Correction of non-linearity in inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry. Chemical analyses by mass spectrometers underpin key Australian economic sectors, particularly minerals and agriculture. The quadrupole inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometer has seen a particular rise in prominence over last 25 years. In this collaboration between mass spectrometrists and the leading instrument designer, we will improve the linearity of its detection system for more precise and accurate data. Bet ....Correction of non-linearity in inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry. Chemical analyses by mass spectrometers underpin key Australian economic sectors, particularly minerals and agriculture. The quadrupole inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometer has seen a particular rise in prominence over last 25 years. In this collaboration between mass spectrometrists and the leading instrument designer, we will improve the linearity of its detection system for more precise and accurate data. Better elemental and isotope ratio data from these high-throughput instruments will open up new real-world applications in many areas of Australian interest, such as biosecurity, forensics, groundwater management, and drug design. The research will also inform design of the next generation instruments by the industry partner.Read moreRead less
Integration of DNA switches into wearables for smart chemical monitoring. This project addresses the scientific challenge of real-time monitoring of dynamic biological changes in the secretions found in sweat. By creating a wearable wireless device to monitor chemicals which interests Nutromics, using a novel electronic skin technology platform, the work aims to generate new knowledge of physiological changes in sweat secretions. Lying at the interface of analytical chemistry, functional materia ....Integration of DNA switches into wearables for smart chemical monitoring. This project addresses the scientific challenge of real-time monitoring of dynamic biological changes in the secretions found in sweat. By creating a wearable wireless device to monitor chemicals which interests Nutromics, using a novel electronic skin technology platform, the work aims to generate new knowledge of physiological changes in sweat secretions. Lying at the interface of analytical chemistry, functional materials and biomedical engineering, the project will contribute to the training of young researchers in these emerging technologies which interest Nutromics Pty Ltd. The project will improve Australia's standing in technology around wearable devices, improving our global competitive edge with economic and scientific impact.Read moreRead less
New hyphenated chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for oil analysis. This project aims to use novel chemical separation methods combined with spectroscopy to identify useful markers in olive oil and essential oil to ensure purity, quality and authenticity, which are all ongoing issues in these industries in Australia and overseas. The project plans to compare and integrate results of multidimensional gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses ....New hyphenated chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for oil analysis. This project aims to use novel chemical separation methods combined with spectroscopy to identify useful markers in olive oil and essential oil to ensure purity, quality and authenticity, which are all ongoing issues in these industries in Australia and overseas. The project plans to compare and integrate results of multidimensional gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses with data libraries to generate precise molecular identification. The outcome is expected to help monitor adulteration of oils and maintain the high quality standards of Australian produce.Read moreRead less
Advanced Signal Processing for Radiation Spectroscopy. Southern Innovation develops and markets world-leading pulse processing technologies for the rapid, accurate detection and measurement of radiation. The underlying real-time signal processing challenge relates to isolating often overlapping pulses, determining when each pulse arrived and the energy of each pulse. Recent advances in the computational power of digital signal processing boards makes it timely to develop innovative pulse process ....Advanced Signal Processing for Radiation Spectroscopy. Southern Innovation develops and markets world-leading pulse processing technologies for the rapid, accurate detection and measurement of radiation. The underlying real-time signal processing challenge relates to isolating often overlapping pulses, determining when each pulse arrived and the energy of each pulse. Recent advances in the computational power of digital signal processing boards makes it timely to develop innovative pulse processing algorithms based on optimal filtering of stochastic processes. It is expected that these algorithms will have widespread impact, both commercially for minerals exploration, materials analysis, medical imaging and security screening, and scientifically for improving the performance of synchrotrons and other equipment.Read moreRead less
High yield adaptive laser nanomanufacturing system for photonic devices. This project aims at developing an entirely new nanofabrication platform combining adaptive beamshaping with highly accurate large area nanopositioner to simultaneously address the throughput and accuracy challenges in nanomanufacturing. The proposed prototype system and fabricated photonic chips have performance far surpassing the state-of-the-art. Through trial in the industrial best laser nanofabrication system, commerci ....High yield adaptive laser nanomanufacturing system for photonic devices. This project aims at developing an entirely new nanofabrication platform combining adaptive beamshaping with highly accurate large area nanopositioner to simultaneously address the throughput and accuracy challenges in nanomanufacturing. The proposed prototype system and fabricated photonic chips have performance far surpassing the state-of-the-art. Through trial in the industrial best laser nanofabrication system, commercial benefits can be fast tracked for Australian industry in the rapidly expanding nanomanufacturing field. The outcomes lead to a platform technology enabling broad impact and benefits to other high-tech applications requiring high precision and throughput, enhancing Australia’s leading position in advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Foundation technology for quantum measurement, sensing and computing. This project will advance quantum control of cold ions, atoms and diamond colour centres for application of quantum science to high-tech problems, from ion-based quantum computing to diamond-based quantum imaging inside living cells.
