Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silic ....Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silicon electrodes where irradiating with light causes an increase in conductivity at the illumination spot. The project will explore the variables that influence the spatial resolution and apply the ideas to making soft connects for nanoelectronics and making high density electrode arrays for electroanalysis.Read moreRead less
Electrostatic catalysis from single-molecule events to macroscopic systems. Electrostatics has important applications in day-to-day technologies, from recycling plastics to photocopying, but the exploration of how static charges affect chemical bonds and bonding is still in its infancy. This project aims to demonstrate the experimental links between the magnitude and polarity of an external electric field and chemical rates, expanding our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our ....Electrostatic catalysis from single-molecule events to macroscopic systems. Electrostatics has important applications in day-to-day technologies, from recycling plastics to photocopying, but the exploration of how static charges affect chemical bonds and bonding is still in its infancy. This project aims to demonstrate the experimental links between the magnitude and polarity of an external electric field and chemical rates, expanding our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our view of catalysis. By investigating the role of static electricity over systems selected from different sub-disciplines of chemistry, the project will derive the ground and selection rules for reactivity and selectivity by electrostatics. The project is expected to show that for chemical reactions of practical and conceptual value a specific catalyst can be replaced by a generic electric field stimulus, an invisible catalyst, enabling cleaner and cheaper opportunities that current technologies cannot fulfil.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101456
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Electrochemical behaviour of toxic gases and explosives in room temperature ionic liquids. This project will examine the behaviour of toxic gases and volatile explosive materials in ionic liquids. The information generated from this work will provide fundamental knowledge that will allow for the design of improved sensors for toxic gases, nerve agents and explosives, for applications in the mining and security sectors.
Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. This project aims to investigate new chemical sensors for sulphate for online reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring at an advanced water recycling plant. Wastewater re-use is increasingly important in Australia and worldwide for providing potable water. Demonstrating the integrity and performance of treatment technologies is needed to ....Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. This project aims to investigate new chemical sensors for sulphate for online reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring at an advanced water recycling plant. Wastewater re-use is increasingly important in Australia and worldwide for providing potable water. Demonstrating the integrity and performance of treatment technologies is needed to meet health regulations. Sulphate and other surrogates of biological entities enable a rapid, on-line approach to integrity and performance monitoring, but detection with available analytical chemical technology is not feasible. This research is expected to enable better management of water treatment processes and demonstrate compliance to health standards.Read moreRead less
Calibration Free Coulometric Sensors Based on Polymeric Thin Layer Films. The world faces enormous environmental and clinical challenges that require accurate data from remote deployable and disposable sensors. Many key parameters important to global warming (carbon dioxide cycle) and clinical diagnostics (blood electrolytes) may be assessed with a polymeric membrane sensing technology, but the measurement principle is not sufficiently robust for remote sensing applications. This research will m ....Calibration Free Coulometric Sensors Based on Polymeric Thin Layer Films. The world faces enormous environmental and clinical challenges that require accurate data from remote deployable and disposable sensors. Many key parameters important to global warming (carbon dioxide cycle) and clinical diagnostics (blood electrolytes) may be assessed with a polymeric membrane sensing technology, but the measurement principle is not sufficiently robust for remote sensing applications. This research will make this possible by adapting calibration free measurement principles (coulometry, or charge counting) to this class of sensors, where a thin layer of sample solution will be depleted by instrumental control. This forms the scientific basis for successfully tackling the measurement challenges of the future.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354560
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH NETWORK IN ANALYTICAL SCIENCE (ARNAS). The initiative will provide the foundations for the establishment of an Australian Research Network in Analytical Science (ARNAS), which will bring together fundamental researchers and practitioners working in quantitative chemical analysis and related areas. ARNAS will provide national coordination of research in analytical science, coverage of the newest developments, pooling of expertise and research facilities and resources, and rap ....AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH NETWORK IN ANALYTICAL SCIENCE (ARNAS). The initiative will provide the foundations for the establishment of an Australian Research Network in Analytical Science (ARNAS), which will bring together fundamental researchers and practitioners working in quantitative chemical analysis and related areas. ARNAS will provide national coordination of research in analytical science, coverage of the newest developments, pooling of expertise and research facilities and resources, and rapid dissemination of outcomes. ARNAS will significantly advance the national research agenda for analytical science by improving awareness of research activities and expertise, providing enhanced education and opportunities for the next generation of analytical scientists, and by stimulating new international collaborations.Read moreRead less
Blocking of the interfaces of polymeric ion sensors - implications for novel sensor applications. Control of the transmembrane fluxes of polymeric ion sensors represents a paradigm shift that has revolutionised the use of these analytically important devices. This project will develop and characterise innovative methods for controlling these fluxes by using blocked interfaces, and this has important ramifications for the development of robust and reliable sensors, as well as novel biosensors.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100732
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,544.00
Summary
Electrostatic Catalysis: guiding reactive interfaces using electric fields. This project seeks to gain quantitative understanding of the role of electrostatics over chemical processes. Chemical transformations of organic compounds at interfaces underpin some of the most important processes, from the production of fine chemicals for pharmaceuticals to assisting bio-degradation of pollutants in clean technologies. Recent computational studies suggest that by applying oriented electric fields at in ....Electrostatic Catalysis: guiding reactive interfaces using electric fields. This project seeks to gain quantitative understanding of the role of electrostatics over chemical processes. Chemical transformations of organic compounds at interfaces underpin some of the most important processes, from the production of fine chemicals for pharmaceuticals to assisting bio-degradation of pollutants in clean technologies. Recent computational studies suggest that by applying oriented electric fields at interfaces, the rate and the selectivity of chemical processes can be altered at will. The project intends to test these theoretical findings. The knowledge generated by this research may translate into new technologies for the fine-chemical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Gelled electrolyte materials for toxic gas sensing. This project aims to develop and implement an alternative approach to the current methods of monitoring of oxygen and toxic gas levels. The aim is to use novel gelled electrolytes based on ionic liquids and polymers, combined with miniaturised sensor devices, to create a robust membrane-free and spill-less design. Amperometric gas sensors are commonly employed to monitor oxygen and toxic gas levels, but the technology used is still based on a ....Gelled electrolyte materials for toxic gas sensing. This project aims to develop and implement an alternative approach to the current methods of monitoring of oxygen and toxic gas levels. The aim is to use novel gelled electrolytes based on ionic liquids and polymers, combined with miniaturised sensor devices, to create a robust membrane-free and spill-less design. Amperometric gas sensors are commonly employed to monitor oxygen and toxic gas levels, but the technology used is still based on a 1950s design. The expected outcome of the project is to make fundamental advances in the design of materials that are not affected by humidity changes and which impart selectivity towards particular gases. This will provide the basis for a new generation of low-cost, miniaturised, selective sensors for use in applications such as wearable toxic gas sensors, and as leak detectors on hydrogen-powered vehicles.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale liquid interfaces: properties and molecular sensitivity. Challenges facing society in health and environment need new molecular measurements that are accurate, sensitive and fast. By use of nanoscale oil-water junctions, the project will develop new chemical and biological sensors that hold great promise for solving molecular measurement problems, including the ability to detect single molecules.