Synthesis of functionalised metal oxide beads with hierarchical pores for radionuclide and metal sequestration. The central aim of this project is to fabricate nanostructured materials to address the worldwide issue of nuclear waste. These novel materials, with tailored porosity and surface functionality, will decrease both radioactive waste volume and the potential for environmental risk. The collaboration between the Caruso group at the University of Melbourne and the Luca group at ANSTO will ....Synthesis of functionalised metal oxide beads with hierarchical pores for radionuclide and metal sequestration. The central aim of this project is to fabricate nanostructured materials to address the worldwide issue of nuclear waste. These novel materials, with tailored porosity and surface functionality, will decrease both radioactive waste volume and the potential for environmental risk. The collaboration between the Caruso group at the University of Melbourne and the Luca group at ANSTO will educate more scientists and students in the areas of nuclear science and engineering, and the environmental impact of nuclear power generators. Such expertise is currently in high demand around the world, thereby enhancing Australia's position in the global nuclear field.Read moreRead less
Crystalline Mesoporous Metal Oxides for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes. Our crystalline mesoporous electrodes will help realise the full potentials of solid oxide fuel cells. Such advanced fuel cell technology will drastically increase the power generation efficiency, and reduce CO2 emissions from present power plants, thereby transforming Australian energy industry and improving our environment. The design and development of novel crystalline mesoporous materials that find widespread industri ....Crystalline Mesoporous Metal Oxides for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes. Our crystalline mesoporous electrodes will help realise the full potentials of solid oxide fuel cells. Such advanced fuel cell technology will drastically increase the power generation efficiency, and reduce CO2 emissions from present power plants, thereby transforming Australian energy industry and improving our environment. The design and development of novel crystalline mesoporous materials that find widespread industrial applications will advance Australia's knowledge and skill base, and help Australia's high-tech industries to stay competitive, including the development of new high-tech industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Directed assembly and photoelectric properties of core-shell nanowire networks of PbSe-TiO2 heterostructures for high efficiency low-cost solar cells. The proposed program is aimed at studying numerous fundamental properties and phenomena of photoelectrochemical cells that have an important impact on environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems. Specifically, solar cells have a significant role in energy markets and in lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. Solar cell ....Directed assembly and photoelectric properties of core-shell nanowire networks of PbSe-TiO2 heterostructures for high efficiency low-cost solar cells. The proposed program is aimed at studying numerous fundamental properties and phenomena of photoelectrochemical cells that have an important impact on environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems. Specifically, solar cells have a significant role in energy markets and in lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. Solar cell technology, coupled with renewable energy sources, has the potential to provide a long-term solution to the energy crisis and the global warming threat. In addition, the strong team to be assembled will reach a leading position in this area of cutting edge technology. The outcomes will benefit Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and im ....Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and implementation of advanced nanoceramics and nanocomposites created by innovative nanotechnologies. The project will also contribute to other national research priorities such as materials and frontier technologies, reduction of atmospheric pollution, and decrease in the energy dependence of our country on oil.Read moreRead less
Development of High Performance Ceramic Based Thermoelectric Materials for Power Regeneration Applications. Thermoelectric materials offer an opportunity for economic recovery of the waste heat from exhaust gases to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions. An increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a few percent, in power production, would translate to significant cost saving on a national scale, which is about several billions of Australian dollars worth of products per year in ....Development of High Performance Ceramic Based Thermoelectric Materials for Power Regeneration Applications. Thermoelectric materials offer an opportunity for economic recovery of the waste heat from exhaust gases to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions. An increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a few percent, in power production, would translate to significant cost saving on a national scale, which is about several billions of Australian dollars worth of products per year in this area alone. Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy independence for Australia. Success of this program will facilitate the development of thermoelectric materials and renewable energy technologies, which have enormous national and international markets.Read moreRead less