Agile synthesizers for quantum computing, simulation and sensing. The project aims to develop breakthrough technology for generating the complex radio and microwave pulses that underpin the revolution in quantum computing and quantum sensing. Quantum technologies are rapidly emerging from laboratory to real-world applications including neural imaging, defence surveillance, and mining exploration, but further advances require increased precision and flexibility in controlling the quantum states ....Agile synthesizers for quantum computing, simulation and sensing. The project aims to develop breakthrough technology for generating the complex radio and microwave pulses that underpin the revolution in quantum computing and quantum sensing. Quantum technologies are rapidly emerging from laboratory to real-world applications including neural imaging, defence surveillance, and mining exploration, but further advances require increased precision and flexibility in controlling the quantum states at the heart of these new capabilities. Our innovative and more flexible approach to signal generation requires a fraction of the size, weight, power and cost of conventional approaches, enabling the translation of quantum technology to commercial practicality.Read moreRead less
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
Unlocking the potential of quantitative x-ray micro-tomography. This project aims to build on two new ideas in data acquisition and 3D image reconstruction to bring 3D X-ray microscopy or computed tomography (CT) into advanced research use as well as common industrial applications. In the past 10 years, CT has improved our understanding in areas ranging from the evolution of life and osteoporosis to composite material failure and oil recovery. However, the full potential of CT remains unrealised ....Unlocking the potential of quantitative x-ray micro-tomography. This project aims to build on two new ideas in data acquisition and 3D image reconstruction to bring 3D X-ray microscopy or computed tomography (CT) into advanced research use as well as common industrial applications. In the past 10 years, CT has improved our understanding in areas ranging from the evolution of life and osteoporosis to composite material failure and oil recovery. However, the full potential of CT remains unrealised because crucial features in structure and composition are overlooked by simplistic algorithms. Users cannot directly capture quantities of interest such as key compositional variation or defects, and workflows are poorly adapted for large-scale use in industrial fabrication or phenomics. This project aims to address these shortcomings using advanced mathematics and algorithms.Read moreRead less
Rapid amperometric measurement of chemical oxygen demand in polluted water based on electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of nanoparticulates. The project will enhance a newly developed technology for measuring aggregate organic pollution in wastewater. The conventional wet chemistry method is disadvantaged by being slow (2 hr) and requiring toxic heavy metal (mercury, chromium) and hazardous reagents. Aqua Diagnostic's method, by contrast, is rapid (5-10 minutes) and uses only safe ch ....Rapid amperometric measurement of chemical oxygen demand in polluted water based on electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of nanoparticulates. The project will enhance a newly developed technology for measuring aggregate organic pollution in wastewater. The conventional wet chemistry method is disadvantaged by being slow (2 hr) and requiring toxic heavy metal (mercury, chromium) and hazardous reagents. Aqua Diagnostic's method, by contrast, is rapid (5-10 minutes) and uses only safe chemical reagents. It will be further improved to facilitate unprecedented near-real-time (less than 1 minute) online pollution monitoring and greater analytical robustness. The project will directly benefit the wastewater management community, enrich Australian industry's expertise in nanotechnology applications and grow high-tech exports as this innovative technology continues to penetrate international markets.Read moreRead less