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
Manufacture of precision optical components: ground-breaking through innovative constitutive modeling. It has been a worldwide challenge to make high precision optical elements using glass moulding though it is the most effective process. This project aims to develop a novel way to optimise precision glass moulding processes. The success of this research will significantly reduce the development cost and improve the quality of the moulding products.
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100092
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$270,000.00
Summary
A co-thermal evaporation system for the production of chalcogenide thin films for photonics. This project will provide important infrastructure underpinning the production of novel photonic materials that will allow the fabrication of devices that will support advances in the optical internet; in sensing of dangerous or illicit materials; in defense science and in astro-physics. The production of high performance photonic materials for such applications can lead to new commercial ventures in Aus ....A co-thermal evaporation system for the production of chalcogenide thin films for photonics. This project will provide important infrastructure underpinning the production of novel photonic materials that will allow the fabrication of devices that will support advances in the optical internet; in sensing of dangerous or illicit materials; in defense science and in astro-physics. The production of high performance photonic materials for such applications can lead to new commercial ventures in Australia. Read moreRead less
Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. This project aims to develop large vacuum insulated windows with higher insulation performance than triple glazing, the best currently available, by toughening glass to increase its strength, flatness and safety. Higher performance windows reduce energy wastage in the developed world, and vacuum glazing’s thin profile means they can be retrofitted into buildings immediately, without the delay of replacing build ....Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. This project aims to develop large vacuum insulated windows with higher insulation performance than triple glazing, the best currently available, by toughening glass to increase its strength, flatness and safety. Higher performance windows reduce energy wastage in the developed world, and vacuum glazing’s thin profile means they can be retrofitted into buildings immediately, without the delay of replacing building stock. The anticipated outcome is a major reduction in energy use for climate control in buildings, a large and rapidly growing energy sector that climate change makes unsustainable; and rapid economic, social and environmental benefits through sustainable climate control in cities.Read moreRead less
Understanding and optimising the microstructure of Germanium-Arsenic-Selenium glasses for superior device performance. The project will seek to use a combined theoretical and experimental approach to develop 'state of the art' optical glass materials for use in integrated nonlinear optical components. Such materials could be used as optical waveguides in broadband communication systems and offer the possibility of significant improvement in telecommunication performance.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Integrated mid-infrared optical microcavity sensors. Toxic or illicit substances such as poisons, drugs and explosives can be identified from the way they absorb specific frequencies of light in the mid-infrared. This project will develop a new kind of molecule-specific, optical sensor capable of detecting trace quantities of such materials.