Sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles for fuel cell applications. The sonochemical synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles is one of several developing applications of ultrasound. Ultrasonically produced nanoparticles possess a number of specific properties, such as, pronounced catalytic activity. This project aims to ultrasonically synthesize metal nanoparticles and evaluate their suitability for fuel cell applications. The University of Melbourne and the Indiana University Nor ....Sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles for fuel cell applications. The sonochemical synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles is one of several developing applications of ultrasound. Ultrasonically produced nanoparticles possess a number of specific properties, such as, pronounced catalytic activity. This project aims to ultrasonically synthesize metal nanoparticles and evaluate their suitability for fuel cell applications. The University of Melbourne and the Indiana University North-West research groups have a strong background and experience in the proposed research field. The outcome of this investigation will provide the basis for gaining other funding (e.g., ARC-NSF), which will establish a more extensive longer term collaboration between the universities.Read moreRead less
Hirshfeld surfaces in molecular crystals: Revolutionary tools for crystal engineers. Crystal engineering is an exciting modern branch of chemistry that seeks to understand intermolecular interactions in the context of crystal packing, and to use this understanding in the design of new materials with desirable physical and chemical properties. This project will considerably extend our already significant contribution to the detailed analysis of intermolecular interactions in molecular crystal st ....Hirshfeld surfaces in molecular crystals: Revolutionary tools for crystal engineers. Crystal engineering is an exciting modern branch of chemistry that seeks to understand intermolecular interactions in the context of crystal packing, and to use this understanding in the design of new materials with desirable physical and chemical properties. This project will considerably extend our already significant contribution to the detailed analysis of intermolecular interactions in molecular crystal structures. It will achieve this by a substantial enhancement of our novel visualization tools, by improving upon current approaches to the analysis of theoretical and experimental crystalline electron distributions for molecular materials, and by ensuring the widespread availability of resulting software to all researchers.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear optical properties of molecular crystals: An innovative approach to their determination using high-resolution X-ray diffraction data. This project will make a novel contribution towards the creation and optimisation of new optically-active materials, an objective central to future photon science and information technology. By developing and implementing innovative approaches in the charge density analysis of high-resolution, low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, we wil ....Nonlinear optical properties of molecular crystals: An innovative approach to their determination using high-resolution X-ray diffraction data. This project will make a novel contribution towards the creation and optimisation of new optically-active materials, an objective central to future photon science and information technology. By developing and implementing innovative approaches in the charge density analysis of high-resolution, low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, we will obtain in-crystal estimates of the electronic part of molecular (hyper)polarisabilities and related bulk susceptibilities, for crystals of selected important organic nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The program will exploit advances in CCD technology for X-ray data collection, procedures for electron density and wavefunction fitting, and analysis of molecular dynamics in crystals.Read moreRead less
Non-Covalent Interactions Probed by Velocity Map Imaging. Our research program concerns non-covalent interactions, which are of fundamental importance in a range of areas including condensed phase chemistry, the folding of large molecules, biomolecule shape, host-guest chemistry and molecular self-assembly. We probe non-covalent interactions through studies of van der Waals molecules, which involve two or more molecules or atoms held together by non-covalent forces. Our group has developed new ....Non-Covalent Interactions Probed by Velocity Map Imaging. Our research program concerns non-covalent interactions, which are of fundamental importance in a range of areas including condensed phase chemistry, the folding of large molecules, biomolecule shape, host-guest chemistry and molecular self-assembly. We probe non-covalent interactions through studies of van der Waals molecules, which involve two or more molecules or atoms held together by non-covalent forces. Our group has developed new experimental methodologies for determining the strength of intermolecular interactions and these will be used to study the effect of 3-body interactions. Because of their role in chemical reaction, we will also undertake detailed studies of complexes involving radical species.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561249
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,096.00
Summary
Enhanced X-Ray Analysis and Characterisation Facility. The increasing demand from both academic and industrial sectors has created an urgent need for enhancement and extension of the "Integrated Victorian X-Ray Structural Determination and Materials Characterisation Facility". This proposal achieves this aim by extending the collaborating institutes to include Monash University and adding modern single-crystal, two-dimensional microdiffraction, and wavelength dispersive xrf systems. The result w ....Enhanced X-Ray Analysis and Characterisation Facility. The increasing demand from both academic and industrial sectors has created an urgent need for enhancement and extension of the "Integrated Victorian X-Ray Structural Determination and Materials Characterisation Facility". This proposal achieves this aim by extending the collaborating institutes to include Monash University and adding modern single-crystal, two-dimensional microdiffraction, and wavelength dispersive xrf systems. The result will provide significantly enhanced characterisation and analysis facilities and enable new areas of research to be developed in organic and inorganic synthesis, material chemistry, polymer chemistry, and food, environmental and forensic sciences.Read moreRead less
