Investigation of novel magneto-optic materials exhibiting high Faraday figure of merit. Magneto-optical materials have a wide range of potential applications in consumer products, telecommunications and defence. Nanotechnologies based on these materials offer an even broader range of emerging applications. Understanding and participating in the development of magneto-optic technologies will therefore be critical to maintaining Australia's knowledge base and expertise in future technological adv ....Investigation of novel magneto-optic materials exhibiting high Faraday figure of merit. Magneto-optical materials have a wide range of potential applications in consumer products, telecommunications and defence. Nanotechnologies based on these materials offer an even broader range of emerging applications. Understanding and participating in the development of magneto-optic technologies will therefore be critical to maintaining Australia's knowledge base and expertise in future technological advances. Given the early stages of development of these technologies, Australia's expertise in material science and the patent rights held by Australian companies in this area, Australia has the opportunity to make major contributions to this field, and the potential to capitalise on the application of these technologies in niche markets.Read moreRead less
Deciphering interactions of conducting polymers in agricultural soils. The project aims to improve agricultural efficiency, productivity and yield by advancing the understanding of polymer materials interacting with fertiliser. This project will test the key assumptions behind a new sensor for real-time in-ground monitoring of fertiliser. The expected outcome from this is the rapid synthesis of conducting polymers for stable sensing of fertiliser in a range of soil types and conditions. This sho ....Deciphering interactions of conducting polymers in agricultural soils. The project aims to improve agricultural efficiency, productivity and yield by advancing the understanding of polymer materials interacting with fertiliser. This project will test the key assumptions behind a new sensor for real-time in-ground monitoring of fertiliser. The expected outcome from this is the rapid synthesis of conducting polymers for stable sensing of fertiliser in a range of soil types and conditions. This should provide the pathway to a world first real-time in-ground fertiliser sensor, providing benefit for the sensor manufacturers, farmers, consumers and the environment.Read moreRead less
Development of a hydroxyapatite-containing ceramic composite core dental implant system with effective variable elastic properties. The proposed dental implant system with a bio-active 'effective ligament' and thus variable elastic properties is closer to the natural tooth structure than the current high modulus metal and ceramic implants. The new implant system provides clinical longevity by promoting hard tissue growth and by reducing the stress concentration.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101795
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating ....Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating the mechanisms of exceptionally large elastic strains achieved in nanowires embedded in a phase-transforming metallic matrix (i.e. NiTi). An understanding of this high performance nanocomposite design has broad application in medicine and engineering.Read moreRead less
Oxide-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most efficient energy conversion technologies for producing electricity from fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. Current PEMFCs use precious metal catalysts, and the performance of liquid methanol fuel is disappointingly low due to the inability of polymer or hybrid membranes to operate at temperatures above 160-180 degrees centigrade. This work aims to develop an all ox ....Oxide-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most efficient energy conversion technologies for producing electricity from fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. Current PEMFCs use precious metal catalysts, and the performance of liquid methanol fuel is disappointingly low due to the inability of polymer or hybrid membranes to operate at temperatures above 160-180 degrees centigrade. This work aims to develop an all oxide-based PEMFC technology using a recently developed sintered and heteropolyacid functionalised mesoporous silica membrane. The utilisation of all-oxide-PEMFCs using non-precious metal catalysts is expected to significantly enhance the power density, reduce costs, and enhance the commercial viability of PEMFC technologies.Read moreRead less
Porous beta-titanium bone implants optimised for strength and bio-compatibility: design and fabrication. The project aims to develop the scaffold-design and manufacturing techniques that will underpin the next generation of bone implants. The scaffolds will be specifically designed to match the key biomechanical properties of bone, and fabricated from novel titanium alloys using the latest generation of advanced manufacturing technologies.
Defect generation in hetero-epitaxy on lattice mismatched substrates. High quality lattice mismatched semiconductor heterostructures are core enabling technologies for next generation electronic and optoelectronic devices with new functions and features such as monolithic integration, lower production costs, larger wafer size, and better system robustness. This project will generate new science on defect generation in lattice mismatched hetero-epitaxy with the aim of developing novel strategies ....Defect generation in hetero-epitaxy on lattice mismatched substrates. High quality lattice mismatched semiconductor heterostructures are core enabling technologies for next generation electronic and optoelectronic devices with new functions and features such as monolithic integration, lower production costs, larger wafer size, and better system robustness. This project will generate new science on defect generation in lattice mismatched hetero-epitaxy with the aim of developing novel strategies for their minimisation. The direct outcome will be higher quality HgCdTe materials on lattice mismatched Si or III-V substrates with defect density low enough for fabricating high performance mid-wave and long-wave infrared arrays with features of lower cost, larger array format size, and higher operating temperature.Read moreRead less
New mesoporous materials for use in high temperature proton exchange fuel cell membranes. A novel high temperature proton exchange membrane based on heteropolyacid (HPA) functionalised mesoporous silica will be developed. This research into the fundamental materials science of novel proton exchange membranes is expected to impact significantly on the advancement and commercialisation of portable fuel cell devices.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100094
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Selective laser melting - an advanced manufacturing and physical modelling technology for the digital age. Selective laser melting is a new manufacturing technology that creates parts layer by layer directly from a computer model, eliminating the need for tooling or machining. This technology will be applied to a diverse range of research areas from producing the next generation of medical implants and devices to improving our understanding of geo-materials.
Advanced glazing systems for solar energy harvesting and radiation control. Development of advanced energy-saving glass and glazings capable of generating electricity is expected to lead towards new products of significant commercial potential. The outcomes of this project undertaken by Edith Cowan University and Tropiglas will raise the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and vehicles to levels not possible with other technologies.