Development of a test bed for molecular memory and molecular photovoltaic devices. The development of nanostructured materials and the devices that utilize them is at the forefront of modern science and technology. Electrical devices whose functional units are structurally ordered single molecules dominate biochemical processes, especially pertinent ones being photosynthesis and cellular energy production; artificial devices promise new technologies in multi-$B markets such as long-term data st ....Development of a test bed for molecular memory and molecular photovoltaic devices. The development of nanostructured materials and the devices that utilize them is at the forefront of modern science and technology. Electrical devices whose functional units are structurally ordered single molecules dominate biochemical processes, especially pertinent ones being photosynthesis and cellular energy production; artificial devices promise new technologies in multi-$B markets such as long-term data storage and renewable solar-energy production. Interfacing molecules with macroscopic interconnects poses a great technological challenge, however, and in this project the underlying basic science will be determined through the formation of molecules into device-accessible functional materials.Read moreRead less
Molecular Electronics Principles and Applications. This project will establish basic conceptual models and computational methods to understand the nature of conduction, memory storage, and solar to electrical energy conversion processes in molecular devices on the 1-nanometer scale. Fundamental research of chemical processes, device interfaces, characterization techniques, and natural photosynthesis will result in widely applicable advances in nanotechnology. Additionally, novel architectures wi ....Molecular Electronics Principles and Applications. This project will establish basic conceptual models and computational methods to understand the nature of conduction, memory storage, and solar to electrical energy conversion processes in molecular devices on the 1-nanometer scale. Fundamental research of chemical processes, device interfaces, characterization techniques, and natural photosynthesis will result in widely applicable advances in nanotechnology. Additionally, novel architectures will be developed for disruptive new technologies in molecular memory and logic design, as well as in the design of biomimetic solar cells. These developments could lead to new Australian electronics industries and an order of magnitude reduction in the production cost of solar electricity.Read moreRead less
Tailored porphyrins for nanoscience applications. Porphyrins are the pigments of life, the central components of haemoglobin in blood and chlorophyll in living plants. In order to expand their use into important areas of nanoscience, this project will establish a new porphyrin paradigm. It will result in the synthesis of novel porphyrins with inbuilt structural features that enhance their propensity to self-assemble into monolayers on surfaces, and into nanorods. This will lead to advanced mate ....Tailored porphyrins for nanoscience applications. Porphyrins are the pigments of life, the central components of haemoglobin in blood and chlorophyll in living plants. In order to expand their use into important areas of nanoscience, this project will establish a new porphyrin paradigm. It will result in the synthesis of novel porphyrins with inbuilt structural features that enhance their propensity to self-assemble into monolayers on surfaces, and into nanorods. This will lead to advanced materials for molecular sensing, photonics, molecular memory devices, catalysis, and organic photovoltaics. A new means of improving the efficiency of solar cells will also be explored. Well-trained graduates and strong international scientific cooperation will also result from the project.Read moreRead less
Laser Spectroscopy of Molecular Electronic Components. Electronic devices such as computer memory have been getting smaller and smaller for decades, yet soon devices will need to be constructed from single molecules. Single molecules behave very differently to copper conductors and silicon chips. To understand the behaviour of molecular electronic devices such as molecular wires, switches and diodes, one needs to isolate them under rigorously reproducable conditions. We will study molecular elec ....Laser Spectroscopy of Molecular Electronic Components. Electronic devices such as computer memory have been getting smaller and smaller for decades, yet soon devices will need to be constructed from single molecules. Single molecules behave very differently to copper conductors and silicon chips. To understand the behaviour of molecular electronic devices such as molecular wires, switches and diodes, one needs to isolate them under rigorously reproducable conditions. We will study molecular electronic devices in this way, providing rigorous support to Australia's growing expertise in this field.Read moreRead less
The roles of metal ions in glucose metabolism and the treatment of diabetes. Metal supplements, such as chromium and vanadium are consumed widely for their purported fat reduction and anti-diabetic activities. However, much is still to be learnt about the efficacy and safety of such metal ions when they are taken in supplements and whether they have an essential role in the prevention of diabetes or, in some instances, are a risk factor for cancer. The research will provide an understanding of ....The roles of metal ions in glucose metabolism and the treatment of diabetes. Metal supplements, such as chromium and vanadium are consumed widely for their purported fat reduction and anti-diabetic activities. However, much is still to be learnt about the efficacy and safety of such metal ions when they are taken in supplements and whether they have an essential role in the prevention of diabetes or, in some instances, are a risk factor for cancer. The research will provide an understanding of how these metal complexes exert their anti-diabetic effects and how they can be made safer and/or more efficacious for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which is a rapidly expanding epidemic in developed countries. Read moreRead less
