High-speed interior permanent magnet synchronous machines. This project aims to develop a permanent magnet machine for high speed operation (more than 50,000 rpm). A high-speed interior permanent magnet machine will solve some of the complex constructional and sensor-less control issues related to high-speed drive systems. This project will develop permanent magnet machines with simple constructional features, reduced use of costly rare earth materials, inherent sensor-less control capability an ....High-speed interior permanent magnet synchronous machines. This project aims to develop a permanent magnet machine for high speed operation (more than 50,000 rpm). A high-speed interior permanent magnet machine will solve some of the complex constructional and sensor-less control issues related to high-speed drive systems. This project will develop permanent magnet machines with simple constructional features, reduced use of costly rare earth materials, inherent sensor-less control capability and flux-weakening. These machines are expected to be used in many global growth sectors including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, energy generation and storage.Read moreRead less
Understanding nanostructure in lead-containing piezoceramics - the key to improved and environmentally-friendly materials. Lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics form the basis of multi-billion dollar industries, posing an increasingly serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of lead. By obtaining a detailed understanding of how their properties arise from their nanoscale structure and chemistry, our research will lead to improvements in existing materials and aid the quest for environme ....Understanding nanostructure in lead-containing piezoceramics - the key to improved and environmentally-friendly materials. Lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics form the basis of multi-billion dollar industries, posing an increasingly serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of lead. By obtaining a detailed understanding of how their properties arise from their nanoscale structure and chemistry, our research will lead to improvements in existing materials and aid the quest for environmentally-friendly alternatives. We will use a methodology for the elucidation of local structure and dynamics in which we are world leaders. The project will further enhance our standing in the field, provide excellent research training for students and early-career researchers and highlight the power and potential of Australia's new Synchrotron and OPAL research reactor.Read moreRead less
Band gap engineering of novel (In,Ga)SbN epitaxial semiconductors for high-performance long-wavelength optoelectronic devices. This proposal is at the forefront of a number of important fields, and therefore the outcomes are expected to be of great interest to a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including national defence, health care, environment and manufacturing. This novel material system could create new high technologies for various infrared devices. The outcomes of this project will pos ....Band gap engineering of novel (In,Ga)SbN epitaxial semiconductors for high-performance long-wavelength optoelectronic devices. This proposal is at the forefront of a number of important fields, and therefore the outcomes are expected to be of great interest to a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including national defence, health care, environment and manufacturing. This novel material system could create new high technologies for various infrared devices. The outcomes of this project will position Australian researchers among the pioneering groups in this area and will be beneficial to several major technology-related fields: global warming and associated environmental monitoring, security systems, thermal-imaging systems for night vision, and healthcare with the emphasis on disease diagnosis and treatment.Read moreRead less
A high performance and environment-friendly piezoelectric detector platform for biosensor applications. The development of high performance, lead-free, piezoelectric films and their incorporation into devices is rapidly becoming an urgent task as a result of recent legislation banning the use of lead in electronic components. The successful development of piezoelectric biosensors, as proposed in this project, has numerous potential benefits including the prospect of rapid and cheap biosensor dev ....A high performance and environment-friendly piezoelectric detector platform for biosensor applications. The development of high performance, lead-free, piezoelectric films and their incorporation into devices is rapidly becoming an urgent task as a result of recent legislation banning the use of lead in electronic components. The successful development of piezoelectric biosensors, as proposed in this project, has numerous potential benefits including the prospect of rapid and cheap biosensor devices as well as an environment-friendly, sensitive and real time solution for on-site drug, chemical and biological sensing. Successful development of the latter would provide immediate benefit in the areas of national security, food safety as well as in environmental and health monitoring. Read moreRead less
Synthesis of novel phases from Group IV elements under extreme pressure. Materials based on the group IV elements carbon, silicon and germanium are technologically important for a wide range of current applications. When exposed to extreme pressure, these materials can form entirely new phases with novel and potentially useful properties. Since there have been few previous attempts to establish which of the new phases are stable on pressure release and to measure their properties for subsequent ....Synthesis of novel phases from Group IV elements under extreme pressure. Materials based on the group IV elements carbon, silicon and germanium are technologically important for a wide range of current applications. When exposed to extreme pressure, these materials can form entirely new phases with novel and potentially useful properties. Since there have been few previous attempts to establish which of the new phases are stable on pressure release and to measure their properties for subsequent exploitation, this project aims to use novel approaches to address these topics. The expected outcome of this project will be new phases of group IV elements with novel properties that have potential for commercial exploitation.Read moreRead less
Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles. The fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine offers very high power density, efficiency and constant-power speed range which are properties sought after for electric vehicles. Accurate mathematical models are essential for high performance control of the FSCW machine. This project seeks to develop these models, as w ....Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles. The fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine offers very high power density, efficiency and constant-power speed range which are properties sought after for electric vehicles. Accurate mathematical models are essential for high performance control of the FSCW machine. This project seeks to develop these models, as well as sensorless controllers for the FSCW IPM machine.Read moreRead less
General market equilibrium analysis of securitisable assets in the presence of private information, when contracts are incomplete. Three key markets (among others) were involved in the gestation of the worst financial crisis seen since the great depression: the market for mortgages and the market for securities, backed by mortgages and housing market. The focus of this project is to examine financial fragility in such markets, theoretically applying outcomes to Australian policy.
Understanding and optimising the microstructure of Germanium-Arsenic-Selenium glasses for superior device performance. The project will seek to use a combined theoretical and experimental approach to develop 'state of the art' optical glass materials for use in integrated nonlinear optical components. Such materials could be used as optical waveguides in broadband communication systems and offer the possibility of significant improvement in telecommunication performance.
Evolved enzymes and biomimetics for organophosphate degradation. Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are an indispensable part of modern agriculture - their use results in dramatically increased crop yields. However, they are toxic and can damage the environment and cause significant health problems. This project intends to evolve enzymes capable of dealing with problems caused by OPs.
Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing appr ....Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing approaches and the improvements in photosynthesis, growth and yield evaluated. This information will aid complimentary biotechnological efforts seeking to supercharge photosynthesis and help deliver the second Green Revolution needed to meet the improvement required in future agriculture productivity and resource use.Read moreRead less