Nano/micro grinding mechanisms and technologies for brittle materials. The successful completion of the project will solve a long standing problem, that is, the ductile removal mechanism in the machining of brittle materials and create a strong knowledge base for the development of technology and characterization techniques for nano/micro mechanical machining of such materials. This will strengthen UWA's research capability and international competitiveness in the field of nano/micro manufacturi ....Nano/micro grinding mechanisms and technologies for brittle materials. The successful completion of the project will solve a long standing problem, that is, the ductile removal mechanism in the machining of brittle materials and create a strong knowledge base for the development of technology and characterization techniques for nano/micro mechanical machining of such materials. This will strengthen UWA's research capability and international competitiveness in the field of nano/micro manufacturing. The pragmatic grinding technology developed for fabricating micro aspherical mould inserts and lenses will directly benefit the optics/photonics, microelectronics and biomedical industries in Australia. This will help to position Australia in the forefront of emerging industries in the new millenniumRead moreRead less
Flexible dye-sensitised solar cells on polymer substrates. The expected outcomes of the project are the preparation and development of flexible solar cells. The resulting portable and compact solar cells could be incorporated in fabrics opening the solar cell market to the clothing industry. The products and mechanisms developed are envisaged to be amenable to large scale-up in industry. Hence, at a future date, there is the potential to fabricate the cells in Australia and then export the mater ....Flexible dye-sensitised solar cells on polymer substrates. The expected outcomes of the project are the preparation and development of flexible solar cells. The resulting portable and compact solar cells could be incorporated in fabrics opening the solar cell market to the clothing industry. The products and mechanisms developed are envisaged to be amenable to large scale-up in industry. Hence, at a future date, there is the potential to fabricate the cells in Australia and then export the materials and technology. This will benefit the Australian economy through employment of Australians and income generated through exports.Read moreRead less
New Pillared Nanoporous Materials for Hydrogen Production by Photoinduced Water Splitting. The increasing concern over the limited supply of conventional energy sources has triggered world-wide efforts in developing alternative energy generation systems. Hydrogen produced from sunlight and water is considered as an ultimate solution for the hydrogen economy. This project addresses the material needs for more efficient and cleaner means of generating/utilising energy. The novel nanoporous materia ....New Pillared Nanoporous Materials for Hydrogen Production by Photoinduced Water Splitting. The increasing concern over the limited supply of conventional energy sources has triggered world-wide efforts in developing alternative energy generation systems. Hydrogen produced from sunlight and water is considered as an ultimate solution for the hydrogen economy. This project addresses the material needs for more efficient and cleaner means of generating/utilising energy. The novel nanoporous materials with increased photocatalytic water splitting efficiency will lead to new breakthrough in technologies for energy conversion materials. The preparation approach is also applicable to other functional layered materials, providing new opportunities for innovative nanotechnology to more efficient and greener energy industries.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and processing of fine powders and nano-materials by electric discharge assisted milling under hot and cold plasmas. The discovery of a new materials synthesis and processing technique, called Electric Discharge Assisted Ball Milling, has generated great interest within the materials science community. Preliminary results, recently published in Nature, have demonstrated that mechanical milling using both hot and cold plasmas can result in extremely rapid synthesis of a wide range of ma ....Synthesis and processing of fine powders and nano-materials by electric discharge assisted milling under hot and cold plasmas. The discovery of a new materials synthesis and processing technique, called Electric Discharge Assisted Ball Milling, has generated great interest within the materials science community. Preliminary results, recently published in Nature, have demonstrated that mechanical milling using both hot and cold plasmas can result in extremely rapid synthesis of a wide range of materials. The fundamental mechanisms for this rapid mechano-synthesis method will be elucidated by detailed studies of a range of technologically important materials including, ultrafine, nanostructural and nanosized powders, carbides, nitrides and borides, and energy efficient high surface area products for hydrogen storage and electrode applications.Read moreRead less
Development of Advanced Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors for Spin Transistors. Recent advances in diluted magnetic semiconductors hold the promise of surmounting the fundamental limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin degree of freedom in semiconductors to realize spin-transistors with enhanced functionality, higher speeds and integration densities, and lower power consumption in future. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semiconductors, an international mar ....Development of Advanced Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors for Spin Transistors. Recent advances in diluted magnetic semiconductors hold the promise of surmounting the fundamental limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin degree of freedom in semiconductors to realize spin-transistors with enhanced functionality, higher speeds and integration densities, and lower power consumption in future. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semiconductors, an international market worth US$200bn in 2003 and this market will grow to US$1000bn per year in next 12 years. In 8 years time, the spin transistor will be on par with electronics. Therefore, success of this program will facilitate the development of spintronic materials and technologies, which have enormous international market, in Australia.Read moreRead less