A Method to Characterise an Aberration-Corrected Electron Wave Field - a step towards quantitative electron microscopy. Australia has recently invested in a powerful, new electron microscope, one of the first in the world, which can image features at the atomic scale that could not be seen before. This project will forge a strategic partnership with the designer and the distributor of this microscope, to develop special new methods that will further increase the microscope's imaging power. This ....A Method to Characterise an Aberration-Corrected Electron Wave Field - a step towards quantitative electron microscopy. Australia has recently invested in a powerful, new electron microscope, one of the first in the world, which can image features at the atomic scale that could not be seen before. This project will forge a strategic partnership with the designer and the distributor of this microscope, to develop special new methods that will further increase the microscope's imaging power. This will give Australian scientists unique capabilities with which to investigate and engineer new materials for advanced technological applications and it will train young Australian scientists in these cutting-edge techniques.Read moreRead less
Nanotribology and Nanorheometry: A Fundamental Study of the Dynamic Interactions of Particles and Surfaces at the Molecular Level. Friction and deformation occur from the mutual motion and interaction of microscopic particles and surfaces. This research aims to develop new theories and measurement techniques for these non-equilibrium phenomena by combining mathematical analysis and numerical computations with dynamic force measurement, surface modification, and surface characterisation on nanom ....Nanotribology and Nanorheometry: A Fundamental Study of the Dynamic Interactions of Particles and Surfaces at the Molecular Level. Friction and deformation occur from the mutual motion and interaction of microscopic particles and surfaces. This research aims to develop new theories and measurement techniques for these non-equilibrium phenomena by combining mathematical analysis and numerical computations with dynamic force measurement, surface modification, and surface characterisation on nanometre and molecular length scales. These insights and data will be critically important in designing low-friction surfaces that save energy and wear, in developing nanoscopic probes for the mechanical and structural properties of soft polymeric and bio-materials, and in making high performance coatings that control adhesion and particle aggregation in technologically advanced applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989648
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Optical test-bed facility for mid infrared components for sensing, imaging and astrophotonics. This test facility will enable Australian researchers to validate optical components and technologies at wavelengths from 2.5 to 20 microns, that are crucial for a wide range of applications including biophotonics, sensing, imaging, defense, and astro-photonics. Technologies related to the Mid IR are
expected to have a significant impact on quality of life and global economy. It will enable Australi ....Optical test-bed facility for mid infrared components for sensing, imaging and astrophotonics. This test facility will enable Australian researchers to validate optical components and technologies at wavelengths from 2.5 to 20 microns, that are crucial for a wide range of applications including biophotonics, sensing, imaging, defense, and astro-photonics. Technologies related to the Mid IR are
expected to have a significant impact on quality of life and global economy. It will enable Australian researchers to achieve a major impact in many areas of Mid IR fundamental and applied science as well as industry sectors such as sensing, biophotonics, defence, health, bio-security and imaging. Read moreRead less
Molecular signatures of complex photodissociation reactions. All energy on earth comes from the sun, either directly (e.g photosynthesis) or indirectly (e.g fossil fuels). Photochemistry is the study of how this light is absorbed and what happens to a molecule afterwards. Despite significant experimental and theoretical advances in the past decade (some in our lab), scientists still cannot predict the outcomes of most photochemical reactions. In this project we will determine the reactivity o ....Molecular signatures of complex photodissociation reactions. All energy on earth comes from the sun, either directly (e.g photosynthesis) or indirectly (e.g fossil fuels). Photochemistry is the study of how this light is absorbed and what happens to a molecule afterwards. Despite significant experimental and theoretical advances in the past decade (some in our lab), scientists still cannot predict the outcomes of most photochemical reactions. In this project we will determine the reactivity of several small, fundamental organic molecules. Not only are these molecules pollutants around our cities, but discovery of how they react in the presence of light will allow us to understand and predict the photochemistry of a much wider range of organic species.Read moreRead less
Pulsed oscillating mass analyser. Mass spectrometers are ubiquitous components in chemical analysis, but are often large and expensive. We have developed a new method for mass analysis, which is smaller and cheaper than existing technology. However, the analyser needs further research to determine whether it has the performance specifications to match the other technologies. The objective of this research is to characterise, explore and extend the prototype and to develop the appropriate math ....Pulsed oscillating mass analyser. Mass spectrometers are ubiquitous components in chemical analysis, but are often large and expensive. We have developed a new method for mass analysis, which is smaller and cheaper than existing technology. However, the analyser needs further research to determine whether it has the performance specifications to match the other technologies. The objective of this research is to characterise, explore and extend the prototype and to develop the appropriate mathematical algorithm for mass analysis. Success in this project may lead to a new mass analyser that can be incorporated into analytical instruments, many of which are manufactured in Australia.Read moreRead less
Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of ....Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of a Fresnel Lens Fibre. In addition to a range of possible telecommunications applications, the focussing fibre also has applications in spectroscopy, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and especially in the field of photodynamic therapy. Read moreRead less
New Enantiomeric Separation Technologies for Natural Product, Pharmaceuticals and Environmental Pollutant Characterisation. Enantiomeric characterisation allows evaluation of drug purity for potentially harmful constituents, consumer protection against adulteration of essential oils and natural materials, and study of chemical interactions in biochemical/environmental systems. Chromatograph technologies (GC, HPLC and CE)for enantioseparation are available, however limitations prevent multicompon ....New Enantiomeric Separation Technologies for Natural Product, Pharmaceuticals and Environmental Pollutant Characterisation. Enantiomeric characterisation allows evaluation of drug purity for potentially harmful constituents, consumer protection against adulteration of essential oils and natural materials, and study of chemical interactions in biochemical/environmental systems. Chromatograph technologies (GC, HPLC and CE)for enantioseparation are available, however limitations prevent multicomponent characterisation of complete sample mixtures. Critical choices involve: choosing a chiral selector that interacts differentially upon all enantiomers; incorporation of selector into high-efficiency chromatographic systems; application to all target compounds in the sample. We will synthesise novel chiral selectors, incorporate these into new separation columns, apply ultra-high resolution 2-dimensional GCxGC to broad-spectrum chiral analysis of volatile chemical samples.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0236167
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,000.00
Summary
The Sydney Combinatorial Research Facility. The proposal is to establish a multidisciplinary inter-institutional research facility for solution-phase combinatorial chemistry synthesis and analysis, and medium to high throughput biological evaluation of lead compounds through fluorescence detection methods. This will be the first and only multi-user facility of its type in Sydney. It will provide through its synthetic node at NSW and Macquarie Universities and biological screening node at Univers ....The Sydney Combinatorial Research Facility. The proposal is to establish a multidisciplinary inter-institutional research facility for solution-phase combinatorial chemistry synthesis and analysis, and medium to high throughput biological evaluation of lead compounds through fluorescence detection methods. This will be the first and only multi-user facility of its type in Sydney. It will provide through its synthetic node at NSW and Macquarie Universities and biological screening node at University of Sydney an essential resource that will enable modern combinatorial techniques to be applied to chemical and drug-lead development studies in the region.Read moreRead less
New insights into free radical reactivity via gas phase studies of radical anions. Free radicals are known to be critical reactive intermediates in chemical processes ranging from the formation of photochemical smog, through combustion to the onset of age-related diseases. This research increases our understanding of how free radicals react and will thus allow for more accurate prediction, and in some instances greater control, of the outcomes of chemical reactions and their health and environme ....New insights into free radical reactivity via gas phase studies of radical anions. Free radicals are known to be critical reactive intermediates in chemical processes ranging from the formation of photochemical smog, through combustion to the onset of age-related diseases. This research increases our understanding of how free radicals react and will thus allow for more accurate prediction, and in some instances greater control, of the outcomes of chemical reactions and their health and environmental consequences. New instrumental technologies will be developed and young Australian researchers will be trained here, and with collaborators in the USA, in state-of-the-art techniques (particularly in mass spectrometry) that are essential to our emerging technology-based economy.Read moreRead less
Electroacoustic and Acoustic Characterisation of Nanoporous Colloids. Nanoporous materials have an enormous technological importance in many different industries, both traditional and advanced. New technologies require new materials, which are being produced in thousands of laboratories worldwide. The methods for characterising these materials are slow and expensive. A new suite of measurements will be developed, based on acoustic methods, that is rapid and relatively inexpensive. It will not o ....Electroacoustic and Acoustic Characterisation of Nanoporous Colloids. Nanoporous materials have an enormous technological importance in many different industries, both traditional and advanced. New technologies require new materials, which are being produced in thousands of laboratories worldwide. The methods for characterising these materials are slow and expensive. A new suite of measurements will be developed, based on acoustic methods, that is rapid and relatively inexpensive. It will not only give parameters such as particle size, porosity and pore size, which are complementary to existing methods, but also important new information about charge and conductivity that is not presently available.Read moreRead less