Bimolecular chemistry at very low temperatures. Many chemical reactions involve short-lived and highly reactive intermediates that cannot be observed under ordinary reaction conditions. Hence, much of this chemistry is shrouded in mystery. This project aims to develop the ability to observe and monitor such reactions directly using a combination of spectroscopies at very low temperatures, where the molecules are more stable and reactions slower. These studies will give quantitative information ....Bimolecular chemistry at very low temperatures. Many chemical reactions involve short-lived and highly reactive intermediates that cannot be observed under ordinary reaction conditions. Hence, much of this chemistry is shrouded in mystery. This project aims to develop the ability to observe and monitor such reactions directly using a combination of spectroscopies at very low temperatures, where the molecules are more stable and reactions slower. These studies will give quantitative information on the nature of the reactive intermediates themselves, the nature of the products formed, and the reaction dynamics, and they are of fundamental importance for an understanding of chemical reactivity generally. The methodology developed will be applicable to the investigation of a wide range of processes.Read moreRead less
New mechanisms and methods in carbene and nitrene chemistry. Carbenes and nitrenes are highly reactive intermediates of theoretical and mechanistic significance and synthetic versatility in organic chemistry. In spite of high reactivity, selective and high-yielding reactions can be performed, leading to products that may be difficult or impossible to synthesise by other methods. They have practical applications in photo-affinity labelling of biomolecules, and photolithography. This project will ....New mechanisms and methods in carbene and nitrene chemistry. Carbenes and nitrenes are highly reactive intermediates of theoretical and mechanistic significance and synthetic versatility in organic chemistry. In spite of high reactivity, selective and high-yielding reactions can be performed, leading to products that may be difficult or impossible to synthesise by other methods. They have practical applications in photo-affinity labelling of biomolecules, and photolithography. This project will contribute fundamental knowledge of the nature and reactions of these species by using direct spectroscopic observation. We are proposing the occurrence of novel types of reactions and the formation of several new reactive intermediates as well as a technique for the stabilization of reactive intermediates by incorporation into macrocyclic frameworks.Read moreRead less
The role of mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels in magnetoreception. The magnetic field of the Earth has for long been known to influence the behaviour and orientation of a variety of organisms. Experimental study of the magnetic sense has however, been impaired by the lack of a plausible cellular and/or molecular mechanism providing meaningful explanation for detection of magnetic fields by living organisms. Recently, mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels have been implied to play a role in magneto ....The role of mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels in magnetoreception. The magnetic field of the Earth has for long been known to influence the behaviour and orientation of a variety of organisms. Experimental study of the magnetic sense has however, been impaired by the lack of a plausible cellular and/or molecular mechanism providing meaningful explanation for detection of magnetic fields by living organisms. Recently, mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels have been implied to play a role in magnetoreception. Based on our preliminary investigations, which suggest that the activity of bacterial MS channels may be affected by magnetic fields, we propose to study effects of magnetic fields on MS ion channels in Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum. The project promises also to contribute towards better understanding of adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation on human health and towards understanding the mechanisms behind remote magnetic-nanoparticle mediated activation of MS ion channels.Read moreRead less
Reactive intermediates and microwave-assisted organic reactions. The use of our chemistry to help develop new, safer, better drugs against schizophrenia is a strong driving force for this research. This relates to the National Research Priority of promoting and maintaining good health, ageing well and productively, and preventative healthcare. Microwave-assisted chemical synthesis will undoubtedly become a very important methodology in the pharmaceutical industry, and our work will help develop ....Reactive intermediates and microwave-assisted organic reactions. The use of our chemistry to help develop new, safer, better drugs against schizophrenia is a strong driving force for this research. This relates to the National Research Priority of promoting and maintaining good health, ageing well and productively, and preventative healthcare. Microwave-assisted chemical synthesis will undoubtedly become a very important methodology in the pharmaceutical industry, and our work will help developing such know-how in Australia and thereby contribute to the Australian economic fabric. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,224.00
