Nanostructured films for optical document security. This project aims to develop a new class of synthetic thin films, with unique optical signatures as strong anti-counterfeiting features for future generations of Australian banknotes. The project expects to produce novel, ultra-thin films patterned on the nanoscale that produce vivid, easily recognisable optical effects building on recent advances in nanophotonic optical design and scalable nanofabrication strategies. The development of a range ....Nanostructured films for optical document security. This project aims to develop a new class of synthetic thin films, with unique optical signatures as strong anti-counterfeiting features for future generations of Australian banknotes. The project expects to produce novel, ultra-thin films patterned on the nanoscale that produce vivid, easily recognisable optical effects building on recent advances in nanophotonic optical design and scalable nanofabrication strategies. The development of a range of optical security features in Australia will ensure long-term confidence in our currency. An outcome of the project could be the commercialisation of new types of anti-counterfeiting features for use in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less
Industrial-strength X-ray Phase Tomography. The unique 3D imaging capability provided as a result of this project will have application to advanced manufacturing as a non-destructive evaluation for materials and micro-components. For instance, the internal structure of aerogels, porous light metals, polymers and carbon fibre based materials can all be imaged at the microscale. Similar benefits flow in health sciences where organic processes can be observed in place and where, for instance, small ....Industrial-strength X-ray Phase Tomography. The unique 3D imaging capability provided as a result of this project will have application to advanced manufacturing as a non-destructive evaluation for materials and micro-components. For instance, the internal structure of aerogels, porous light metals, polymers and carbon fibre based materials can all be imaged at the microscale. Similar benefits flow in health sciences where organic processes can be observed in place and where, for instance, small animals used in research and clinical testing can be inspected internally without having to destroy them, thus allowing for repeated measurements.Read moreRead less
Increasing the efficacy of laboratory x-ray sources for imaging. X-ray laboratory sources are used extensively for imaging: from the humble dental and medical x-ray to sophisticated 3D non-destructive testing methods; from the microscopic to large mechanical parts. This project will pursue methods that improve the imaging capability of such equipment with direct application across the fields of materials and medical imaging.
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
Low viscosity, high ionic conductivity ionic liquids for lithium metal batteries. Current consumer electronic devices rely on lithium-ion batteries to provide a high energy density power source. There are growing safety concerns about the electrolytes in these devices after recent incidents involving fires in mobile phones. Recent advances in ionic liquids (ILs) have seen the development of new electrolytes for such devices, with enhanced physical properties that offer major safety advantages. H ....Low viscosity, high ionic conductivity ionic liquids for lithium metal batteries. Current consumer electronic devices rely on lithium-ion batteries to provide a high energy density power source. There are growing safety concerns about the electrolytes in these devices after recent incidents involving fires in mobile phones. Recent advances in ionic liquids (ILs) have seen the development of new electrolytes for such devices, with enhanced physical properties that offer major safety advantages. However, the viscosity of these materials currently limit their capabilities. New IL materials to be developed in this project will pave the way for the development of safer devices and new sustainable energy industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
An Australian storm wave damage and beach erosion early warning system. This project aims to develop a new coastal hazard early-warning system capability for Australia, to alert coastal communities, emergency managers and coastal engineers to impending storm wave damage and coastal erosion. Emergency preparedness informed by early warning is expected to significantly benefit vulnerable communities and infrastructure along Australia’s coasts.
Advanced waste slurry processing in the dairy industry. The dairy industry typically disposes of its wastes as low solids slurries. An aim for the future is to produce higher solids outputs. This project will examine the dewatering behaviour of a range of waste sludges and examine the molecular components that control dewaterability. The project will provide quantitative directions as to the best choice of dewatering methodologies to the dairy industry for the treatment and disposal of wastes ....Advanced waste slurry processing in the dairy industry. The dairy industry typically disposes of its wastes as low solids slurries. An aim for the future is to produce higher solids outputs. This project will examine the dewatering behaviour of a range of waste sludges and examine the molecular components that control dewaterability. The project will provide quantitative directions as to the best choice of dewatering methodologies to the dairy industry for the treatment and disposal of wastes. This will allow for better strategic design and management of waste treatment options.Read moreRead less
Spectroscopy of complex and biological micro-objects for biosensing applications. The optically based test for specific DNA binding resulting from the conclusion of this project is of great potential benefit to all Australians as DNA is the building block of all living organisms. The technique developed and resulting biosensor will provide an invaluable tool for the determination and analysis of specific DNA reactions. The general technique developed for the genetic targeting of specific DNA rea ....Spectroscopy of complex and biological micro-objects for biosensing applications. The optically based test for specific DNA binding resulting from the conclusion of this project is of great potential benefit to all Australians as DNA is the building block of all living organisms. The technique developed and resulting biosensor will provide an invaluable tool for the determination and analysis of specific DNA reactions. The general technique developed for the genetic targeting of specific DNA reactions makes the detection of diseases and toxins like Chlamydia and anthrax, for example cheap, quick and accurate, keeping Australian's healthy, and strengthening national security.Read moreRead less
Eddy-resolving global ocean-sea ice modelling. Eddy-resolving global ocean-sea ice modelling. This project aims to develop a world-class global ocean-sea ice model framework through a nationwide consortium. The resulting high resolution models are expected to provide the foundation for the next decade of Australian ocean-sea ice modelling capacity. This research should lead to improved ocean and sea ice prediction, ocean reanalyses, and climate projections, enhancing Australia's capacity to pred ....Eddy-resolving global ocean-sea ice modelling. Eddy-resolving global ocean-sea ice modelling. This project aims to develop a world-class global ocean-sea ice model framework through a nationwide consortium. The resulting high resolution models are expected to provide the foundation for the next decade of Australian ocean-sea ice modelling capacity. This research should lead to improved ocean and sea ice prediction, ocean reanalyses, and climate projections, enhancing Australia's capacity to predict the ocean state on timescales of days to decades. This is expected to yield efficiencies in shipping, marine search and rescue and naval operations, and increase the accuracy of projected future changes in climate, sea level, ocean ecosystems and the cryosphere.Read moreRead less
A Method to Characterise an Aberration-Corrected Electron Wave Field - a step towards quantitative electron microscopy. Australia has recently invested in a powerful, new electron microscope, one of the first in the world, which can image features at the atomic scale that could not be seen before. This project will forge a strategic partnership with the designer and the distributor of this microscope, to develop special new methods that will further increase the microscope's imaging power. This ....A Method to Characterise an Aberration-Corrected Electron Wave Field - a step towards quantitative electron microscopy. Australia has recently invested in a powerful, new electron microscope, one of the first in the world, which can image features at the atomic scale that could not be seen before. This project will forge a strategic partnership with the designer and the distributor of this microscope, to develop special new methods that will further increase the microscope's imaging power. This will give Australian scientists unique capabilities with which to investigate and engineer new materials for advanced technological applications and it will train young Australian scientists in these cutting-edge techniques.Read moreRead less