Formation and stability of polymerically stabilized colloids. This project will bring economic, medical and environmental benefits, with improved product performance and manufacturing processes for everyday industrial items relevant to a large industrial sector with significant employment in Australia: inks and paints (for example, surface coatings that can be applied more rapidly without clogging the jets); better means of preventing the fouling of industrial membranes; and improved materials f ....Formation and stability of polymerically stabilized colloids. This project will bring economic, medical and environmental benefits, with improved product performance and manufacturing processes for everyday industrial items relevant to a large industrial sector with significant employment in Australia: inks and paints (for example, surface coatings that can be applied more rapidly without clogging the jets); better means of preventing the fouling of industrial membranes; and improved materials for biomedical applications, with more desirable interactions between living cells and body fluids. These advances will also speed the replacement of solvent-based lacquer paints - detrimental to both environment and user - with water-based products of high quality.Read moreRead less
Electronic and Optical Properties of Doped Titanium Dioxide. Titanium dioxide, is widely used as a white pigment, owing to its high refractive index, second, only after diamond. Yellowing of rutile pigment particles, observed on prolonged exposure to sunlight, is a serious problem that pigment manufacturers would like to overcome. It is proposed that aluminium-doping of rutile limits this discolouration by altering the electronic structure of the rutile particles. This project seeks to identify ....Electronic and Optical Properties of Doped Titanium Dioxide. Titanium dioxide, is widely used as a white pigment, owing to its high refractive index, second, only after diamond. Yellowing of rutile pigment particles, observed on prolonged exposure to sunlight, is a serious problem that pigment manufacturers would like to overcome. It is proposed that aluminium-doping of rutile limits this discolouration by altering the electronic structure of the rutile particles. This project seeks to identify the specific electronic cause of the yellowing process, the nature of the Al defect,it's effect on the electronic structure of rutile, and the electronic perturbations that may occur when other dopants are used.Read moreRead less
STABILISATION OF TITANIA PIGMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER-BASED PAINT APPLICATIONS. This project aims to improve the stability and optical properties of titania pigments in water-based paints. Tailored dispersing agents will be used to stabilise pigments in paints in both the wet and dry state. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing agents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment in dry paint films will allow advances in water-based paint stability. T ....STABILISATION OF TITANIA PIGMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER-BASED PAINT APPLICATIONS. This project aims to improve the stability and optical properties of titania pigments in water-based paints. Tailored dispersing agents will be used to stabilise pigments in paints in both the wet and dry state. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing agents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment in dry paint films will allow advances in water-based paint stability. This understanding facilitates continued movement away from solvent-based paints required by environmental and health legislation. The potential growth in market share for the Australian pigment industry is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
The effect of de-gassing on the dispersion and stability of emulsions and colloidal solutions. Although it is widely accepted that oil and water will not mix, the reverse has recently been found to occur (by the applicant) under the unusual conditions of complete de-gassing. This discovery has opened up new areas for investigation and for the development of new processes and products. Hydrocarbon oils and hydrophobic powders can now be readily dispersed in water without the use of additives. Ho ....The effect of de-gassing on the dispersion and stability of emulsions and colloidal solutions. Although it is widely accepted that oil and water will not mix, the reverse has recently been found to occur (by the applicant) under the unusual conditions of complete de-gassing. This discovery has opened up new areas for investigation and for the development of new processes and products. Hydrocarbon oils and hydrophobic powders can now be readily dispersed in water without the use of additives. However, the mechanisms involved have not yet been elucidated and it is the aim of this project to understand the process and develop potential commercial applications.Read moreRead less
A new angle on the coalescence of drops. Many processes depend on what happens when drops and/or bubbles collide with each other, or with the surfaces of other materials. Examples include inkjet printing, agricultural spraying, spray coating of paints, pharmaceutical formulation, stability of cosmetics and foodstuffs, formation of froths and foams, and flow of bubbly liquids. To control these processes, we need to understand how and why drops sometimes do and sometimes do not coalesce with each ....A new angle on the coalescence of drops. Many processes depend on what happens when drops and/or bubbles collide with each other, or with the surfaces of other materials. Examples include inkjet printing, agricultural spraying, spray coating of paints, pharmaceutical formulation, stability of cosmetics and foodstuffs, formation of froths and foams, and flow of bubbly liquids. To control these processes, we need to understand how and why drops sometimes do and sometimes do not coalesce with each other or adhere to surfaces. The knowledge gained in this project will enable improvements to be made in the efficiency of processes such as those listed above.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347937
