Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100004
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$762,800.00
Summary
Ultrafast Infrared Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Infrared Spectroscopy Facility will provide a suite of techniques spanning the visible to mid-infrared spectral regions, on time scales corresponding to the emission of light, and energy conversion in low energy advanced functional materials. Research performed with this equipment will include photonic and thermal energy conversion; nanophotonics; quantum technologies and new infrared functional materials. This facility will enhance capacit ....Ultrafast Infrared Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Infrared Spectroscopy Facility will provide a suite of techniques spanning the visible to mid-infrared spectral regions, on time scales corresponding to the emission of light, and energy conversion in low energy advanced functional materials. Research performed with this equipment will include photonic and thermal energy conversion; nanophotonics; quantum technologies and new infrared functional materials. This facility will enhance capacity in probing new materials and devices in the near and mid-infrared regions, and will increase institutional and cross-disciplinary research collaboration.Read moreRead less
Unravelling how liquids wet surfaces with new dynamic measurements. This project aims to transform our understanding of how liquids wet surfaces in order to provide a step-change in advanced material design. This will be achieved by developing a unifying theory of surface wetting by integrating new microscale models of dynamic wetting with new macroscale automated measurement techniques capable of rapidly generating large datasets, to determine precisely how surface chemistry and surface roughne ....Unravelling how liquids wet surfaces with new dynamic measurements. This project aims to transform our understanding of how liquids wet surfaces in order to provide a step-change in advanced material design. This will be achieved by developing a unifying theory of surface wetting by integrating new microscale models of dynamic wetting with new macroscale automated measurement techniques capable of rapidly generating large datasets, to determine precisely how surface chemistry and surface roughness influence wetting. Expected outcomes include predictive models of surface wetting across multiple scales, and robust high-throughput measurement methods informing optimal design of next-generation materials for all applications where liquids and surfaces interact.Read moreRead less
Deciphering lipid-RNA nanocarrier structure upon RNA complexation. This project aims to decipher the nanostructure evolution, at a millisecond timescale, of lipid self-assembly upon coupling with RNAs and track the nanocarrier structural changes induced by biologically relevant acidic environments. This project will generate new knowledge of the interplay between the self-assembled lipid-RNA nanostructures and cellular objects for successful payload release. The expected outcome of this project ....Deciphering lipid-RNA nanocarrier structure upon RNA complexation. This project aims to decipher the nanostructure evolution, at a millisecond timescale, of lipid self-assembly upon coupling with RNAs and track the nanocarrier structural changes induced by biologically relevant acidic environments. This project will generate new knowledge of the interplay between the self-assembled lipid-RNA nanostructures and cellular objects for successful payload release. The expected outcome of this project is identification of the fundamental mechanisms of lipid-RNA molecular self-assembly and intracellular nucleic acid delivery. This should provide significant advances in the field of lipid nanoparticle engineering for the delivery of RNA therapeutics. Read moreRead less
Liquid Metal Interfaces – A Novel Platform for Catalysis. This project aims to develop the basic design principles that govern the performance of liquid metal alloy catalysts for the methane pyrolysis reaction and manufacturing of ammonia. The project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the reaction dynamics occurring at the gas-liquid metal interface under true working conditions and the composition-catalytic activity relationships of multi-component liquid alloy catalysts throug ....Liquid Metal Interfaces – A Novel Platform for Catalysis. This project aims to develop the basic design principles that govern the performance of liquid metal alloy catalysts for the methane pyrolysis reaction and manufacturing of ammonia. The project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the reaction dynamics occurring at the gas-liquid metal interface under true working conditions and the composition-catalytic activity relationships of multi-component liquid alloy catalysts through a combined experimental and computational/theoretical approach. The expected outcomes are new liquid metal alloys that open the gateway to a new dimension of catalytic applications. The project should benefit Australia’s key societal challenges of emissions reduction, hydrogen storage and food security.Read moreRead less
Resolving surface nanobubbles as cavitation nuclei. This project aims to investigate the onset and control of cavitation, a challenging problem for over half a century. Cavitation is a process of bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and causes noise and damage to adjacent surfaces, e.g. the failure of ship propellers and valves. This project expects to unravel the mystery of cavitation nuclei, and to develop cavitation-free designs to mitigate the cavitation caused damage to propellers and val ....Resolving surface nanobubbles as cavitation nuclei. This project aims to investigate the onset and control of cavitation, a challenging problem for over half a century. Cavitation is a process of bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and causes noise and damage to adjacent surfaces, e.g. the failure of ship propellers and valves. This project expects to unravel the mystery of cavitation nuclei, and to develop cavitation-free designs to mitigate the cavitation caused damage to propellers and valves, and noise. The anticipated outcomes will significantly advance existing fundamental knowledge at the forefront of fluid physics and provide Australia with a significant advantage in the marine, pump and valve industries, and significantly benefit the Australian industry and economy. Read moreRead less
