Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Integrated Vibrational Spectroscopic Mapping for Archeological, Biological, Geological, Materials, and Medical Research. The expected benefits that will arise will include: green chemical processes with improved environmental and economic impacts; improved treatments and diagnoses of diseases; understanding of fundamental geological processes; identification of the earliest forms; studies of archaeological artefacts; evolution of life on Earth; the design of improved dental materials. Ultimatel ....Integrated Vibrational Spectroscopic Mapping for Archeological, Biological, Geological, Materials, and Medical Research. The expected benefits that will arise will include: green chemical processes with improved environmental and economic impacts; improved treatments and diagnoses of diseases; understanding of fundamental geological processes; identification of the earliest forms; studies of archaeological artefacts; evolution of life on Earth; the design of improved dental materials. Ultimately, this research will include economic and social benefits in; industrial processes; the mining industry; medicine; and dentistry. An understanding of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth also has many social implications.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular chemical survival strategies of terrestrial extremophiles and the spectroscopic search for life on Mars. This project is aimed to place Australian research at the forefront of developments in the search for extraterrestrial life, the evolution of life on earth, and the design of new probes for the identification of microorganisms. The research will link key centres in Australia and the UK with international space agencies (NASA and the European Space Agency) in the search for cutti ....Biomolecular chemical survival strategies of terrestrial extremophiles and the spectroscopic search for life on Mars. This project is aimed to place Australian research at the forefront of developments in the search for extraterrestrial life, the evolution of life on earth, and the design of new probes for the identification of microorganisms. The research will link key centres in Australia and the UK with international space agencies (NASA and the European Space Agency) in the search for cutting edge techniques to be used in the search for extraterrestrial life forms and their links to paleo and extremophile life forms on Earth. Read moreRead less
Resolving Critical Knowledge Gaps Relating to Light and Free-Radical Mediated Transformations of Iron and Copper in Oxic Natural Waters. Understanding the transformation kinetics of iron and copper species is critical to maintaining Australia's water resources since i) iron transformations are key to generation and transport of acid in Australia's coastal environment; ii) growth of toxic algae are stimulated by dissolution of iron-rich sediments with subsequent release of nutrients phosphorus an ....Resolving Critical Knowledge Gaps Relating to Light and Free-Radical Mediated Transformations of Iron and Copper in Oxic Natural Waters. Understanding the transformation kinetics of iron and copper species is critical to maintaining Australia's water resources since i) iron transformations are key to generation and transport of acid in Australia's coastal environment; ii) growth of toxic algae are stimulated by dissolution of iron-rich sediments with subsequent release of nutrients phosphorus and iron, and iii) algal toxicity is related to iron and copper nutrition and interplay of these metals with oxygen. Additionally, global cycles of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen are influenced by iron and copper interactions with light and oxygen. Improved understanding of these processes should lead to an awareness of how to prevent these problems and, if they occur, approaches to their mitigation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668100
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
High Resolution Simultaneous DSC/DTA-TGA-FTIR System. National Research Priorities including 'New Materials' 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' and 'Developing Deep Earth Resources' will all be addressed and the benefits will include new materials such as carbon nanotubes and layered silicate composites. It will also contribute economically through technological development, supporting existing Australian companies in the development of more effective pro ....High Resolution Simultaneous DSC/DTA-TGA-FTIR System. National Research Priorities including 'New Materials' 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' and 'Developing Deep Earth Resources' will all be addressed and the benefits will include new materials such as carbon nanotubes and layered silicate composites. It will also contribute economically through technological development, supporting existing Australian companies in the development of more effective products and help keep pace with new and innovative advances in technology and to bring in vitality to strategic alliances with industry already launched by the University through a Sustainable Regions Program grant titled 'Building nanotechnology business potential in the Campbelltown-Camden region'.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100064
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
A facility for sensitive and precise isotopic dating of the earth's and extraterrestrial rocks. SPIDE2R will be a new generation mass spectrometer for very precise and sensitive dating and forensics applications in earth and planetary sciences, hydrology, climate studies, and nuclear and archaeological fingerprinting. The unprecedented sensitivity of this unique instrument will provide enhanced capabilities for solving long-standing problems requiring precise geological time resolution, as well ....A facility for sensitive and precise isotopic dating of the earth's and extraterrestrial rocks. SPIDE2R will be a new generation mass spectrometer for very precise and sensitive dating and forensics applications in earth and planetary sciences, hydrology, climate studies, and nuclear and archaeological fingerprinting. The unprecedented sensitivity of this unique instrument will provide enhanced capabilities for solving long-standing problems requiring precise geological time resolution, as well as opening new areas of research. It will be the instrument of choice for analysing small, rare samples such as those returned by space missions. The Australian-built high sensitivity source and ion detection systems