Janus particles and nanorattles: new materials for paint technology. This project will pave the way for self cleaning paints that achieve opacity with greatly reduced titanium dioxide levels. Painted surfaces will maintain their clean and new look for longer and a clean town look will be much more readily maintained. More efficient use of titanium dioxide will reduce the need for sand mining and reduce the cost of quality paint.
New high performance zinc bromine batteries with novel electrode/electrolyte systems. Renewable sources of energy are of particular interest in the era of diminishing fossil fuels. Efficient energy storage is a missing link for renewable energy. Zinc-bromine batteries have great potential as energy storage. This project will aim to fundamentally re-design the existing first generation systems to improve power density by 300-400 per cent.
Efficient ionic liquid-based reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. This project aims to develop a hybrid ionic liquid-nanostructured electrode platform to electrochemically convert nitrogen gas to ammonia. Ammonia production, mostly for fertilisers, consumes more than 1% of the global energy supply and contributes 1.6 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. A process that could convert nitrogen to ammonia using renewable energy would be an important alternative approach. This project will develop a pl ....Efficient ionic liquid-based reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. This project aims to develop a hybrid ionic liquid-nanostructured electrode platform to electrochemically convert nitrogen gas to ammonia. Ammonia production, mostly for fertilisers, consumes more than 1% of the global energy supply and contributes 1.6 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. A process that could convert nitrogen to ammonia using renewable energy would be an important alternative approach. This project will develop a platform for electrochemical conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia and optimise it for use with surplus renewable energy supplies. The project is expected to contribute to mitigation of greenhouse emissions and create a technology for distributed production of ammonia and ammonium fertilisers.Read moreRead less
Polymer micro-capsules for stain-resistant paint. This project aims to create an advanced micro-capsule system to be used in the manufacturing of high-performance waterborne paints on a large scale. Surface coatings seal, strengthen, and decorate the majority of surfaces in the building industry. Despite their importance, advances in paint science have only been incremental and a truly stain-resistant, robust and environmentally friendly coating has yet to be developed. This project will use pol ....Polymer micro-capsules for stain-resistant paint. This project aims to create an advanced micro-capsule system to be used in the manufacturing of high-performance waterborne paints on a large scale. Surface coatings seal, strengthen, and decorate the majority of surfaces in the building industry. Despite their importance, advances in paint science have only been incremental and a truly stain-resistant, robust and environmentally friendly coating has yet to be developed. This project will use polymer Janus nanoparticles to radically redesign architectural coatings, with the goal to reduce the use of non-renewable components, and increase stain-resistance and durability. This new technology will lead to less disruption for the environment, and important economic and technological benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Key Functional Additives in Paint Technology. The goal of this project is to create two novel advanced particle systems with complex architecture that can be manufactured on a large scale, which aim to lead to high-performance waterborne paints. It is intended that these paints will have three functional characteristics: provide more efficient use of titanium dioxide; display pronounced water-resistance; and contribute to removing the need for organic solvents from the gloss paint sector. This r ....Key Functional Additives in Paint Technology. The goal of this project is to create two novel advanced particle systems with complex architecture that can be manufactured on a large scale, which aim to lead to high-performance waterborne paints. It is intended that these paints will have three functional characteristics: provide more efficient use of titanium dioxide; display pronounced water-resistance; and contribute to removing the need for organic solvents from the gloss paint sector. This research aims to provide the means to create paint films with greatly improved properties at reduced cost, with reduced requirement for non-renewable resources and reduced environmental footprint.Read moreRead less
Polymer nanofibres for advanced paint formulations. Surface coatings seal, strengthen, and decorate the majority of surfaces in the building industry—a $72 billion market. Despite their importance, advances in paint science have only been incremental and a truly robust and water resistant paint coating has yet to be developed. Dulux Group Australia and the University of Sydney will use polymer nanofibres as additives to radically redesign architectural coatings, with the goal to drastically incr ....Polymer nanofibres for advanced paint formulations. Surface coatings seal, strengthen, and decorate the majority of surfaces in the building industry—a $72 billion market. Despite their importance, advances in paint science have only been incremental and a truly robust and water resistant paint coating has yet to be developed. Dulux Group Australia and the University of Sydney will use polymer nanofibres as additives to radically redesign architectural coatings, with the goal to drastically increase their durability. The partnership will bring a technological breakthrough that will lead to less disruption for the environment, and important economic and technological benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Nano-engineered catalysts for sustainable fuel production from waste . This project aims to address two major problems simultaneously-reducing the burden of non-recyclable waste currently going to landfill in Australia, and offsetting Australia’s reliance on imported diesel to support industry and transport needs. While approximately 95% of diesel consumed in Australia is imported, vast quantities of carbon-based waste ends up in landfill. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a mixture of plant-based ....Nano-engineered catalysts for sustainable fuel production from waste . This project aims to address two major problems simultaneously-reducing the burden of non-recyclable waste currently going to landfill in Australia, and offsetting Australia’s reliance on imported diesel to support industry and transport needs. While approximately 95% of diesel consumed in Australia is imported, vast quantities of carbon-based waste ends up in landfill. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a mixture of plant-based waste (including food, garden, paper, and wood) and fossil-fuel derived materials (plastics). Using an innovative and environmentally-sustainable catalytic process, the outcomes of this project are aimed alleviating Australia’s dependence on diesel fuel imports and better waste management solutions in Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of the next generation of organo-mineral fertilisers utilising domestic and commercial waste products. Australian agriculture relies heavily on fertilisers and better products are needed that are derived from sustainable sources, have minimal adverse environmental impact and support high plant yields. This project will apply advanced approaches of nanostructural analysis and microbial ecology to developed next-generation organo-mineral fertilisers.
Controlling density, viscosity and crystallisation in emulsion explosives to enhance safety and efficiency of blasting operations. The performance of emulsion explosives used throughout the mining industry can be severely compromised by the effects of shear arising from pumping and detonation shock waves. Understanding how shear affects droplet coalescence and crystallisation is critical in differential energy blasting, where emulsion density and composition vary widely along the bore hole. This ....Controlling density, viscosity and crystallisation in emulsion explosives to enhance safety and efficiency of blasting operations. The performance of emulsion explosives used throughout the mining industry can be severely compromised by the effects of shear arising from pumping and detonation shock waves. Understanding how shear affects droplet coalescence and crystallisation is critical in differential energy blasting, where emulsion density and composition vary widely along the bore hole. This project aims to contribute to the understanding of the effects of shear, and develop new methods and additives to stabilise droplets and bubbles over a wide range of compositions and conditions. The goal of this project is to improve the efficiency and safety of rock-blasting operations, reduce environmental impact, and reduce operating costs, giving the Australian mining industry a competitive edge.Read moreRead less