Integrated approach to functional carbon based materials. Exploiting novel forms of carbon to create new technologies for the energy, health and environmental sectors is a major challenge in nanotechnology. To address this challenge we will exploit innovative methods such as self-assembly and continuous flow spinning disc processing. Our proposed research will make significant contributions to a fundamental understanding of carbon nanomaterials. To this end, we will bring together international ....Integrated approach to functional carbon based materials. Exploiting novel forms of carbon to create new technologies for the energy, health and environmental sectors is a major challenge in nanotechnology. To address this challenge we will exploit innovative methods such as self-assembly and continuous flow spinning disc processing. Our proposed research will make significant contributions to a fundamental understanding of carbon nanomaterials. To this end, we will bring together international expertise with complementary skills, providing a more inventive research culture and excellent opportunities for training young scientists. The attractive low cost of renewable starting materials and small footprint of the ensuing technologies will provide a platform for fostering links with industry.Read moreRead less
Energetics and dynamics of solvated biologically relevant molecules using liquid microjet and ion imaging technologies. The shape of many biomolecules in solution plays a critical role in determining their biological activity and function. It is known that the bonds that form between the biomolecules and the water solvent control this shape. However, very little is known about the strength and structure of these bonds at different sites around the biomolecule. Many experiments have informed u ....Energetics and dynamics of solvated biologically relevant molecules using liquid microjet and ion imaging technologies. The shape of many biomolecules in solution plays a critical role in determining their biological activity and function. It is known that the bonds that form between the biomolecules and the water solvent control this shape. However, very little is known about the strength and structure of these bonds at different sites around the biomolecule. Many experiments have informed us about the strength of the bonds, others have told us where the bonds occur. This project will provide both pieces of information for the first time, allowing us to better understand, and therefore control, biological function. This work will assist in the development of new biotechnology processes, especially in the emerging area of proteomics.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0239943
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$245,000.00
Summary
Access for Australian Researchers to Advanced Neutron-Beam Technique. Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful and important investigative tools in the study of materials. Australia has only a low-flux neutron source, HIFAR, which provides no cold or hot neutrons. This excludes large, important areas of science, such as functional films, polymers, self-assembly systems, biological materials, colloids and emulsions, and real-time in-situ studies.
This application aims to continue Aus ....Access for Australian Researchers to Advanced Neutron-Beam Technique. Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful and important investigative tools in the study of materials. Australia has only a low-flux neutron source, HIFAR, which provides no cold or hot neutrons. This excludes large, important areas of science, such as functional films, polymers, self-assembly systems, biological materials, colloids and emulsions, and real-time in-situ studies.
This application aims to continue Australia's parnership with the world's most intense neutron source, ISIS in the UK, in order to sustain the considerable Australian scientific momentum which now relies on ISIS.
The outcome will be new science that cannot be generated solely within Australia.Read moreRead less
Environmentally responsive clean coatings. Nature makes use of a range of fascinating surface properties, such as the leaves of the Lotus plant which stay clean even in dirty environments. In this project we will explore the molecular properties of novel polymer coated surfaces that-similar to some natural surfaces-can adapt to changing environmental stimuli and be resistant to contamination. Specifically, we aim to develop self-cleaning polymer coatings which can reversibly switch from wettab ....Environmentally responsive clean coatings. Nature makes use of a range of fascinating surface properties, such as the leaves of the Lotus plant which stay clean even in dirty environments. In this project we will explore the molecular properties of novel polymer coated surfaces that-similar to some natural surfaces-can adapt to changing environmental stimuli and be resistant to contamination. Specifically, we aim to develop self-cleaning polymer coatings which can reversibly switch from wettable to non-wettable with changing temperature and humidity. These self-cleaning polymer surfaces with environmentally responsive properties will add value to pre-painted steel products and other coatings.Read moreRead less
Heat capacities of Bayer liquors to 300C. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries, earning ~$6 billion per year export income. However, major productivity gains are required for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. More accurate thermodynamic calculations, covering the full plant operating range, are seen by the industry as an important way to increase productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must e ....Heat capacities of Bayer liquors to 300C. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries, earning ~$6 billion per year export income. However, major productivity gains are required for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. More accurate thermodynamic calculations, covering the full plant operating range, are seen by the industry as an important way to increase productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must extend current theoretical understanding and establish an experimental capability, hitherto unavailable in Australia, for measuring heat capacities and densities of solutions to temperatures as high as 300 C.Read moreRead less