Nanoengineered hybrid coatings that control inflammation to artificial bone. This project aims to develop novel biocompatible surfaces using nanotechnology approaches to understand how cells attach to and grow on artificial bone materials. This research is significant because it combines novel nanofabrication and surface modification strategies for unprecedented control and manipulation of inflammatory cell behaviour relevant to orthopaedic implants. The project will overcome current limitations ....Nanoengineered hybrid coatings that control inflammation to artificial bone. This project aims to develop novel biocompatible surfaces using nanotechnology approaches to understand how cells attach to and grow on artificial bone materials. This research is significant because it combines novel nanofabrication and surface modification strategies for unprecedented control and manipulation of inflammatory cell behaviour relevant to orthopaedic implants. The project will overcome current limitations of uncontrollable inflammatory reactions to surfaces. The multifunctional surfaces are expected to give the biomaterials field new tools to control and maintain bone cell functionality, in vitro. Potential long-term benefits include applications as coatings in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and medical implants.Read moreRead less
Plasmonic nanoparticle catalysis for nitrogen-based synthesis. Light can generate an optical force to capture small objects. This requires intense light – a laser, which limits optical trapping in catalysis applications. This project aims to apply plasmonic nanoparticles with normal-intensity light to take advantage of plasmonic-generated optical forces for catalytic chemical synthesis. The optical trapping/releasing of small molecules is highly selective and responsive to molecule structure and ....Plasmonic nanoparticle catalysis for nitrogen-based synthesis. Light can generate an optical force to capture small objects. This requires intense light – a laser, which limits optical trapping in catalysis applications. This project aims to apply plasmonic nanoparticles with normal-intensity light to take advantage of plasmonic-generated optical forces for catalytic chemical synthesis. The optical trapping/releasing of small molecules is highly selective and responsive to molecule structure and so presents a great opportunity to radically alter chemical synthesis pathways, which will be illustrated with reactions on liquid-solid and gas-solid interfaces. This highly innovative strategy will be used to discover new nitrogen-based syntheses which are both fundamentally and industrially important.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100789
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,613.00
Summary
Photo-thermal ammonia decomposition . This project aims to develop of novel catalysts targeted to utilise light and heat for the photo-thermal decomposition of ammonia to produce hydrogen and generate new understanding on the role of light in thermal catalytic reactions. The emergence of the hydrogen economy has resulted in the urgent need for safe and efficient hydrogen transport and storage vectors. Ammonia, a hydrogen carrier, is being increasingly considered as a potential key to facilitate ....Photo-thermal ammonia decomposition . This project aims to develop of novel catalysts targeted to utilise light and heat for the photo-thermal decomposition of ammonia to produce hydrogen and generate new understanding on the role of light in thermal catalytic reactions. The emergence of the hydrogen economy has resulted in the urgent need for safe and efficient hydrogen transport and storage vectors. Ammonia, a hydrogen carrier, is being increasingly considered as a potential key to facilitate the hydrogen economy due to its relative ease of storage. The development of catalysts tailored toward capturing light for ammonia decomposition will enable a new potential pathway for the hydrogen economy, with ammonia as a hydrogen vector. Read moreRead less
Improving the stability of biomolecules using ionic liquids. This project aims to address critical issues in studying proteins outside their native environments by developing new solvents that will increase their stability and solubility. The project expects to create new knowledge in our understanding of solvent chemical properties through a novel approach using high throughput robotics, synchrotron analysis of protein structures and Molecular Dynamics simulations. The expected outcome is a set ....Improving the stability of biomolecules using ionic liquids. This project aims to address critical issues in studying proteins outside their native environments by developing new solvents that will increase their stability and solubility. The project expects to create new knowledge in our understanding of solvent chemical properties through a novel approach using high throughput robotics, synchrotron analysis of protein structures and Molecular Dynamics simulations. The expected outcome is a set of design rules for creating new solvents. This should benefit many research and industrial applications, including determining protein structure for the development of new drugs and biocatalysts, and cryopreservation of protein-based pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100497
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,847.00
Summary
In-situ Imaging and Detecting Electron Transfer for Single Site Reaction. This research aims to investigate and detect electron transfer numbers in oxygen reduction under atomic scale at one single active site through in-situ Electrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (ECSTM). Innovations are expected in the novel detection concept, novel nanofabrication approach and innovative ECSTM tip-based imaging and detection technique. Expected outcomes of the project include a reliable detection techn ....In-situ Imaging and Detecting Electron Transfer for Single Site Reaction. This research aims to investigate and detect electron transfer numbers in oxygen reduction under atomic scale at one single active site through in-situ Electrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (ECSTM). Innovations are expected in the novel detection concept, novel nanofabrication approach and innovative ECSTM tip-based imaging and detection technique. Expected outcomes of the project include a reliable detection technique for electron transfer detection and precisely synthesized catalysts for certain applications. This fundamental groundwork provides the guidance to design and develop a high-efficiency electrocatalyst to facilitate green energy storage technology and accelerate Australia's transition into a sustainable economy.Read moreRead less