Materials World Network for the Study of Macromolecular Ferrofluids. This work will develop an understanding that will allow us to optimise the properties of ferrofluids (magnetic liquids) to suit particular applications. Although the primary application that will be investigated is the treatment of retinal detachment, the results will be applicable to a wide range of applications including ferrofluid-based actuators, electromagnetic micropumps and fluid based valves and sealing systems. During ....Materials World Network for the Study of Macromolecular Ferrofluids. This work will develop an understanding that will allow us to optimise the properties of ferrofluids (magnetic liquids) to suit particular applications. Although the primary application that will be investigated is the treatment of retinal detachment, the results will be applicable to a wide range of applications including ferrofluid-based actuators, electromagnetic micropumps and fluid based valves and sealing systems. During the course of this work, young Australian scientists will be trained in a cross-disciplinary environment in a variety of aspects of both nano- and bio- technology that are a key part of the National Research Priority: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries.Read moreRead less
Oxide Bioceramics for Drug Delivery. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. One out of every two Australians will develop skin cancer at some stage during their lives. On average, 740,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year (1 million in the USA). The cost to Australia is over $200 million/year. While today more people are aware of the dangers of UV, the desire to be fashionable outweighs their health concerns. Melanotan is a novel sunscreen soluti ....Oxide Bioceramics for Drug Delivery. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. One out of every two Australians will develop skin cancer at some stage during their lives. On average, 740,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year (1 million in the USA). The cost to Australia is over $200 million/year. While today more people are aware of the dangers of UV, the desire to be fashionable outweighs their health concerns. Melanotan is a novel sunscreen solution: a drug that stimulates the body's natural defence mechanism against UV light. Alumina and zirconia bioceramics are ideal implantable drug delivery vehicles because of the long leaching periods possible.Read moreRead less
Reducing gas and ash corrosion in advanced power generation. Advanced power generation using new coal combustion technologies increases energy efficiency and makes carbon dioxide capture possible, but increases the corrosion problems. This project aims to determine the corrosion behaviour of chromia-scale forming iron- and nickel-base alloys in the presence of deposits (coal ashes and salts) under carbon dioxide rich gas atmospheres. The increased understanding of alloy behaviour in hot corrosiv ....Reducing gas and ash corrosion in advanced power generation. Advanced power generation using new coal combustion technologies increases energy efficiency and makes carbon dioxide capture possible, but increases the corrosion problems. This project aims to determine the corrosion behaviour of chromia-scale forming iron- and nickel-base alloys in the presence of deposits (coal ashes and salts) under carbon dioxide rich gas atmospheres. The increased understanding of alloy behaviour in hot corrosive ashes and gases, will permit more effective materials design and selection leading to more efficient and economic technologies for reliable and low cost carbon capture in energy production, waste-energy conversion and related industries.Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional plasmonic heterogeneous nanostructures for photocatalysis. This project aims to design and explore two-dimensional heterogeneous photocatalysts that can convert solar energy into usable chemical energy. This project will investigate the correlation between surface plasmonic resonance and photocatalytic activities on the atomic level. Heterogeneous engineering and in-situ investigation of atomic-level photocatalytic dynamics is expected to yield several new full-solar-spectrum pho ....Two-dimensional plasmonic heterogeneous nanostructures for photocatalysis. This project aims to design and explore two-dimensional heterogeneous photocatalysts that can convert solar energy into usable chemical energy. This project will investigate the correlation between surface plasmonic resonance and photocatalytic activities on the atomic level. Heterogeneous engineering and in-situ investigation of atomic-level photocatalytic dynamics is expected to yield several new full-solar-spectrum photocatalysts. The project is expected to contribute to the understanding of the processes and mechanisms underlying photocatalysis, and lead to useable, stable and durable photocatalytics. The outcomes will enable efficient, cost-effective and reliable production of clean energy in a low-emission way.Read moreRead less
Heat-resisting iron-nickel base alloys in challenging new applications: oxygen permeabilities and resistance to internal oxidation. There is a pressing need to develop heat resisting alloys which can function adequately in higher operating temperatures and gas mixtures rich in carbon and hydrogen to be handled in advanced technologies for power generation. The expected outcomes of this project will provide the basis for design/selection of these more corrosion-resistant alloys.
New Electron Field Emission Films Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Guests in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Hosts. This project seeks to develop a new class of electron field emitting nanocomposite consisting of nanotubes in liquid crystalline polymers. Electron emitting materials are in much demand in x-ray and microwave generation, computer displays and low-energy lighting. We utilise the ready alignability of liquid crystalline units in magnetic fields to cause realignment of incorporated carbon ....New Electron Field Emission Films Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Guests in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Hosts. This project seeks to develop a new class of electron field emitting nanocomposite consisting of nanotubes in liquid crystalline polymers. Electron emitting materials are in much demand in x-ray and microwave generation, computer displays and low-energy lighting. We utilise the ready alignability of liquid crystalline units in magnetic fields to cause realignment of incorporated carbon nanotubes, followed by polymer solidification to maintain orientation. It involves low temperature processing, contrasting very favourably with current problematic, high temperature processes. This allows materials to be cast on flexible polymer substrates, potentially enabling construction of cathode tubes to replace existing mercury-containing fluorescent lighting.Read moreRead less
Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction o ....Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction of greenhouse emission.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured soft magnetic alloys for low-carbon cars. The aim of this project is to prepare iron-based magnetic nanostructures that exhibit a magnetic induction of 1.9 tesla and core losses lower than those of iron-silicon steels, which would deliver smaller and efficient magnetic cores for petrol-electric hybrid cars. Preliminary results from the research team show that iron-metalloid alloys with an iron content of 87 per cent meet this magnetic induction with room for further improvement of ....Nanostructured soft magnetic alloys for low-carbon cars. The aim of this project is to prepare iron-based magnetic nanostructures that exhibit a magnetic induction of 1.9 tesla and core losses lower than those of iron-silicon steels, which would deliver smaller and efficient magnetic cores for petrol-electric hybrid cars. Preliminary results from the research team show that iron-metalloid alloys with an iron content of 87 per cent meet this magnetic induction with room for further improvement of magnetic softness. The project aims to systematically investigate the effect of metalloid and micro-alloying elements on the nano-crystallisation behaviour of the precursor amorphous alloys in order to identify the alloy composition and processing conditions for preparing magnetically soft nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Wear-resistant alloys for the mining industry. This project will create new metal matrix composite alloys that are extremely resistant to wear. They will be used in products that are designed and manufactured to meet the highest specifications for robust and reliable use in Australia's mines, which are among the world's most demanding environments.