Development of the methods to tailor photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. This project aims at the development of the methods to tailor the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. Methods to both enhance and reduce the photocatalytic activity for specific applications will be investigated, and the physical and chemical mechanism of photocatalysis-control will be studied. The method developed will be applied for a commercial scale production of ZnO nanoparticles. The effects of ....Development of the methods to tailor photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. This project aims at the development of the methods to tailor the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. Methods to both enhance and reduce the photocatalytic activity for specific applications will be investigated, and the physical and chemical mechanism of photocatalysis-control will be studied. The method developed will be applied for a commercial scale production of ZnO nanoparticles. The effects of (a) impurity doping inside of the particles, (b) particle coating, (c) size and morphologies of the particles, and (d) ion-adsorption of the particle surface, to the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles will be investigated. The methods developed will be applied for a commercial scale production of ZnO nanoparticles by ANT.Read moreRead less
Modelling Bayer Plant Liquors for Industrial Process Simulations. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries but it exists within an increasingly competitive global market. More meaningful computer simulations of the Bayer process, covering conditions far beyond current plant operating ranges, are seen by Australian producers as an important way to increase future productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must develop ....Modelling Bayer Plant Liquors for Industrial Process Simulations. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries but it exists within an increasingly competitive global market. More meaningful computer simulations of the Bayer process, covering conditions far beyond current plant operating ranges, are seen by Australian producers as an important way to increase future productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must develop hitherto unavailable modelling capabilities for predicting the behaviour of Bayer plant liquors. The more robust thermodynamic models developed in this project will enable more realistic simulations, which are a prerequisite for innovative process design and optimisation.Read moreRead less
Hirshfeld surfaces in molecular crystals: Revolutionary tools for crystal engineers. Crystal engineering is an exciting modern branch of chemistry that seeks to understand intermolecular interactions in the context of crystal packing, and to use this understanding in the design of new materials with desirable physical and chemical properties. This project will considerably extend our already significant contribution to the detailed analysis of intermolecular interactions in molecular crystal st ....Hirshfeld surfaces in molecular crystals: Revolutionary tools for crystal engineers. Crystal engineering is an exciting modern branch of chemistry that seeks to understand intermolecular interactions in the context of crystal packing, and to use this understanding in the design of new materials with desirable physical and chemical properties. This project will considerably extend our already significant contribution to the detailed analysis of intermolecular interactions in molecular crystal structures. It will achieve this by a substantial enhancement of our novel visualization tools, by improving upon current approaches to the analysis of theoretical and experimental crystalline electron distributions for molecular materials, and by ensuring the widespread availability of resulting software to all researchers.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear optical properties of molecular crystals: An innovative approach to their determination using high-resolution X-ray diffraction data. This project will make a novel contribution towards the creation and optimisation of new optically-active materials, an objective central to future photon science and information technology. By developing and implementing innovative approaches in the charge density analysis of high-resolution, low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, we wil ....Nonlinear optical properties of molecular crystals: An innovative approach to their determination using high-resolution X-ray diffraction data. This project will make a novel contribution towards the creation and optimisation of new optically-active materials, an objective central to future photon science and information technology. By developing and implementing innovative approaches in the charge density analysis of high-resolution, low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, we will obtain in-crystal estimates of the electronic part of molecular (hyper)polarisabilities and related bulk susceptibilities, for crystals of selected important organic nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The program will exploit advances in CCD technology for X-ray data collection, procedures for electron density and wavefunction fitting, and analysis of molecular dynamics in crystals.Read moreRead less