can be retrofitted onto other mass spectrometers, opening a new area of commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Tectonic versus biological processes: What controls the long-term global carbon cycle? A major debate in Earth system analysis concerns two competing hypotheses on the driving forces behind dramatic changes in atmospheric CO2 over geological time. One hypothesis considers tectonic/geological processes to be the major driving force. The other argues that it is the competition between plants and animals that drives the long-term CO2 cycle. We propose to test these hypotheses using a novel set of g ....Tectonic versus biological processes: What controls the long-term global carbon cycle? A major debate in Earth system analysis concerns two competing hypotheses on the driving forces behind dramatic changes in atmospheric CO2 over geological time. One hypothesis considers tectonic/geological processes to be the major driving force. The other argues that it is the competition between plants and animals that drives the long-term CO2 cycle. We propose to test these hypotheses using a novel set of global oceanic palaeo-age grids and subduction models for the last 180 million years. This will allow us to appraise key tectonic carbon cycle components such as mantle degassing, seafloor weathering and sediment subduction.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346515
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence Detector for the Australian National Beamline Facility. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an extremely important synchrotron radiation tool for determining the local structure around an X-ray absorbing atom. This has many applications in the study of materials, minerals, metal complexes, and metalloproteins and can often be used to obtain information that is not available by other techniques, because structural information can be obtained in the solid or solution state and in ....Fluorescence Detector for the Australian National Beamline Facility. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an extremely important synchrotron radiation tool for determining the local structure around an X-ray absorbing atom. This has many applications in the study of materials, minerals, metal complexes, and metalloproteins and can often be used to obtain information that is not available by other techniques, because structural information can be obtained in the solid or solution state and in mixtures. The current proposal is aimed at introducing new technology into the Australian National Beamline Facility that will greatly improve the quality and quantity of experiments that can be performed and extend studies into dilute solutions and protein samples.Read moreRead less
UNDERSTANDING PHASE TRANSITIONS THROUGH PRECISE STRUCTURAL STUDIES. This project will examine the fundamental nature of the structural phase transitions that are critical for the utilisation of numerous advanced materials. Researchers at Sydney University and the Australian National University in collaboration with staff at ANSTO are world leaders in the structural analysis of such materials. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies of a number of such materials this project w ....UNDERSTANDING PHASE TRANSITIONS THROUGH PRECISE STRUCTURAL STUDIES. This project will examine the fundamental nature of the structural phase transitions that are critical for the utilisation of numerous advanced materials. Researchers at Sydney University and the Australian National University in collaboration with staff at ANSTO are world leaders in the structural analysis of such materials. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346733
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,466.00
Summary
Ultra-Sensitive CCD Diffractometer with High Intensity X-ray Photon Generator. X-ray photon diffraction from single crystals provides the most accurate, precise and detailed three dimensional chemical structure information. It is however often difficult to obtain crystals of complex chemical assemblies, such as those used in nanotechnology and photon technology, suitable for diffraction analysis using equipment currently available at Australian chemical crystal structure facilities. The collab ....Ultra-Sensitive CCD Diffractometer with High Intensity X-ray Photon Generator. X-ray photon diffraction from single crystals provides the most accurate, precise and detailed three dimensional chemical structure information. It is however often difficult to obtain crystals of complex chemical assemblies, such as those used in nanotechnology and photon technology, suitable for diffraction analysis using equipment currently available at Australian chemical crystal structure facilities. The collaborating institutions seek to overcome this problem by purchasing a high sensitivity CCD area detector coupled to an intense laboratory source of X-ray photons. The installation of the equipment would be the first of its kind at an Australian facility and only the fourth worldwide.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354591
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
New Techniques using X-rays, Electrons and Quantum Optics in Physics & Chemistry and key developments for biomedicine & industry. This network will develop theoretical, experimental and computational techniques addressing key issues in physics, chemistry, biology and geosciences. Scope will be wide-ranging and inclusive. We anticipate making major developments in the design and understanding of absolute X-ray Absorption Fine Structure, X-ray, Neutron and Electron Diffraction, Electron Density Ma ....New Techniques using X-rays, Electrons and Quantum Optics in Physics & Chemistry and key developments for biomedicine & industry. This network will develop theoretical, experimental and computational techniques addressing key issues in physics, chemistry, biology and geosciences. Scope will be wide-ranging and inclusive. We anticipate making major developments in the design and understanding of absolute X-ray Absorption Fine Structure, X-ray, Neutron and Electron Diffraction, Electron Density Mapping, Molecular and Cluster computations and Powder Diffraction for fundamental research, biomedical and industrial applications. These breakthroughs will be invaluable for the development of Australia's major research infrastructure (the synchrotron, electron microscopes, and the research reactor). This will develop Australian expertise and collaboration at the cutting edge of a variety of interdisciplinary fields.Read moreRead less