Unravelling the structural origin of cyclic fatigue in ferroelectrics. Ferroelectric materials have extensive applications in electromechanical devices and memories and in service are often subjected to repeat mechanical and/or electrical loading, leading to cyclic fatigue and failure. This project aims to apply in-situ electron microscopy techniques and computational modelling to explore cyclic ferroelectric fatigue behaviour and to understand the relationships between local atomic scale struct ....Unravelling the structural origin of cyclic fatigue in ferroelectrics. Ferroelectric materials have extensive applications in electromechanical devices and memories and in service are often subjected to repeat mechanical and/or electrical loading, leading to cyclic fatigue and failure. This project aims to apply in-situ electron microscopy techniques and computational modelling to explore cyclic ferroelectric fatigue behaviour and to understand the relationships between local atomic scale structure and fatigue. The structural origin of ferroelectric fatigue has not been clear because of the limitations of previous measurement capabilities. This project will provide guidance in materials design to increase ferroelectric fatigue lifetime for more reliable ferroelectric-based electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,136,244.00
Summary
Xe-plasma dual beam for advanced future materials. This project aims to establish a state of the art Xe-Plasma dual-beam facility providing characterisation and fabrication capabilities to Australia’s research community. The project will use two beams - one Xe, the other electrons - to mill the surface of bulk materials which are subsequently analysed by electron or ion beam techniques to determine atomic-scale microstructure(s) and compositions. Anticipated outcomes are advanced materials engin ....Xe-plasma dual beam for advanced future materials. This project aims to establish a state of the art Xe-Plasma dual-beam facility providing characterisation and fabrication capabilities to Australia’s research community. The project will use two beams - one Xe, the other electrons - to mill the surface of bulk materials which are subsequently analysed by electron or ion beam techniques to determine atomic-scale microstructure(s) and compositions. Anticipated outcomes are advanced materials engineering and new knowledge about ancient and future materials. This is expected to provide significant advances across a variety of fields including material science, engineering and geology and enhance trans-disciplinary collaborations.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100053
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Quantitatively probing the nanoscale plasticity of a single grain boundary. This project aims to study grain boundaries, which are important in the mechanical behaviour of nanomaterials. However, the exact contribution of individual grain boundaries to mechanical properties is not well understood, affecting advanced materials design. This project will use in-situ deformation transmission electron microscopy techniques to reveal how individual grain boundaries deform and interact with dislocation ....Quantitatively probing the nanoscale plasticity of a single grain boundary. This project aims to study grain boundaries, which are important in the mechanical behaviour of nanomaterials. However, the exact contribution of individual grain boundaries to mechanical properties is not well understood, affecting advanced materials design. This project will use in-situ deformation transmission electron microscopy techniques to reveal how individual grain boundaries deform and interact with dislocations, and to link directly the structures and orientation of individual grain boundaries with mechanical behaviours. Expected results are better structural design of advanced metallic nanomaterials with superior mechanical performance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101105
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,856.00
Summary
Probing the nanomechanics of single grain boundary with decorated solutes. Grain boundaries (GBs) are thermodynamically susceptible to attract solutes to reduce system energy. Elaborately manipulating the GB nanostructure and chemistry via segregation can essentially be conducive, rather than detrimental, to materials performance. However, the underlying mechanism of GB segregation and its detailed effect on material properties remain elusive due to the GB complexities in the polycrystals. Throu ....Probing the nanomechanics of single grain boundary with decorated solutes. Grain boundaries (GBs) are thermodynamically susceptible to attract solutes to reduce system energy. Elaborately manipulating the GB nanostructure and chemistry via segregation can essentially be conducive, rather than detrimental, to materials performance. However, the underlying mechanism of GB segregation and its detailed effect on material properties remain elusive due to the GB complexities in the polycrystals. Through correlative in-situ nanomechanical testing and atom probe tomography, this project aims to unravel the rationale of segregation behaviour of individual GBs and its effectiveness to enhance the material performance, and hence enable nanostructural design of advanced metallic materials with unprecedented properties.Read moreRead less
Atomic-scale insights into interfaces in ultrafine-grained, low-solute alloys. This project will involve the development and application of innovative advanced microscopy methods for the study of the stability of new, ultrafine-grained alloys. This will allow the design of new alloys with exceptional properties for structural applications in environments that require ultra-high performance.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100307
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Solute segregation in crystal defects in advanced magnesium alloys. This project aims to investigate solute segregation in crystal defects, and explore its effect on technologically significant lightweight magnesium alloys. Magnesium alloys could improve energy efficiency and system performance in automotive, aerospace, aircraft, mobile electronics, rechargeable batteries and biomedical applications. The intended outcome is a knowledge platform for the physical metallurgy design of magnesium all ....Solute segregation in crystal defects in advanced magnesium alloys. This project aims to investigate solute segregation in crystal defects, and explore its effect on technologically significant lightweight magnesium alloys. Magnesium alloys could improve energy efficiency and system performance in automotive, aerospace, aircraft, mobile electronics, rechargeable batteries and biomedical applications. The intended outcome is a knowledge platform for the physical metallurgy design of magnesium alloys for green environment applications and advancing Australia’s established research capability.Read moreRead less
Understanding grain boundary segregation - a route to developing new advanced engineering materials. This project will investigate atomic-scale grain boundary segregation - one of the most important factors influencing the properties of engineering alloys. This will be applied in the development of new Ti, Zr and nanocrystalline alloys with a large potential market and for which Australia is extremely well positioned to become a major producer.
Quantifying the role of impurities in nanocrystalline metals. This project aims to create new designer nanocrystalline materials with applications in aerospace, transportation and medical devices through the controlled addition of impurity elements. This project will investigate and predict the fundamental role of these impurities to be able to tailor the mechanical properties to particular applications.
Interactions between linear and interfacial crystalline defects and their impact on mechanical properties in nanostructured metals and alloys. The project aims to apply in-situ deformation transmission electron microscopy to investigate the interactions among crystalline defects in nanostructured metallic materials and to explore the effect of the interactions on mechanical properties. The results will guide the structural design of nanomaterials with superior mechanical properties.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Enabling a new generation of advanced high-strength aluminium alloys through materials design. This project will create an analysis-engine of novel atom-sensitive methods to unlock the materials science of hierarchy-strengthening. It will assist in determining how hierarchical structures evolve and synergistically strengthen a new generation of advanced high-strength aluminium alloys that are strong as steel, but a third the weight.