New Polymers for Cellulose-based Bioplastics. We will design new cellulose derivatives by combining carefully engineered synthetic polymers to cellulose. We will explore the fundamental science underpinning the manufacture of these bioplastics, and apply the concept to the design of two new materials, with (super)hydrophobic and antibacterial properties. These materials have the potential to replace synthetic plastics, which comprise one of the major outputs of the chemical industry worldwide. P ....New Polymers for Cellulose-based Bioplastics. We will design new cellulose derivatives by combining carefully engineered synthetic polymers to cellulose. We will explore the fundamental science underpinning the manufacture of these bioplastics, and apply the concept to the design of two new materials, with (super)hydrophobic and antibacterial properties. These materials have the potential to replace synthetic plastics, which comprise one of the major outputs of the chemical industry worldwide. Plastic is present everywhere in human life, but its manufacture and disposal have a strong negative impact on the environment; the new materials manufactured in this project are viable alternatives to plastics, and are sustainable from a production and disposal point of view.Read moreRead less
Reactivity and Spectroscopy of Gas Phase Metal Oxide Cluster Ions: Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Fundamental Insights into Heterogeneous Catalysis. This project will make use of world class ARC funded instrumentation to carry out breakthrough science. The research will contribute fundamental insights into chemical bond activation relevant to industrial catalytic processes important to national manufacturing industries. These insights will improve the efficiency and selectivity of catal ....Reactivity and Spectroscopy of Gas Phase Metal Oxide Cluster Ions: Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Fundamental Insights into Heterogeneous Catalysis. This project will make use of world class ARC funded instrumentation to carry out breakthrough science. The research will contribute fundamental insights into chemical bond activation relevant to industrial catalytic processes important to national manufacturing industries. These insights will improve the efficiency and selectivity of catalytic processes and lead to increased profitability and/or a reduction in unwanted side products and pollution. The project will train young scientists in important experimental and theoretical chemical techniques, and will enhance and contribute to Australia's international research profile.Read moreRead less
Polyaniline Nanofibre Systems. Advanced materials such as the conducting polymer and applications of these materials at the nanoscale and up is clearly a cutting edge area of international interest. Development of readily processable nano systems has been a challenge with a clear scientific and commercial benefit. This proposal will bring linkages to Australia with the world leader in the field, Professor Kaner -UCLA, on the synthesis of polyaniline nanofibres and associated photowelding process ....Polyaniline Nanofibre Systems. Advanced materials such as the conducting polymer and applications of these materials at the nanoscale and up is clearly a cutting edge area of international interest. Development of readily processable nano systems has been a challenge with a clear scientific and commercial benefit. This proposal will bring linkages to Australia with the world leader in the field, Professor Kaner -UCLA, on the synthesis of polyaniline nanofibres and associated photowelding processes. The opportunities to Australia and the USA will be to expand the potential utility of such systems, which without such interactions would permit others to take a stake hold in this emergent and potentially lucrative technology.Read moreRead less
Metallographitic Discs as New Materials. Materials science plays a pivotal role in determining and improving economic performance and quality of life. While application of materials is the ultimate goal, basic understanding of a material's behaviour from the atomic/nano-level to macrostructural level is also of critical importance. This project builds upon the recent success of soluble, well-defined carbon discs in molecular electronics, through the preparation and study of metal-containing deri ....Metallographitic Discs as New Materials. Materials science plays a pivotal role in determining and improving economic performance and quality of life. While application of materials is the ultimate goal, basic understanding of a material's behaviour from the atomic/nano-level to macrostructural level is also of critical importance. This project builds upon the recent success of soluble, well-defined carbon discs in molecular electronics, through the preparation and study of metal-containing derivatives as new advanced crystalline and liquid crystalline materials. The possibility of enhanced electronic, optical and/or magnetic properties, along with good processability, make these materials potential candidates as the active component of future, technologically important devices.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100081
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Combined scanning tunnelling microscope system for materials characterisation and manipulation at nano scale. The proposed facility is unique in Australia and will substantially enhance national research capabilities in nano-materials, nanotechnology and biotechnology. The proposed infrastructure project will bring more than 20 leading Australian research groups from 10 institutions together to create an outstanding platform to underpin close collaborations among members in a broad field. The pr ....Combined scanning tunnelling microscope system for materials characterisation and manipulation at nano scale. The proposed facility is unique in Australia and will substantially enhance national research capabilities in nano-materials, nanotechnology and biotechnology. The proposed infrastructure project will bring more than 20 leading Australian research groups from 10 institutions together to create an outstanding platform to underpin close collaborations among members in a broad field. The proposed facility will provide significant benefits to Australian researchers in drug design and delivery, nano-material design and characterisation at nano scale for advanced materials, and promotion of renewable energy. This represents a great opportunity to make discoveries and breakthroughs in frontier science and technology in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453771
