Design and synthesis of novel lanthanoid complexes for the fabrication of light emitting devices. There is a huge and still growing economy centred around the design and fabrication of low-cost Light Emitting Devices (LEDs), as demonstrated by the excess of US$1.3 billion invested in this field between 2000 and 2007. Nations focused on the production of new and more efficient materials will be at the forefront of these emerging technologies. The major thrust of this proposal, the design and prep ....Design and synthesis of novel lanthanoid complexes for the fabrication of light emitting devices. There is a huge and still growing economy centred around the design and fabrication of low-cost Light Emitting Devices (LEDs), as demonstrated by the excess of US$1.3 billion invested in this field between 2000 and 2007. Nations focused on the production of new and more efficient materials will be at the forefront of these emerging technologies. The major thrust of this proposal, the design and preparation of luminescent rare earths complexes, and their use for the fabrication of LEDS, represent a good opportunity for Australia to access this growing market. Read moreRead less
Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
Using anisotropic thermal expansion in organic semiconductor thin films. This project aims to capitalise upon the recent discovery of negative thermal expansion in high-performance organic semiconductor films. Certain molecules’ chemical structures have a planar conjugated core and flexible sidechains. When highly anisotropic thermal expansion occurs, the sidechains take up most of the thermal expansion. When a negative thermal expansion occurs, the pi-pi stacking distance decreases upon anneali ....Using anisotropic thermal expansion in organic semiconductor thin films. This project aims to capitalise upon the recent discovery of negative thermal expansion in high-performance organic semiconductor films. Certain molecules’ chemical structures have a planar conjugated core and flexible sidechains. When highly anisotropic thermal expansion occurs, the sidechains take up most of the thermal expansion. When a negative thermal expansion occurs, the pi-pi stacking distance decreases upon annealing. This effect has been linked with higher charge mobilities, and a tighter molecular packing is locked in upon cooling. The potential applications of these high performance organic semiconductors includes chemical/biosensors, electronic paper, and radio frequency identification cards.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Production of High Value Pyridines Combining the Concepts of Alternative Reaction Media and Process Intensification. This project aims to develop novel syntheses and process route for substituted pyridines by bringing together expertise in the fields of green chemistry and process intensification. Minimisation of waste, energy efficiency, and improved selectivity and control will be the key process and chemistry targets, which will produce high value compounds. Traditional approach ....Synthesis and Production of High Value Pyridines Combining the Concepts of Alternative Reaction Media and Process Intensification. This project aims to develop novel syntheses and process route for substituted pyridines by bringing together expertise in the fields of green chemistry and process intensification. Minimisation of waste, energy efficiency, and improved selectivity and control will be the key process and chemistry targets, which will produce high value compounds. Traditional approaches use organic solvents and preformed salts which are costly, generate waste and the processes are energy intensive due to poor selectivity, low yield and extensive separation steps. This is a generic investigation which will have wide ranging applications in the pharmaceutical, energy and advanced electronic industries.Read moreRead less
Application of process intensification on rotating surfaces (PIRS) in organic synthesis. Process intensification technologies in the form of SDP and RTP are new to Australia and present many opportunities for carrying out the synthesis of organic compounds. They have remarkable versatility in being able to control chemical reactions with greater selectivity than using classical batch technology, at the same time allowing access to new compounds. Moreover, the technologies embrace the principles ....Application of process intensification on rotating surfaces (PIRS) in organic synthesis. Process intensification technologies in the form of SDP and RTP are new to Australia and present many opportunities for carrying out the synthesis of organic compounds. They have remarkable versatility in being able to control chemical reactions with greater selectivity than using classical batch technology, at the same time allowing access to new compounds. Moreover, the technologies embrace the principles of green chemistry in minimising the generation of waste, while operating under continuous flow which is destined to be more attractive to industry. This is likely in the fine chemicals sector, and in drug discovery. The project will provide first-rate research training and promote Australian science. Read moreRead less
Molecular Electronics: from electron transfer through photosynthesis towards functional nano devices. Molecular Electronics, the use of molecules to perform specific electronic functions, is a new and very rapidly expanded area of nanotechnology. We will elucidate basic principles of electrical conduction through single molecules, understand and mimic natural photosynthetic molecular electronic processes, and establish by synthesis of "molecular wires" and extension of current technology, new m ....Molecular Electronics: from electron transfer through photosynthesis towards functional nano devices. Molecular Electronics, the use of molecules to perform specific electronic functions, is a new and very rapidly expanded area of nanotechnology. We will elucidate basic principles of electrical conduction through single molecules, understand and mimic natural photosynthetic molecular electronic processes, and establish by synthesis of "molecular wires" and extension of current technology, new methods for probing nanoscale electron transfer. We will combine these aspects to develop applications in photovoltaic design and in the design of molecular-level circuitry. Possible long-term applications range from solar energy conversion to molecular recognition and sensing to new types of electronic processing akin to quantum computing.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimise groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Prot ....Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimise groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Protection Agency due to significantly reduced barrier failure and groundwater contaminations. Australian businesses involved in manufacture, design and construction of environmental barrier systems will have access to new materials and improved technology.Read moreRead less
Thallium hydride complexes - synthesis, stabilisation and synthetic utility. Australia has abundant geological deposits of group 13 metals. The hydride chemistries of group 13 elements are critical to modern applications of these elements. There are no hydrides of thallium, the heaviest member of group 13. This project aims to prepare and stabilise thallium hydrides to enable technological applications of thallium.
Nanomaterials: Probing supramolecular self-assembly at the solution/solid interface. Australia's competitiveness in nanotechnology must be underpinned by fundamental innovation and research. In a "bottom-up" approach to nanomaterials, it is important to understand, for the smallest possible machines that can be produced, how singular molecular components interact with one another, both during the assembly of any device and afterwards as it performs its function. For working devices the molecule ....Nanomaterials: Probing supramolecular self-assembly at the solution/solid interface. Australia's competitiveness in nanotechnology must be underpinned by fundamental innovation and research. In a "bottom-up" approach to nanomaterials, it is important to understand, for the smallest possible machines that can be produced, how singular molecular components interact with one another, both during the assembly of any device and afterwards as it performs its function. For working devices the molecules need to be assembled on a solid surface so that they can work in unison. In this project, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Cambridge, we use the new technique of gel-phase NMR spectroscopy to understand the factors involved as molecular components assemble on the surface of polystyrene beads.Read moreRead less
Supramolecular assembly in photovoltaic electrode design: Studies of ordered porphyrin/acceptor complexes on polythiophene electrodes. This research outlines an improved way to develop dye-sensitised photovoltaic solar cells for the conversion of sunlight into electricity, by increasing the molecular order of the cell components using host, guest interrelationships. As such, it addresses a problem of international concern 'How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming?' since s ....Supramolecular assembly in photovoltaic electrode design: Studies of ordered porphyrin/acceptor complexes on polythiophene electrodes. This research outlines an improved way to develop dye-sensitised photovoltaic solar cells for the conversion of sunlight into electricity, by increasing the molecular order of the cell components using host, guest interrelationships. As such, it addresses a problem of international concern 'How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming?' since solar cells do not produce carbon dioxide. To achieve our goals we draw on the skills of a team of experts from Australia (synthetic organic chemists), New Zealand (polymer and surface chemists) and Italy (photochemist and photophysicist). Such research is very appropriate for regional Australia, especially Central Queensland.Read moreRead less