Neutron Scattering in Biology. Australia's Replacement Research Reactor will be a world-class neutron source, and represents the country's largest single investment in scientific research infrastructure. It is now essential to stimulate its production of high-quality research in materials science, chemistry and biology. The applicant is a recognised world leader in the field of neutron scattering research, particularly in biology. His presence in the Bragg Institute, which manages the neutron ....Neutron Scattering in Biology. Australia's Replacement Research Reactor will be a world-class neutron source, and represents the country's largest single investment in scientific research infrastructure. It is now essential to stimulate its production of high-quality research in materials science, chemistry and biology. The applicant is a recognised world leader in the field of neutron scattering research, particularly in biology. His presence in the Bragg Institute, which manages the neutron scattering instruments on the reactor, will provide direction and impetus for the science that will be initiated there, advancing applications in materials science, medicine and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Inkjet printing bio-functional materials. The proposed research will benefit existing biomedical industries in Australia and provide opportunities for new start-up companies, as well as potentially attracting biomedical industries from overseas to establish a presence in Australia. This exciting area of research will provide an excellent multidisciplinary research environment for the proposed ARC International Fellow. The new bio-inkjet printing equipment, materials and configurations developed ....Inkjet printing bio-functional materials. The proposed research will benefit existing biomedical industries in Australia and provide opportunities for new start-up companies, as well as potentially attracting biomedical industries from overseas to establish a presence in Australia. This exciting area of research will provide an excellent multidisciplinary research environment for the proposed ARC International Fellow. The new bio-inkjet printing equipment, materials and configurations developed here may also have impact on other areas of Bionics, including the development of the next generation Bionic Ear, conduits for spinal cord regeneration as well as for muscle regeneration.Read moreRead less
Highly efficient X-ray storage phosphor for medical and scientific imaging. X-rays are invaluable in medical diagnostics. For example, they are widely used in breast screening programs. However,they can cause cancer even at low doses. Consequently there is a global effort to reduce the X-ray dose by exploring more efficient imaging technologies. The present proposal seeks to exploit our recent discovery of a highly efficient storage phosphor that has the potential to facilitate substantial X-r ....Highly efficient X-ray storage phosphor for medical and scientific imaging. X-rays are invaluable in medical diagnostics. For example, they are widely used in breast screening programs. However,they can cause cancer even at low doses. Consequently there is a global effort to reduce the X-ray dose by exploring more efficient imaging technologies. The present proposal seeks to exploit our recent discovery of a highly efficient storage phosphor that has the potential to facilitate substantial X-ray dose reduction; this is of greatest significance to the general population. Also, the phosphor facilitates higher resolution images, a feature that is highly important in scientific imaging. This project may lead to substantial revenue streams for the nation because it taps into a global multibillion dollar industry.Read moreRead less
Specific-ion effects in non-aqueous solvents. A test for Hofmeister. A colloidal solution is a liquid that contains a finely dispersed material. The properties of these solutions are critical in many industrially important practices and in the everyday processes of life. Though not understood, it is observed that the type of salt in solution controls how the colloid behaves. Through a series of very careful experiments we seek to learn precisely how different salts influence the properties of a ....Specific-ion effects in non-aqueous solvents. A test for Hofmeister. A colloidal solution is a liquid that contains a finely dispersed material. The properties of these solutions are critical in many industrially important practices and in the everyday processes of life. Though not understood, it is observed that the type of salt in solution controls how the colloid behaves. Through a series of very careful experiments we seek to learn precisely how different salts influence the properties of a colloidal solution. This world-leading research will enable us to improve our fundamental understanding of colloids and thereby facilitate advances in topics as diverse as enzymatic action and minerals purification, ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of science in this field.Read moreRead less
Development of Novel Nanostructured Electro-optical Systems. The development of flexible and conformal electro-optical systems will strengthen Australia's position in the automotive industry establishing a value adding technology. The auto-dimming mirror industry is worth in excess of US$500 million per annum, with predictions of industry sales of US$2 billion. This project will tap existing Australian manufacturing capabilities and utilise the intellectual capacity of internationally recognise ....Development of Novel Nanostructured Electro-optical Systems. The development of flexible and conformal electro-optical systems will strengthen Australia's position in the automotive industry establishing a value adding technology. The auto-dimming mirror industry is worth in excess of US$500 million per annum, with predictions of industry sales of US$2 billion. This project will tap existing Australian manufacturing capabilities and utilise the intellectual capacity of internationally recognised scientists from UoW and UniSA. The science behind this proposed development will have significance well beyond its initial scope with applications in areas such as ophthalmic lenses, architectural glazing and electronic textiles providing further Australian opportunities in these rapidly developing areas.Read moreRead less