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Imaging Raman Spectrometer. An Imaging Raman spectrometer generates image maps 10x faster than older instruments and is required to meet escalating demand. This results from innovative use of Raman to characterise organics, polymers, thin films and biomaterials, which underpins rapidly evolving research in nanotechnology and biotechnology. Many innovations have come from QUT's Centre for Instrumental and Developmental Chemistry, which will host the spectrometer and is a key resource for all Qu ....Imaging Raman Spectrometer. An Imaging Raman spectrometer generates image maps 10x faster than older instruments and is required to meet escalating demand. This results from innovative use of Raman to characterise organics, polymers, thin films and biomaterials, which underpins rapidly evolving research in nanotechnology and biotechnology. Many innovations have come from QUT's Centre for Instrumental and Developmental Chemistry, which will host the spectrometer and is a key resource for all Queensland universities. The availability of its high quality spectroscopic facility has enabled leading edge developments by local companies and the Imaging Raman spectrometer will significantly accelerate and enhance current and future project outcomes.Read moreRead less
Electro-Catalytic Conjugated Polymers. The Future Fellowship will tackle some of the challenging issues regarding the conversion of our society into a post-petroleum era through: Development and understanding of a new class of catalysts for efficient conversion and storage of energy. Developing cheap and effective electrodes structures for next generation transport and storage technologies i.e. fuel-cells for cars and flexible solar-cells for electricity production. Collaborating at an internati ....Electro-Catalytic Conjugated Polymers. The Future Fellowship will tackle some of the challenging issues regarding the conversion of our society into a post-petroleum era through: Development and understanding of a new class of catalysts for efficient conversion and storage of energy. Developing cheap and effective electrodes structures for next generation transport and storage technologies i.e. fuel-cells for cars and flexible solar-cells for electricity production. Collaborating at an international level with leading groups in the sustainable energy field. These outcome will contribute to National Research Priorities 2; Frontier Technologies for building and transforming Australian Industries and 1; An Environmentally Sustainable AustraliaRead moreRead less
Nanoengineered Colloids and thin films through self-assembly with potential applications in Bioscince and Nanotechnology. The proposed research program will focus on the preparation, characterisation and application of novel, small (nanometer size) particles and thin (micrometer thick)films derived from such particles. These new and advanced materials will be prepared by usinf a recently developed, highly versatile and facile technology to coat particles in solution. The strategy to be used en ....Nanoengineered Colloids and thin films through self-assembly with potential applications in Bioscince and Nanotechnology. The proposed research program will focus on the preparation, characterisation and application of novel, small (nanometer size) particles and thin (micrometer thick)films derived from such particles. These new and advanced materials will be prepared by usinf a recently developed, highly versatile and facile technology to coat particles in solution. The strategy to be used entails the step-by-step construction of well-defined layers of different composition on particles and flat surfaces, thereby allowing unprecendented control over the material properties and function. This will provide new avenues for the application of nanoscale materials in biotechnology and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Microgel thin films for controlled release. This project represents a real and timely opportunity for Australian research to take a leading position in the field of stimulus-responsive thin films. The potential applications of the targeted advanced coatings lie in areas for which Australia is already a significant world player (water treatment, biomaterial/implant coatings, sensors) and will add value to these industries. The development of these "smart" films will have commercial potential for ....Microgel thin films for controlled release. This project represents a real and timely opportunity for Australian research to take a leading position in the field of stimulus-responsive thin films. The potential applications of the targeted advanced coatings lie in areas for which Australia is already a significant world player (water treatment, biomaterial/implant coatings, sensors) and will add value to these industries. The development of these "smart" films will have commercial potential for "next generation" nanotechnology or biotechnology companies. The project will increase the momentum of an internationally competitive research partnership. The training of a research associate, PhD and honours students will lead to competitive employment for these burgeoning scientists.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668489
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,000.00
Summary
South Australian NMR Infrastructure Consortium. The proposed four pieces of NMR infrastructure will significantly enhance NMR facilities in South Australia. As a result, researchers from across the state will have access to a range of spectrometer field strengths to examine samples in the solution and solid phases. The infrastructure will support projects involving fundamental and strategic research spanning nanotechnology and the biological and materials sciences to industry-oriented projects. ....South Australian NMR Infrastructure Consortium. The proposed four pieces of NMR infrastructure will significantly enhance NMR facilities in South Australia. As a result, researchers from across the state will have access to a range of spectrometer field strengths to examine samples in the solution and solid phases. The infrastructure will support projects involving fundamental and strategic research spanning nanotechnology and the biological and materials sciences to industry-oriented projects. In addition, the proposal falls well within the South Australian state government's Science, Technology and Innovation plan for the next ten years to create and equip research precincts at various nodes within Adelaide.Read moreRead less