Intervalence Transfer in Dinuclear and Oligonuclear Polymetallic Assemblies. Mixed-valence compounds (such as the pigment Prussian Blue) have been known for over two centuries, and possess important conductivity, magnetic and spectral properties. Electron transfer between the elements of different valency (intervalence charge transfer, IVCT) gives rise to absorbances in the red or near-infrared region of the spectrum which provide fundamental information on the electron migration. By design of ....Intervalence Transfer in Dinuclear and Oligonuclear Polymetallic Assemblies. Mixed-valence compounds (such as the pigment Prussian Blue) have been known for over two centuries, and possess important conductivity, magnetic and spectral properties. Electron transfer between the elements of different valency (intervalence charge transfer, IVCT) gives rise to absorbances in the red or near-infrared region of the spectrum which provide fundamental information on the electron migration. By design of target di- and higher nuclearity polymetallic species, the project will study IVCT phenomena to understand electron movement, allowing rational development of applicable materials such as catalysts, light-activated devices and non-linear optical materials.Read moreRead less
Pro-Fluorescent Aryl Nitroxides: New Probes for Polymer Lifetime and Kinetics Research. Internal aryl rings present in novel probes developed for this project impart fluorescence which is efficiently and internally quenched by the presence of a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Scavenging of radicals by the nitroxide however "switches on" the fluorescence and this enables powerful new fluorescence-based detection levels for the technique of nitroxide free radical scavenging. Such sensitivity is a ....Pro-Fluorescent Aryl Nitroxides: New Probes for Polymer Lifetime and Kinetics Research. Internal aryl rings present in novel probes developed for this project impart fluorescence which is efficiently and internally quenched by the presence of a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Scavenging of radicals by the nitroxide however "switches on" the fluorescence and this enables powerful new fluorescence-based detection levels for the technique of nitroxide free radical scavenging. Such sensitivity is applicable to polymerization kinetics studies, as well as providing new means for the determination of materials lifetimes. The development of pro-fluorescent markers as indicators for polymer degradation would be a significant outcome for materials where component failure has a major negative impact.Read moreRead less
Molecular archaeology: new knowledge from molecular weight distributions of synthetic and natural polymers. This project will lead to new understanding of how natural and synthetic polymers are formed. Examples are the enzymatic processes that produce the subtle architecture of rice grains, and the processes that pose problems for developing new techniques for making novel polymer-based materials. The fundamental scientific knowledge from this project will provide a platform for the future devel ....Molecular archaeology: new knowledge from molecular weight distributions of synthetic and natural polymers. This project will lead to new understanding of how natural and synthetic polymers are formed. Examples are the enzymatic processes that produce the subtle architecture of rice grains, and the processes that pose problems for developing new techniques for making novel polymer-based materials. The fundamental scientific knowledge from this project will provide a platform for the future development of improved materials, and for superior grain varieties for food and industrial use. These advances will be of significant benefit to Australian industry and consumers.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of nanocomposite polymers with targeted properties. This project aims to synthesise novel nanocomposite polymers by living radical polymerisation in water and to understand the way polymer microstructure and nanomorphology control material properties. This will provide the enabling science so that nanomaterials with targeted properties can be tailor-made for biomedical and speciality-coatings applications, and thus dispense with the current trial-and-error methodology. The innovations ....Synthesis of nanocomposite polymers with targeted properties. This project aims to synthesise novel nanocomposite polymers by living radical polymerisation in water and to understand the way polymer microstructure and nanomorphology control material properties. This will provide the enabling science so that nanomaterials with targeted properties can be tailor-made for biomedical and speciality-coatings applications, and thus dispense with the current trial-and-error methodology. The innovations in this project are the novel synthesis of complex polymer architectures in water, and the first quantitative and qualitative structure-property correlations for such materials. This will also result in a deepened understanding of the mechanisms governing the formation of these nanocomposites.Read moreRead less
Designer Nanoreactors: An Environmentally Friendly Solution for Polymer Synthesis. The advanced materials made from the designer nanoreactors developed in this project will be high value-added products made from cheap materials with much greater design capacity for a wide range of applications. The knowledge gained from this project will have potential applications in many areas where polymer materials are used, including high strength coatings, conducting coatings for the electronic industry, ....Designer Nanoreactors: An Environmentally Friendly Solution for Polymer Synthesis. The advanced materials made from the designer nanoreactors developed in this project will be high value-added products made from cheap materials with much greater design capacity for a wide range of applications. The knowledge gained from this project will have potential applications in many areas where polymer materials are used, including high strength coatings, conducting coatings for the electronic industry, degradable drug and vaccine nanodelivery devices, tissue scaffolds, and gene delivery. These polymers will provide Australian Industry with advanced features and capabilities, significantly improving product performance.Read moreRead less