Design and Mechanistic Studies of Metal-Based Anti-Diabetic Drugs. Metal supplements, such as chromium and vanadium, are consumed widely for their purported fat reduction and anti-diabetic activities. However, much is still to be learnt about the efficacy and safety of such metal ions and whether they have an essential role in the prevention of diabetes or, in some instances, are a risk factor for cancer. The research will provide a fundamental understanding of how these metal complexes exert th ....Design and Mechanistic Studies of Metal-Based Anti-Diabetic Drugs. Metal supplements, such as chromium and vanadium, are consumed widely for their purported fat reduction and anti-diabetic activities. However, much is still to be learnt about the efficacy and safety of such metal ions and whether they have an essential role in the prevention of diabetes or, in some instances, are a risk factor for cancer. The research will provide a fundamental understanding of how these metal complexes exert their anti-diabetic effects and how they can be made safer and/or more efficacious for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which is a rapidly expanding epidemic in developed countries. Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Applications of Antifreeze Proteins and Glycoproteins. Many cells are damaged when they are chilled below body temperatures thus limiting shelf-life for applications. For example, storage of human blood platelets is limited to 5 days at 22 degrees. This research will produce molecules that can be used in the fields of agriculture (in vitro fertilization techniques, development of improved blood lines), aquaculture and human reproductive technologies, where ice crystal growth and fr ....Synthesis and Applications of Antifreeze Proteins and Glycoproteins. Many cells are damaged when they are chilled below body temperatures thus limiting shelf-life for applications. For example, storage of human blood platelets is limited to 5 days at 22 degrees. This research will produce molecules that can be used in the fields of agriculture (in vitro fertilization techniques, development of improved blood lines), aquaculture and human reproductive technologies, where ice crystal growth and freezing are damaging. This outcome will be achieved by the synthesis of molecules that mimic natural products that allow fish to survive in the icy Arctic and Arctic Oceans and study how they are able to protect cells and tissues from damage in these extreme environments.Read moreRead less
New Surfaces for the Control of Endothelial Cell Function: Application in the Design of Biocompatible Stents. Using dewetting of thin polymer films, the present proposal will develop new structured biocompatible surfaces with controlled chemistry and topography, which will allow the growth of a normal (non-activated) monolayer of endothelial cells. Sophisticated molecular parameters will be used to assess that endothelial cells maintain their normal quiescent phenotype. The project sets the grou ....New Surfaces for the Control of Endothelial Cell Function: Application in the Design of Biocompatible Stents. Using dewetting of thin polymer films, the present proposal will develop new structured biocompatible surfaces with controlled chemistry and topography, which will allow the growth of a normal (non-activated) monolayer of endothelial cells. Sophisticated molecular parameters will be used to assess that endothelial cells maintain their normal quiescent phenotype. The project sets the ground work for the design of improved, more biocompatible structured stents to minimise the abnormal growth of cells on and around the stent, thereby reducing the occurrence of vascular complications. Thus this research could improve the success rate of stents implanted into patients with cardiovascular disease and reduce health costs.Read moreRead less
Molecular Electronics: from electron transfer through photosynthesis towards functional nano devices. Molecular Electronics, the use of molecules to perform specific electronic functions, is a new and very rapidly expanded area of nanotechnology. We will elucidate basic principles of electrical conduction through single molecules, understand and mimic natural photosynthetic molecular electronic processes, and establish by synthesis of "molecular wires" and extension of current technology, new m ....Molecular Electronics: from electron transfer through photosynthesis towards functional nano devices. Molecular Electronics, the use of molecules to perform specific electronic functions, is a new and very rapidly expanded area of nanotechnology. We will elucidate basic principles of electrical conduction through single molecules, understand and mimic natural photosynthetic molecular electronic processes, and establish by synthesis of "molecular wires" and extension of current technology, new methods for probing nanoscale electron transfer. We will combine these aspects to develop applications in photovoltaic design and in the design of molecular-level circuitry. Possible long-term applications range from solar energy conversion to molecular recognition and sensing to new types of electronic processing akin to quantum computing.Read moreRead less
Quantum coherence and many-body interactions in inorganic and organic nanoscale electronic devices. The multi-trillion dollar semiconductor industry drives the explosive growth in information technology that we have witnessed over the past 25 years. Although Australia is not presently a major player in the industry, this proposal will enable Australia to play a role in its future development of nanoscale electronics, both in conventional (inorganic) semiconductor devices, and in new (organic) de ....Quantum coherence and many-body interactions in inorganic and organic nanoscale electronic devices. The multi-trillion dollar semiconductor industry drives the explosive growth in information technology that we have witnessed over the past 25 years. Although Australia is not presently a major player in the industry, this proposal will enable Australia to play a role in its future development of nanoscale electronics, both in conventional (inorganic) semiconductor devices, and in new (organic) device technologies based on carbon nanotubes. This research program will allow Australian researchers and students to work both with leading international universities (Cambridge (UK) and Copenhagen (Denmark), and a leading Japanese industrial research facility - Nippon Telegraph and Telecommunications.Read moreRead less