Elastic and biodegradable sponges/aerogels from exfoliated silk nanofibres . The aim of this project is to investigate methods to produce highly porous elastic sponges from silk protein nanofibres. These sponges will have optimal mechanical, insulation and degradation properties making them suitable for a wide range of applications including the biomedical and personal care sectors, where current products have significant drawbacks due to the use of non-biodegradable synthetic materials. Outco ....Elastic and biodegradable sponges/aerogels from exfoliated silk nanofibres . The aim of this project is to investigate methods to produce highly porous elastic sponges from silk protein nanofibres. These sponges will have optimal mechanical, insulation and degradation properties making them suitable for a wide range of applications including the biomedical and personal care sectors, where current products have significant drawbacks due to the use of non-biodegradable synthetic materials. Outcomes include new knowledge on controlling porous structures and tailoring properties to targeted applications. This project, by laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials, will benefit the Australian advanced manufacturing sector, and enhance Australia's standing in materials science and engineering.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101452
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Silk-based conformal pressure sensing devices. This project aims to develop silk biomaterials-based biocompatible and conformal pressure sensing devices and systems for sustainable wearable electronics. Biocompatible conformal sensing interfaces and sensor arrays will be developed for real-time highly sensitive measurement of pressure, critical for accurate and comprehensive health monitoring and electronic skins. It is believed that the wearable products will provide comfort, utility and accura ....Silk-based conformal pressure sensing devices. This project aims to develop silk biomaterials-based biocompatible and conformal pressure sensing devices and systems for sustainable wearable electronics. Biocompatible conformal sensing interfaces and sensor arrays will be developed for real-time highly sensitive measurement of pressure, critical for accurate and comprehensive health monitoring and electronic skins. It is believed that the wearable products will provide comfort, utility and accurate physical information to end users, and improve the performance of personnel working in demanding environments, such as in defence forces, athletics and outfield industrial operations, by continuously monitoring physiological parameters.Read moreRead less
Understanding the composite structures and properties of wild silk cocoons. This project will reveal the secret of wild silk cocoon structures, which are very thin and light in weight, yet they can protect wild silkworms in very harsh environments. This new knowledge will lead to the development of nature inspired materials and structures for personal protection.
Subband centroids and deep neural networks for robust speech recognition. This project aims to improve the robustness and accuracy of automatic speech and speaker recognition systems. Though these systems work reasonably well in noise-free environments, their performance deteriorates drastically even in the presence of a small amount of noise. To overcome this problem, this project proposes a missing-feature approach for robust speech and speaker recognition. This approach is expected to make th ....Subband centroids and deep neural networks for robust speech recognition. This project aims to improve the robustness and accuracy of automatic speech and speaker recognition systems. Though these systems work reasonably well in noise-free environments, their performance deteriorates drastically even in the presence of a small amount of noise. To overcome this problem, this project proposes a missing-feature approach for robust speech and speaker recognition. This approach is expected to make the speech and speaker recognition systems less sensitive to additive background noise and make them more useful in telecommunications and business.Read moreRead less
Making hydrogen storage work for the new hydrogen economy. This project aims to develop an innovative Liquid Organic Hydrogen Storage technology and prove its energy industry potential. This project expects to expand and validate the performance, safety and scale-up potential of this new technology in an industrial context to promote the development of the hydrogen economy. Expected outcomes include providing practical, efficient, large-scale storage technology for use in intermittent renewable ....Making hydrogen storage work for the new hydrogen economy. This project aims to develop an innovative Liquid Organic Hydrogen Storage technology and prove its energy industry potential. This project expects to expand and validate the performance, safety and scale-up potential of this new technology in an industrial context to promote the development of the hydrogen economy. Expected outcomes include providing practical, efficient, large-scale storage technology for use in intermittent renewable energy storage and hydrogen vehicle refuelling, and addressing legal/regulatory implementation issues. This should provide significant benefits in cultivating the emerging hydrogen energy industry, strengthening industrial competitiveness, enhancing Australia’s fuel security and protecting the environment.Read moreRead less
Drawing out spider silk photonics and technology. We discovered certain spider webs are an optical device of amazing sophistication – the result of 136 million years of evolution. New photonic and electron microscopy techniques will measure the unique optical and materials properties of the webs, and the resulting knowledge will have high impact for advanced, self- assembled, photonic materials.
Short silk nanofibre based 3D scaffolds with enhanced biomimicry. This project aims to understand the behaviour of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in novel 3D scaffolds based on short silk nanofibres. This will lead to highly functional 3D scaffolding materials that support efficient HSC renewal in vitro. This project aims to overcome the key problem with existing in vitro systems, which lack the morphological and biochemical complexities of native HSC-niche. Since haematopoietic stem cells are ....Short silk nanofibre based 3D scaffolds with enhanced biomimicry. This project aims to understand the behaviour of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in novel 3D scaffolds based on short silk nanofibres. This will lead to highly functional 3D scaffolding materials that support efficient HSC renewal in vitro. This project aims to overcome the key problem with existing in vitro systems, which lack the morphological and biochemical complexities of native HSC-niche. Since haematopoietic stem cells are the precursors to all blood cells, this project has the potential of engineering a high yield artificial ‘blood factory’, which will help save the lives of many thousands of people who rely on bone marrow transplants to treat life-threatening illness such as leukaemia.Read moreRead less
Superhydrophobic fabrics for solar desalination of water. This project will further strengthen Australia's world leading position in water desalination technology and advanced fibrous materials research. It will lead to new membrane materials and techniques for high-efficiency, low-cost and energy-saving desalination of sea/saline water, which will have significant social and economic benefits.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100512
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,075.00
Summary
Wireless Power Transfer for Battery-Free Internet-of-Things Ecosystems. This project aims to develop the pioneering antenna technologies for far-field wireless power transfer (WPT) applications. New scientific and advanced engineering methodologies will be created to address the related fundamental technical challenges. Expected outcomes include the advanced multi-functional antenna arrays that will broadcast electromagnetic energy to remote IoT elements and the ultra-compact, highly efficient r ....Wireless Power Transfer for Battery-Free Internet-of-Things Ecosystems. This project aims to develop the pioneering antenna technologies for far-field wireless power transfer (WPT) applications. New scientific and advanced engineering methodologies will be created to address the related fundamental technical challenges. Expected outcomes include the advanced multi-functional antenna arrays that will broadcast electromagnetic energy to remote IoT elements and the ultra-compact, highly efficient rectennas that will convert it to empower the sensor and communications functions seamlessly integrated into them. The intended first zero-waste battery-free wirelessly powered IoT ecosystems will support the realisation of the Australian Government’s goal to pursue sustainable and environmental-friendly economic growth.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel, physical adjuvant for improving immune responses of vaccines. This project will explore a new way to significantly improve vaccine immune responses: with practical devices that apply pressure on the skin - for the body to create its own, localised adjuvant. This is novel - completely different to today's adjuvants, which are chemicals put into our bodies.