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,246.00
Summary
Electrochemical Electron Spin Resonance Spectrometer. Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy (ESR), is a technique used to determine the presence of free unpaired electrons in a sample. Detection and life time studies of radical species is critical to understanding the mechanisms involved in chemical reaction, sample degradation, performance upon exposure to light and oxidation or reduction processes. Combining ESR with an electrochemical interface permits in-situ studies on how electrons are inje ....Electrochemical Electron Spin Resonance Spectrometer. Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy (ESR), is a technique used to determine the presence of free unpaired electrons in a sample. Detection and life time studies of radical species is critical to understanding the mechanisms involved in chemical reaction, sample degradation, performance upon exposure to light and oxidation or reduction processes. Combining ESR with an electrochemical interface permits in-situ studies on how electrons are injected or removed from a sample, providing fundamental information on the processes occurring within the sample. Applications will be in the area of electrofunctional materials, complex biomolecular reactions, organic photovoltaics and new materials for nerve cell regeneration.Read moreRead less
Chemical listening devices: Novel sensors targeting the clandestine manufacture and transport of illicit drugs and explosives. There can be no doubt that protecting Australia's borders from the dual threats of terrorism and illicit drugs is of paramount importance to continuation of our well-being and way of life. Our chemical sensors are simple hand-held or remote chemical listening sensors, which will have the ability to sense the presence of characteristic chemical vapours associated with exp ....Chemical listening devices: Novel sensors targeting the clandestine manufacture and transport of illicit drugs and explosives. There can be no doubt that protecting Australia's borders from the dual threats of terrorism and illicit drugs is of paramount importance to continuation of our well-being and way of life. Our chemical sensors are simple hand-held or remote chemical listening sensors, which will have the ability to sense the presence of characteristic chemical vapours associated with explosives and illicit drugs. The simplicity and low cost of the chemical listening allows for installation at key locations -e.g. transport hubs, shipping containers, airports etc as well as placement within clandestine drug laboratories.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882357
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Computational Facility for Multi-scale Modelling in Bio and Nanotechnology. Bio- and nanotechnology have the potential to transform Australian industry and research, and to bring significant benefits for consumers. The scope will include materials for energy storage, medical diagnostics and cellular imaging, bioengineering, drug and gene delivery, improved foods by molecular design, novel materials for electronics, improved techniques for particle processing, and molecular sieves for filtering ....A Computational Facility for Multi-scale Modelling in Bio and Nanotechnology. Bio- and nanotechnology have the potential to transform Australian industry and research, and to bring significant benefits for consumers. The scope will include materials for energy storage, medical diagnostics and cellular imaging, bioengineering, drug and gene delivery, improved foods by molecular design, novel materials for electronics, improved techniques for particle processing, and molecular sieves for filtering/purifying water and gases. The dedicated computing facility will enable a fast interactive cycle between simulation and experiment in these areas, accelerating the pace of research and applications.Read moreRead less
Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will desi ....Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will design catalysts with multiple complementary metal centres tailored to bind and activate nitrogen gas to facilitate its reaction with hydrogen or other reagents.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453637
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$256,804.00
Summary
Multi-dimensional polymer characterization facility. The microstructure of polymers dominates their physical properties. This integrated facility will create a world-leading means of characterizing in multiple dimensions the microstructure of complex polymers, eg copolymers and branched polymers. The facility will yield information on the distributions of chain end-groups, monomer microstructure, and branches, as functions of molecular weight. The facility will provide otherwise unobtainable dat ....Multi-dimensional polymer characterization facility. The microstructure of polymers dominates their physical properties. This integrated facility will create a world-leading means of characterizing in multiple dimensions the microstructure of complex polymers, eg copolymers and branched polymers. The facility will yield information on the distributions of chain end-groups, monomer microstructure, and branches, as functions of molecular weight. The facility will provide otherwise unobtainable data for a set of projects exploring questions ranging from how new synthetic materials with tailor-made properties can be created, through to how our understanding of natural polymers can be advanced to improve crop utilization.Read moreRead less