Deciphering the tectonic history of the Musgrave Block to assist mineral explorers and regional synthesis programs. Effective mineral exploration strategies in complex basement terrains are increasingly reliant on integrated, data-rich, tectonic models. In this project we will focus a large multidisciplinary team to develop a tectonic model for the evolution of the Musgrave Block in central Australia. This large, poorly understood terrain occupies a critical structural location, separating the ....Deciphering the tectonic history of the Musgrave Block to assist mineral explorers and regional synthesis programs. Effective mineral exploration strategies in complex basement terrains are increasingly reliant on integrated, data-rich, tectonic models. In this project we will focus a large multidisciplinary team to develop a tectonic model for the evolution of the Musgrave Block in central Australia. This large, poorly understood terrain occupies a critical structural location, separating the northern and southern Australian cratons. By constraining models of crustal evolution and architecture, the project will underpin future mineral exploration programs in this highly prospective greenfields region and define the role of the Musgrave Block in the assembly of Proterozoic Australia.Read moreRead less
Developing a Tectonic Framework for the Gawler Craton: Paving the Way for Successful Mineral Exploration Programs. The late Archaean to Mesoproterozoic Gawler Craton is the major Precambrian province in southern Australia. However, despite containing one of the largest orebodies on Earth, exploration expenditure in the craton has been comparatively low, and hampered by insufficient knowledge of the craton's tectonic systems. This project uses an integrated package of geochemical, isotopic and ....Developing a Tectonic Framework for the Gawler Craton: Paving the Way for Successful Mineral Exploration Programs. The late Archaean to Mesoproterozoic Gawler Craton is the major Precambrian province in southern Australia. However, despite containing one of the largest orebodies on Earth, exploration expenditure in the craton has been comparatively low, and hampered by insufficient knowledge of the craton's tectonic systems. This project uses an integrated package of geochemical, isotopic and geophysical tools to develop a comprehensive model for the tectonic evolution of the Gawler Craton. The project will constrain the development of the Gawler Craton in the context of Precambrian Australian evolution, and offer insights into universal processes of lithosphere formation, growth and stabilisation.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and th ....Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment will allow advances in processing and consequently improved final products. The potential growth in market share, by improved product performance, is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
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
Cooperativity in Spin Crossover Systems: Memory, Magnetism and Microporosity. Spin-crossover centres are a well known form of inorganic electronic switch for which variation of temperature, pressure and irradiation leads to a change in d-electron configuration and therefore changes to structure, colour and magnetism. Here we aim to synthesise and study a wide variety of new spin-crossover systems where cooperativitiy between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecul ....Cooperativity in Spin Crossover Systems: Memory, Magnetism and Microporosity. Spin-crossover centres are a well known form of inorganic electronic switch for which variation of temperature, pressure and irradiation leads to a change in d-electron configuration and therefore changes to structure, colour and magnetism. Here we aim to synthesise and study a wide variety of new spin-crossover systems where cooperativitiy between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecules and materials having memory retention, magnetic ordering and/or microporosity. The significance of these aims covers several fundamental questions in the science of electronic systems. We also identify a number of potential nanochemical switching applications for the unique systems proposed.Read moreRead less
Cooperativity in Spin-Crossover Systems: Memory, Magnetism and Microporosity. Spin-crossover centres are a well known form of inorganic electronic switch for which variation of temperature, pressure and irradiation leads to a change in d-electron configuration and therefore changes to structure, colour and magnetism. Here we aim to synthesise and study a wide variety of new spin-crossover systems where cooperativity between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecule ....Cooperativity in Spin-Crossover Systems: Memory, Magnetism and Microporosity. Spin-crossover centres are a well known form of inorganic electronic switch for which variation of temperature, pressure and irradiation leads to a change in d-electron configuration and therefore changes to structure, colour and magnetism. Here we aim to synthesise and study a wide variety of new spin-crossover systems where cooperativity between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecules and materials having memory retention, magnetic ordering and/or microporosity. The significance of these aims covers several fundamental questions in the science of electronic systems. We also identify a number of potential nanochemical switching applications for the unique systems proposed.Read moreRead less
Bulky Guanidinates for the Stabilisation of Reactive Low Oxidation State Metal Complexes. The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research programme will be explored. In addition to the academic community, these technologies will benefit hi-tech industries including pharmaceutical and fine chemicals concerns ....Bulky Guanidinates for the Stabilisation of Reactive Low Oxidation State Metal Complexes. The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research programme will be explored. In addition to the academic community, these technologies will benefit hi-tech industries including pharmaceutical and fine chemicals concerns which will gain from the application of the proposed compounds to chemical synthetic methodologies. Moreover, bio-inorganic chemists will have access to new classes of chemical compounds that could mimic the action of enzymes in nature.Read moreRead less
Marine oil seeps and airborne particulates characterisation for organic compositional fingerprinting by using novel gas chromatographic technologies. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a powerful new tool for studying complex organic materials. The technique provides a highly sensitive method of fingerprinting not only the composition of the material but also its environmental history and behaviour. In this project the technique will be applied to a range of petroleum- ....Marine oil seeps and airborne particulates characterisation for organic compositional fingerprinting by using novel gas chromatographic technologies. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a powerful new tool for studying complex organic materials. The technique provides a highly sensitive method of fingerprinting not only the composition of the material but also its environmental history and behaviour. In this project the technique will be applied to a range of petroleum-related organic samples, including oil seeps from the ocean floor, and airborne particulates contributing to air pollution. The research will lead to a better understanding of geochemistry of petroleum-related materials and their potential impact on the environment and on public health.Read moreRead less
Nanomagnetic Molecular Materials. This research project involves the preparation of new molecular magnets using metals such as manganese and vanadium and a study of their physical properties. Metal compounds of the cluster type are significant since they are nanoscale in size and offer new quantum features, with an improved understanding of the magnetic properties as a primary outcome and long term possible use in future quantum computers. This fundamental study provides excellent training to p ....Nanomagnetic Molecular Materials. This research project involves the preparation of new molecular magnets using metals such as manganese and vanadium and a study of their physical properties. Metal compounds of the cluster type are significant since they are nanoscale in size and offer new quantum features, with an improved understanding of the magnetic properties as a primary outcome and long term possible use in future quantum computers. This fundamental study provides excellent training to post-graduate students and makes them ideally suited to take jobs in advanced materials, an area being emphasised in Australia's nanotechnological future.Read moreRead less
Nanomagnetic Materials from Molecular Clusters and Coordination Polymers. Magnetic materials are important through their use in recording tapes and other electronic devices. Traditional magnetic materials are metals, alloys or metal oxides made by high temperature methods. Our aims are to synthesize new chemical and molecule based solid materials which possess the properties of traditional magnets but which are made by careful chemical design at ambient temperatures. We will make materials which ....Nanomagnetic Materials from Molecular Clusters and Coordination Polymers. Magnetic materials are important through their use in recording tapes and other electronic devices. Traditional magnetic materials are metals, alloys or metal oxides made by high temperature methods. Our aims are to synthesize new chemical and molecule based solid materials which possess the properties of traditional magnets but which are made by careful chemical design at ambient temperatures. We will make materials which have three-dimensional network structures or large clusters of ions such as manganese bridged by organic molecules. Their magnetic properties will be studied in detail. The cluster compounds are significant since they are nanoscale in size and offer new features, with long term possible use in future quantum computers.Read moreRead less