Summary
Water vapour radiometers for millimetre-wave phase correction for the Australia Telescope. Australia has a tradition of excellence in astronomy. Inspired by wonder about the cosmos, it stimulates public interest in science, so leading to the training of highly skilled graduates. In turn, this drives the development of technologies needed to pursue the science. The nation has invested in the technology for millimetre-wave astronomy, building the first interferometer in our hemisphere. This equipm ....Water vapour radiometers for millimetre-wave phase correction for the Australia Telescope. Australia has a tradition of excellence in astronomy. Inspired by wonder about the cosmos, it stimulates public interest in science, so leading to the training of highly skilled graduates. In turn, this drives the development of technologies needed to pursue the science. The nation has invested in the technology for millimetre-wave astronomy, building the first interferometer in our hemisphere. This equipment will capitalise on this investment, extending the capabilities of the Australia Telescope to maintain it as a front line instrument, attracting the best scientists here to use it. This will help nurture a vigorous radio-science community, one able to actively participate in the billion-dollar investment being made internationally in the field.Read moreRead less
Characterization of Sub- and Super-Critical Fluids in Nanomaterials. In recent years, nano-porous materials have become the most potential media for applications in the areas of separation and purification, with materials such as carbon alloy, activated carbon fibre, carbon nanotube and their derivatives. Their effective utilisation depends on how well we characterise them for their adsorption capacities. In this project, we propose a new model for this characterisation and this model can be u ....Characterization of Sub- and Super-Critical Fluids in Nanomaterials. In recent years, nano-porous materials have become the most potential media for applications in the areas of separation and purification, with materials such as carbon alloy, activated carbon fibre, carbon nanotube and their derivatives. Their effective utilisation depends on how well we characterise them for their adsorption capacities. In this project, we propose a new model for this characterisation and this model can be used for the prediction of adsorption of multicomponent systems, which are common in separation and purification industries, without recourse to extensive experimentation. The success of this model could translate to cost savings in those industries.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,438.00
Summary
Smart astronomy: using computational science to understand distant radio galaxies. Radio galaxies are among the largest galaxies in the universe with their copious radio emission powered by massive black holes. Australian radio telescopes are very effective at tracing these massive galaxies back in time so we can measure how black holes formed and developed. These measurements depend on reliable identification of the radio sources with our optical telescopes to make vital measurements of their d ....Smart astronomy: using computational science to understand distant radio galaxies. Radio galaxies are among the largest galaxies in the universe with their copious radio emission powered by massive black holes. Australian radio telescopes are very effective at tracing these massive galaxies back in time so we can measure how black holes formed and developed. These measurements depend on reliable identification of the radio sources with our optical telescopes to make vital measurements of their distances. Until now this identification process has been straightforward, but the next generation of studies will look so far back in time that the identification will become ambiguous. Our project will develop a software tool that applies techniques from computational science to overcome the ambiguity in this matching problem.Read moreRead less
Entanglement renormalization: a new route to strongly correlated fermions and novel states of matter in two dimensions. The expected outcome of the research program is a significant boost in our understanding of strongly correlated fermion systems, which will reinforce Australia's competitiveness and international profile in aspects of breakthrough science and frontier technologies. By strengthening both the underpinning theory and innovative computational tools to study fermion systems, and by ....Entanglement renormalization: a new route to strongly correlated fermions and novel states of matter in two dimensions. The expected outcome of the research program is a significant boost in our understanding of strongly correlated fermion systems, which will reinforce Australia's competitiveness and international profile in aspects of breakthrough science and frontier technologies. By strengthening both the underpinning theory and innovative computational tools to study fermion systems, and by applying them to specific problems of recognized importance, this program will have direct implications in condensed matter physics and will exert significant influence in areas such as quantum chemistry, particle, nuclear and atomic physics, quantum computing, quantum atom optics and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less