Ultra-low-loss fluoride glass optical fibres for the future global network. The transmission loss of silica optical fibres limits the capacity of the global internet. Fluoride glass fibres have the potential of reducing the loss by more than 10 times. This project aims to overcome two of the technological challenges of the ultra-low-loss fluoride fibre optics network: (1) commercial-scale manufacturing of improved fibres and (2) signal amplification at 2.3μm. By generating new fundamental knowle ....Ultra-low-loss fluoride glass optical fibres for the future global network. The transmission loss of silica optical fibres limits the capacity of the global internet. Fluoride glass fibres have the potential of reducing the loss by more than 10 times. This project aims to overcome two of the technological challenges of the ultra-low-loss fluoride fibre optics network: (1) commercial-scale manufacturing of improved fibres and (2) signal amplification at 2.3μm. By generating new fundamental knowledge on rare-earth transitions and glass crystal formation, expected outcomes include innovative fibre fabrication methods optimised for space manufacturing. Benefits will include enhanced internet capacity with lower energy requirements, and opportunities for sovereign capability in fluoride fibre fabrication in Australia.Read moreRead less
Nanodiamond in glass: a new approach to nanosensing. This work will develop optical materials enriched with diamond nanoparticles. This will enable the magnetic field sensitivity of diamond nanoparticles to be combined with the capacity of micro/nanostructured optical fibres to enhance the interaction of light with matter. The outcome will be tools for probing biological processes on the nanoscale.
Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) by an order of magnitude by simultaneously overcoming the two interdependent limitations in ion generation and transmission efficiency. This project will design glass capillaries and tubes with complex structures to enable both multiplexing ion generation fr ....Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Enhanced sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) by an order of magnitude by simultaneously overcoming the two interdependent limitations in ion generation and transmission efficiency. This project will design glass capillaries and tubes with complex structures to enable both multiplexing ion generation from a single capillary and geometrically matching the bore of the tube collecting the emitted ion plume. NanoESI-MS has become an indispensable analytical tool for proteomics and synthetic chemistry. The significant enhancement of nanoESI-MS sensitivity in this project is expected to accelerate progress in disease research, biomarker discovery and drug development.Read moreRead less
Smart design technology enabling the mid-infrared revolution. While mid-infrared (MIR) lasers have become indispensable to key industries ranging from research and healthcare to defence, industrial deployment of this technology has been hampered by the lack of cost-effective MIR optical fibres. This project aims to overcome this barrier through the creation of an innovative design toolkit for the fabrication of complex optical fibre structures. This efficient and commercially viable concept-to-m ....Smart design technology enabling the mid-infrared revolution. While mid-infrared (MIR) lasers have become indispensable to key industries ranging from research and healthcare to defence, industrial deployment of this technology has been hampered by the lack of cost-effective MIR optical fibres. This project aims to overcome this barrier through the creation of an innovative design toolkit for the fabrication of complex optical fibre structures. This efficient and commercially viable concept-to-manufacture development process will pave the way towards the MIR fibre technology revolution and will yield significant economic benefits spanning industrial process controls and environmental monitoring to hazardous chemical detection and biological sensing.Read moreRead less
Extreme temperature monitoring for minerals and metals processing. This project aims to extend the capabilities of the optical fibre temperature sensor technology developed by the research team, based on microstructured optical fibres and femtosecond laser ablation fibre Bragg gratings, to conduct a range of measurements inside industrial furnace environments that are impossible using existing technology. This device will also be validated within the furnaces located at the minerals and metals p ....Extreme temperature monitoring for minerals and metals processing. This project aims to extend the capabilities of the optical fibre temperature sensor technology developed by the research team, based on microstructured optical fibres and femtosecond laser ablation fibre Bragg gratings, to conduct a range of measurements inside industrial furnace environments that are impossible using existing technology. This device will also be validated within the furnaces located at the minerals and metals processing facility operated by Nyrstar in Port Pirie. This project is designed to enable smelter operators to improve production efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimise equipment failure.Read moreRead less
Industry Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: IL230100116
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,359,464.00
Summary
Breaking through the manufacturing ‘glass ceiling’ for ZBLAN glass fibres. This project aims to develop innovative methods to improve the purity and manufacture scale of fluoride glass (ZBLAN) optical fibres to deliver faster and more efficient internet. This project expects to produce ZBLAN fibres with lower light loss than the best fibres to date by integrating innovations in glass science, materials purification, process automation and space manufacturing. Expected outcomes include industrial ....Breaking through the manufacturing ‘glass ceiling’ for ZBLAN glass fibres. This project aims to develop innovative methods to improve the purity and manufacture scale of fluoride glass (ZBLAN) optical fibres to deliver faster and more efficient internet. This project expects to produce ZBLAN fibres with lower light loss than the best fibres to date by integrating innovations in glass science, materials purification, process automation and space manufacturing. Expected outcomes include industrial scale production of ZBLAN fibres with 10 times better performance than existing production. The project should provide innovative new manufacturing methods and improved economic and social prosperity by increasing the availability of ZBLAN for a wealth of applications touching many aspects of Australian lives.Read moreRead less