Advanced Materials from Automated Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Polymers. The project aims to develop industrially scalable and environmentally friendly methods for synthesis of sequence-defined multiblock copolymers (polymer chains containing segments of different polymer types) using automated synthesis methods. The materials to be explored will be largely based on renewable biomass-derived monomeric building blocks. Such polymers are able to undergo microphase separation into spatially period ....Advanced Materials from Automated Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Polymers. The project aims to develop industrially scalable and environmentally friendly methods for synthesis of sequence-defined multiblock copolymers (polymer chains containing segments of different polymer types) using automated synthesis methods. The materials to be explored will be largely based on renewable biomass-derived monomeric building blocks. Such polymers are able to undergo microphase separation into spatially periodic compositional patterns, thereby providing access to a vast range of nano-engineered materials. This would enable design and synthesis of new advanced materials, making use of renewable resources and supporting the circular economy, with diverse potential applications ranging from nanomedicine to materials science.Read moreRead less
Innovative Zn alloys with essential mechanical and biofunctional properties. This project aims to develop a breakthrough understanding of the impact of alloying additions on the strengthening mechanisms, degradation behaviour, antibacterial properties and biofunctionalities of zinc alloys. The project expects to generate new knowledge in alloying strategies, plastic deformation and surface modification of zinc alloys to achieve mechanical, corrosion and biofunctional properties satisfying the re ....Innovative Zn alloys with essential mechanical and biofunctional properties. This project aims to develop a breakthrough understanding of the impact of alloying additions on the strengthening mechanisms, degradation behaviour, antibacterial properties and biofunctionalities of zinc alloys. The project expects to generate new knowledge in alloying strategies, plastic deformation and surface modification of zinc alloys to achieve mechanical, corrosion and biofunctional properties satisfying the requirements of biodegradable metallic materials. The expected outcomes are the development of novel zinc alloys and practical technologies for industry applications, such as thermomechanical processing and surface coating. The benefits are expected to extend to physical metallurgy and biomaterial manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Liquid metal solvents for high entropy and atomically configured systems. Significant challenges remain in developing high entropy alloys, which are future disruptors in metallurgy, ranging from configurational entropy to atomic ordering. To address such challenges, we will explore liquid metal solvents for synthesising high entropy and atomically configured systems from the combination of reactive and high melting point elements stabilised in metallic solvents. Molecular imprinting, mechanical ....Liquid metal solvents for high entropy and atomically configured systems. Significant challenges remain in developing high entropy alloys, which are future disruptors in metallurgy, ranging from configurational entropy to atomic ordering. To address such challenges, we will explore liquid metal solvents for synthesising high entropy and atomically configured systems from the combination of reactive and high melting point elements stabilised in metallic solvents. Molecular imprinting, mechanical and electrochemical triggers will control interfacial atomic organisation and precipitation. The growth mechanisms, both at the interface and in the bulk, will be explored by high energy probing techniques and computational simulations. We will offer new metallurgical paradigms for future catalysis and sensing concepts.Read moreRead less
Smart foliage: imparting intelligence to synthetic leaves. This project aims to develop an innovative “lab-on-a-leaf” platform technology based on smart membranes with switchable pores to enable hitherto unachievable control of gas and vapour transfer. The innovated membrane based technology can be used as a versatile platform for many important applications, such as desalination and carbon capture. This project expects to advance the knowledge in biomimetic design of synthetic leaves, and bring ....Smart foliage: imparting intelligence to synthetic leaves. This project aims to develop an innovative “lab-on-a-leaf” platform technology based on smart membranes with switchable pores to enable hitherto unachievable control of gas and vapour transfer. The innovated membrane based technology can be used as a versatile platform for many important applications, such as desalination and carbon capture. This project expects to advance the knowledge in biomimetic design of synthetic leaves, and bring new membrane technologies to applications, such as desalination, solar energy harvesting, and evaporative cooling. This project should provide significant benefits for Australian manufacturing industry by addressing energy and environmental concerns and boosting national economic growth.Read moreRead less
Stronger, coarser-grained biodegradable zinc alloys. This project aims to develop stronger and more durable zinc alloys for a new generation of biodegradable metals for potential load-bearing orthopaedic applications. It expects to deliver a group of novel zinc alloys with better properties and a new technology for manufacturing them, and to use advanced experimental techniques to reveal deformation and strengthening mechanisms that underlie the unusual Hall-Petch and anomalous twinning phenomen ....Stronger, coarser-grained biodegradable zinc alloys. This project aims to develop stronger and more durable zinc alloys for a new generation of biodegradable metals for potential load-bearing orthopaedic applications. It expects to deliver a group of novel zinc alloys with better properties and a new technology for manufacturing them, and to use advanced experimental techniques to reveal deformation and strengthening mechanisms that underlie the unusual Hall-Petch and anomalous twinning phenomena and the unprecedented properties of these alloys. Expected outcomes are likely to form the technology and scientific basis for developing better biodegradable metallic alloys. This has the potential eventually to create a better life for thousands of Australian patients.Read moreRead less
