The effect of structure and size on the mechanical behaviour of III-V semiconductor nanowires. The project aims to apply in-situ deformation transmission electron microscopy to investigate the mechanical behaviour of compound semiconductor nanowires and the effect of structure and geometry on the behaviour. The results will uncover the fundamental mechanical properties of nanowires and will guide the design of nanowire-based devices.
Mechanisms of sound absorption at the nanoscale. Understanding the interaction of sound with nanoscale structures will guide the creation of novel carbon nanotube materials, optimised for sound absorption, which have potential application anywhere that noise exists and needs to be attenuated. Fuel savings from reduced drag and weight in applications such as jet aircraft engines are also expected.
The mechanical and electrical behaviour of boron nitride nanotubes: Insight from in-situ transmission electron microscopy investigation. Boron nitride nanotubes are an emerging class of inorganic nanotubes with insulating property, exceptional thermal stability, high thermal conductivity, and superior mechanical properties including ultrahigh strength and elastic modulus which are not possible in conventional materials. This project aims to apply state-of-the-art in-situ transmission electron mi ....The mechanical and electrical behaviour of boron nitride nanotubes: Insight from in-situ transmission electron microscopy investigation. Boron nitride nanotubes are an emerging class of inorganic nanotubes with insulating property, exceptional thermal stability, high thermal conductivity, and superior mechanical properties including ultrahigh strength and elastic modulus which are not possible in conventional materials. This project aims to apply state-of-the-art in-situ transmission electron microscopy techniques to explore the dependence of mechanical properties on size, morphology and structure of boron nitride nanotubes and the effect of mechanical strain on electrical properties, which will provide opportunities for composite materials reinforcement via nanotubes, and tune the electronic and optoelectronic properties of nanotubes via strain engineering.Read moreRead less
Developing a simple method for characterising the mechanical properties of nanowhiskers. This project aims to accurately measure mechanical properties of nanostructures, addressing a challenging issue in the ongoing development of nanotechnology. The success of this project will provide important advances in the understanding of the mechanical behaviour of nanowhiskers and assist in the further development of nanomaterials.
Metal-free catalysts for clean production of energy and hydrogen peroxide. This project aims to create novel metal-free carbon-based catalysts to replace the scarce and expensive noble metal catalysts. Noble metal catalysts are needed for clean production of electricity by fuel cells or hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen gases. A combined theoretical and experimental approach will be developed for controlled synthesis of heteroatom-doped carbon catalysts and to improve our understanding ....Metal-free catalysts for clean production of energy and hydrogen peroxide. This project aims to create novel metal-free carbon-based catalysts to replace the scarce and expensive noble metal catalysts. Noble metal catalysts are needed for clean production of electricity by fuel cells or hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen gases. A combined theoretical and experimental approach will be developed for controlled synthesis of heteroatom-doped carbon catalysts and to improve our understanding of the catalytic mechanism and structure-activity relationship for the novel carbon catalysts. The project is expected to lay fundamental groundwork for a new paradigm in carbon-based catalysts that should be of considerable significance for energy and chemical production in a clean and cost effective way.Read moreRead less
Developing innovative methodologies to understand nano-adhesion/friction. The project seeks to improve the measurement of nanoscale adhesion and friction. The understanding of adhesion and friction between a nanowhisker and a substrate is crucial for developing next-generation nanodevices. However, the current methods for measuring nanoscale adhesion and friction are inaccurate and can produce contradictory results, due to the extreme challenges in mastering sophisticated measuring techniques an ....Developing innovative methodologies to understand nano-adhesion/friction. The project seeks to improve the measurement of nanoscale adhesion and friction. The understanding of adhesion and friction between a nanowhisker and a substrate is crucial for developing next-generation nanodevices. However, the current methods for measuring nanoscale adhesion and friction are inaccurate and can produce contradictory results, due to the extreme challenges in mastering sophisticated measuring techniques and the lack of understanding of their underlying mechanisms. This project aims to develop innovative ‘push-peel’ and ‘push-slide’ methods to accurately measure those properties and to further understand their fundamental origins. Successful outcomes from this study would not only solve a long-standing problem in the application of nanowhiskers, but also generate new nanosurface science.Read moreRead less
Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fu ....Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fundamentally understand the relationship between physical-chemical properties and efficacy. Completion of this project aims to produce potent nanoparticle-based adjuvants underpinned by novel manufacturing technology, to ultimately facilitate the development of more effective and protective vaccines for animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Smart self-propelled nanoreactors for catalytic environmental remediation. This project aims to develop nanomaterial design and technology to enable the applications of nanotechnology for environmental remediation. Various nanomotors with different asymmetric structures will be fabricated and tested for catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of aqueous pollutants. The physicochemical properties, motion behaviour and catalytic performance will be comprehensively investigated. The outcomes of th ....Smart self-propelled nanoreactors for catalytic environmental remediation. This project aims to develop nanomaterial design and technology to enable the applications of nanotechnology for environmental remediation. Various nanomotors with different asymmetric structures will be fabricated and tested for catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of aqueous pollutants. The physicochemical properties, motion behaviour and catalytic performance will be comprehensively investigated. The outcomes of the project will underpin the development of green technologies for sustainable energy conversion and water treatment. This will provide significant benefits, putting Australia in a leading position in the sustainable development of nanotechnology for sustainable energy supply and transformation as well as environmental and biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes in ....Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes include insights into gas bubble formation and evolution during electrocatalysis, effective catalyst structures to mitigate negative effects of gas bubble formation, and improved catalytic efficiency of gas evolution reactions and develop high performance electrocatalysts for fuel gas production.Read moreRead less
Platform technologies for multifunctional nanocarrier systems. Smart targeted nanocarriers offer new opportunities for drug delivery. This project aims to develop new platforms for reproducibly producing and screening targeted nanocarriers. The platform technologies developed in this project aim to revolutionise current strategies for designing and evaluating drug delivery systems, and will accelerate the clinical translation of targeted drug delivery. This will include a novel one-step microflu ....Platform technologies for multifunctional nanocarrier systems. Smart targeted nanocarriers offer new opportunities for drug delivery. This project aims to develop new platforms for reproducibly producing and screening targeted nanocarriers. The platform technologies developed in this project aim to revolutionise current strategies for designing and evaluating drug delivery systems, and will accelerate the clinical translation of targeted drug delivery. This will include a novel one-step microfluidic platform technology for reproducibly producing targeted polymer nanocarriers having systematically varied properties, a dual-templating method for making targeted silica nanocapsules and new design of in vivo-mimicking 'Tissue Chips' for screening and evaluating the nanocarriers.Read moreRead less