Engineered Polymer Nanoparticles: A Potent Weapon Against Cancer. Cervical cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in women under the age of 50 worldwide, the 8th most common cancer among women in Australia, and is the leading cause of cancer death in Aboriginal women. While a vaccine is available to prevent HPV-mediated disease, it would not impact upon death rates for at least 25 years. The systemic delivery of RNAi offers to best opportunity to solve this problem. The delivery devices w ....Engineered Polymer Nanoparticles: A Potent Weapon Against Cancer. Cervical cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in women under the age of 50 worldwide, the 8th most common cancer among women in Australia, and is the leading cause of cancer death in Aboriginal women. While a vaccine is available to prevent HPV-mediated disease, it would not impact upon death rates for at least 25 years. The systemic delivery of RNAi offers to best opportunity to solve this problem. The delivery devices will be designed with precision and function to meet the delivery needs in vivo. These polymer structures will be suitable for use in drug and gene delivery providing Australian products with advanced features and capabilities, significantly improving product performance.Read moreRead less
Promoting transition metal complex catalysis with plasmonic antennae. This project aims to apply visible light photocatalysis to a wide range of chemical reactions by utilizing the intriguing effects of intense light absorption by plasmonic metal nanoparticles, such as generating energetic electrons, changing reactant adsorption and the chemical binding of reactant with the catalyst. These effects will promote catalysis at surface-bound metal complex reaction sites under mild reaction conditions ....Promoting transition metal complex catalysis with plasmonic antennae. This project aims to apply visible light photocatalysis to a wide range of chemical reactions by utilizing the intriguing effects of intense light absorption by plasmonic metal nanoparticles, such as generating energetic electrons, changing reactant adsorption and the chemical binding of reactant with the catalyst. These effects will promote catalysis at surface-bound metal complex reaction sites under mild reaction conditions. This is a part of our long-term effort to transform chemical production by heating into green photocatalytic process. This project expects to generate knowledge crucial for developing theories for catalysis, the design of efficient catalysts, green chemical synthesis methods, and enhance international collaboration.Read moreRead less
Optimising catalyst performance by tuning adsorption with light. This project aims to utilize visible light to control reactant adsorption on catalyst surfaces for accelerating reactions and tuning product selectivity. Visible light irradiation of plasmonic metal nanoparticles can generate a force that attracts reactant to the nanoparticles in a catalyst, and causes desorption of other reactant-types from the particles. These compound-selective effects can alter the concentrations of reactants a ....Optimising catalyst performance by tuning adsorption with light. This project aims to utilize visible light to control reactant adsorption on catalyst surfaces for accelerating reactions and tuning product selectivity. Visible light irradiation of plasmonic metal nanoparticles can generate a force that attracts reactant to the nanoparticles in a catalyst, and causes desorption of other reactant-types from the particles. These compound-selective effects can alter the concentrations of reactants at the catalyst surface, a new paradigm for optimising catalytic performance. This project expects to open new capabilities within fields of catalysis and light-matter interaction. The anticipated outcomes include significant advancement of knowledge in catalysis and new approaches for important chemical synthesis.Read moreRead less
Next generation polymer nanostructures. The project will significantly advance the knowledge base of polymer science and related fields through the preparation of previously unavailable novel and well-defined nanostructures. These structures will be suitable for use in drug and gene delivery and high strength coatings providing Australian products with advanced features and capabilities, significantly improving product performance. A direct application of this project will be to develop the stru ....Next generation polymer nanostructures. The project will significantly advance the knowledge base of polymer science and related fields through the preparation of previously unavailable novel and well-defined nanostructures. These structures will be suitable for use in drug and gene delivery and high strength coatings providing Australian products with advanced features and capabilities, significantly improving product performance. A direct application of this project will be to develop the structures for use within a synthetic GAS vaccine. The knowledge obtained through this application will advance the development of synthetic vaccines by providing an understanding of how these structures function in the body. Read moreRead less
Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide d ....Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide directly from seawater. The electrolyser can also be used to treat desalination brine while produce hydrogen and chemicals. The success of the project will set a firm technological foundation for seawater utilisation, which will add to Australian capability to meet future energy and environment challenges.Read moreRead less