Engineering Functional Antimicrobial Polypeptide Surfaces. Antimicrobial coatings are vital in preventing bacterial contamination but a versatile solution does not exist. Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) were recently developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. To expand their application into antimicrobial coatings across a range of surfaces, a simple and universal coating strategy is needed. By developing phenolic-functionalised SNAPPs, this project aims ....Engineering Functional Antimicrobial Polypeptide Surfaces. Antimicrobial coatings are vital in preventing bacterial contamination but a versatile solution does not exist. Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) were recently developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. To expand their application into antimicrobial coatings across a range of surfaces, a simple and universal coating strategy is needed. By developing phenolic-functionalised SNAPPs, this project aims to exploit the adhesive nature of metal–phenolic materials to rapidly coat diverse surfaces, including stainless steel and textiles. The expected outcome is the generation of antimicrobial polypeptide surfaces, which will have benefits in food safety, medical implant technology and advanced textiles.Read moreRead less
Corrosion triggered self-passivation of magnesium alloys . This project aims to sustainably protect magnesium alloys from aqueous corrosion in engineering services through an unprecedented self-passivation mechanism (analogues to stainless steel). This project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of passivation mechanisms for magnesium alloys in corrosive environments through high-throughput screening and in-situ corrosion characterisation at atomic scale. This should provide signif ....Corrosion triggered self-passivation of magnesium alloys . This project aims to sustainably protect magnesium alloys from aqueous corrosion in engineering services through an unprecedented self-passivation mechanism (analogues to stainless steel). This project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of passivation mechanisms for magnesium alloys in corrosive environments through high-throughput screening and in-situ corrosion characterisation at atomic scale. This should provide significant benefits, such as enabling the debut of a scientific strategy to transform the magnesium alloy market with respect to end use (such as electric car industry), energy composition and emissions, which has significant industrial interest as it will provide new opportunities to minimise carbon footprint.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductor membranes. This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in designing advanced membranes to enable sustainable lithium refining by unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductors. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of membrane science and emerging nanoionics by using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel class of lithium separation membranes and ....Unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductor membranes. This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in designing advanced membranes to enable sustainable lithium refining by unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductors. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of membrane science and emerging nanoionics by using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel class of lithium separation membranes and their fabrication techniques. This should provide significant benefits in improving lithium extraction and recycling efficiency, reducing their environmental impact and building the research capacity in advanced membrane manufacturing and critical mineral refining in Australia. Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional nanomaterials for wearable zinc ion battery . The project aims to develop a new wearable battery system, based on advanced two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with robust energy storage performance and lifespan, for industrial application across the rapidly emerging industries of health monitoring, movement tracking, and smart clothing. The project addresses the critical challenges of control functionalization of advanced 2D nanomaterials for developing wearable energy storage. Th ....Two-dimensional nanomaterials for wearable zinc ion battery . The project aims to develop a new wearable battery system, based on advanced two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with robust energy storage performance and lifespan, for industrial application across the rapidly emerging industries of health monitoring, movement tracking, and smart clothing. The project addresses the critical challenges of control functionalization of advanced 2D nanomaterials for developing wearable energy storage. The research outcomes are expected to result in a scalable approach, a variety of advanced 2D nanomaterials, and wearable new battery system, which will bring significant economic and environmental, social, and cultural benefits to Australia and the world.Read moreRead less
Zwitterion-based electrolytes for advanced energy technologies. This research aims to develop a new class of electrolyte that is safer, non-flammable and designed to enable excellent performance of high energy batteries made with either sodium or lithium. Through the synthesis of new electrolyte structures that are designed to improve stability and electrochemical properties, and using a range of analysis techniques to understand the material properties, the project aims to solve some of the saf ....Zwitterion-based electrolytes for advanced energy technologies. This research aims to develop a new class of electrolyte that is safer, non-flammable and designed to enable excellent performance of high energy batteries made with either sodium or lithium. Through the synthesis of new electrolyte structures that are designed to improve stability and electrochemical properties, and using a range of analysis techniques to understand the material properties, the project aims to solve some of the safety and performance problems that plague existing electrolytes. Expected benefits include new functional energy materials for safer, more reliable energy storage technologies, plus research training, collaborations and materials development capabilities to help position Australia as a global leader in this field.Read moreRead less