 38 postgraduate students and involve collaboration between twelve major research groups based at the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT. The facility will enhance the research activities of the collaborating institutions in key strategic areas. The laborat ....Interface, Particle and Complex Fluid Characterisation Laboratory. This laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art characterisation facility for complex fluids. This will service the needs of 27 research staff and 38 postgraduate students and involve collaboration between twelve major research groups based at the Universities of Melbourne, Newcastle, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT. The facility will enhance the research activities of the collaborating institutions in key strategic areas. The laboratory will also act as a facility for undertaking consulting projects with industry groups by the applicants.Read moreRead less