New carbon phases synthesized under extreme conditions. This project aims to address one of the major fundamental puzzles in carbon science; how to experimentally synthesize new phases of carbon predicted by theory. This could be approached via a combination of high pressure and high-energy ion irradiation to transform novel nano-carbon precursors. The expected outcomes include new phases of carbon with unexplored properties, an understanding of the pathways for synthesis of carbon materials, an ....New carbon phases synthesized under extreme conditions. This project aims to address one of the major fundamental puzzles in carbon science; how to experimentally synthesize new phases of carbon predicted by theory. This could be approached via a combination of high pressure and high-energy ion irradiation to transform novel nano-carbon precursors. The expected outcomes include new phases of carbon with unexplored properties, an understanding of the pathways for synthesis of carbon materials, and new computational tools to understand nano-carbon materials under extreme conditions. This should provide benefits for industries seeking advanced materials for modern manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Unique Chemistry from Radioactive Decay in the Solid-State. Australia is an important member of the international nuclear fuel cycle. It holds one-third of the world's uranium reserves and is a major player in the development of technology for immobilizing radioactive waste. We will use computer simulation to answer a very important question which is extremely difficult to study experimentally: How does radioactive decay inside a solid change the chemistry of the material over time? Not only wil ....Unique Chemistry from Radioactive Decay in the Solid-State. Australia is an important member of the international nuclear fuel cycle. It holds one-third of the world's uranium reserves and is a major player in the development of technology for immobilizing radioactive waste. We will use computer simulation to answer a very important question which is extremely difficult to study experimentally: How does radioactive decay inside a solid change the chemistry of the material over time? Not only will our study improve nuclear waste storage, it will also reveal how in-situ chemical change creates new kinds of solids which cannot be made by conventional means. These solids can exhibit unusual and useful behaviour; this project provides the first investigation of this unexplored technological niche.Read moreRead less
Carbon nanotube fluidic channels for desalination - interplay of nanoscale confinement and electrostatics. Tiny tubes of carbon, ten thousand times smaller than human hair, allow water to pass through at extraordinary speed. This project aims to understand and improve their salt rejection properties using comprehensive experimental and theoretical approaches. This will provide the impetus and knowledge for developing advanced membranes for desalination
Magnetic and electric field tuneable magnetic heterostructures. Australian science and technology will be a leading participant in the creation of a new, useful magneto-electric composite material whose properties arise from careful atomic level design. This goal has been long sought after, and only recently come within reach. Recent proof-of-concept demonstrations have inspired an explosion of activity on a global scale together with intensive searches for additional examples of useful materia ....Magnetic and electric field tuneable magnetic heterostructures. Australian science and technology will be a leading participant in the creation of a new, useful magneto-electric composite material whose properties arise from careful atomic level design. This goal has been long sought after, and only recently come within reach. Recent proof-of-concept demonstrations have inspired an explosion of activity on a global scale together with intensive searches for additional examples of useful material combinations. In this project, young Australian scientists and research students will have opportunities to receive training and become involved in a National Priority Frontier Technology rich in possibilities for generation of intellectual property.Read moreRead less
Memory effects in magnetic metals: origin, utility and control in magnetoelectronics using layered nanopatterns. The work is in the important area of magneto-electronics, a field recognised by the 2007 Nobel Prize awarded in Physics. Training opportunities for Honours and postgraduate students will be provided at the forefront of this high profile area, thereby expanding Australian knowledge base and capability. New opportunities for interaction between several groups in Australia will be create ....Memory effects in magnetic metals: origin, utility and control in magnetoelectronics using layered nanopatterns. The work is in the important area of magneto-electronics, a field recognised by the 2007 Nobel Prize awarded in Physics. Training opportunities for Honours and postgraduate students will be provided at the forefront of this high profile area, thereby expanding Australian knowledge base and capability. New opportunities for interaction between several groups in Australia will be created. The projects will involve PhD students shared between Australian institutions and collaborating groups overseas, thereby cementing collaborations while simultaneously providing unique training environments. The project will use and support activities associated with the Australian major facilities. Read moreRead less
Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction o ....Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction of greenhouse emission.Read moreRead less
A thermal battery for dish-Stirling concentrated solar power systems. This project will investigate new high temperature (> 600 degrees Celsius) metal hydrides and carbonates suitable for thermochemical energy storage in dish-Stirling Concentrated Solar Power systems. The intended outcome is to discover cost effective, energy dense materials that are capable of operating over a 30 year life span in a solar power plant. This will enable 24/7 electricity production from renewable sources in a disp ....A thermal battery for dish-Stirling concentrated solar power systems. This project will investigate new high temperature (> 600 degrees Celsius) metal hydrides and carbonates suitable for thermochemical energy storage in dish-Stirling Concentrated Solar Power systems. The intended outcome is to discover cost effective, energy dense materials that are capable of operating over a 30 year life span in a solar power plant. This will enable 24/7 electricity production from renewable sources in a dispatchable solar platform, ideal for remote locations. The successful development of high temperature metal hydrides and carbonates will finally provide an energy storage solution to dish-Stirling Concentrated Solar Power systems, which will greatly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to produce electricity.Read moreRead less
Probing the internal contacts of all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. The results of this research will enable the development of robust and reliable all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. These sensors will enable solutions to significant environmental problems such as soil salinity and acidity, and may pave the way for new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., miniaturized implantable sensors for in-vivo use, microfluidics and Forensic Science, single blood droplet clinical analyzers, ....Probing the internal contacts of all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. The results of this research will enable the development of robust and reliable all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. These sensors will enable solutions to significant environmental problems such as soil salinity and acidity, and may pave the way for new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., miniaturized implantable sensors for in-vivo use, microfluidics and Forensic Science, single blood droplet clinical analyzers, rugged solid contact ion sensors for use in submersible oceanographic analyzers, etc. The research will develop a unique in-situ neutron reflectometry technique for the study of electrochemical interfaces, providing scientific opportunities for the new Australian Replacement Research Reactor.Read moreRead less
Probing the interfaces of electrochemical sensors. The nanostructured surfaces of electrochemical sensors for iron, mercury and cadmium will be characterised by using a range of state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques. Whilst electrochemical sensors are extremely valuable in monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic environment, a knowledge of the surface chemical physics of the systems is vital in order to widen their use in analytical/environmental chemistry. This project will derive a u ....Probing the interfaces of electrochemical sensors. The nanostructured surfaces of electrochemical sensors for iron, mercury and cadmium will be characterised by using a range of state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques. Whilst electrochemical sensors are extremely valuable in monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic environment, a knowledge of the surface chemical physics of the systems is vital in order to widen their use in analytical/environmental chemistry. This project will derive a universal model for the surface chemistry and physics of electrochemical sensors, enabling environmental scientists to develop unique sensor methods for studying the speciation of environmentally important trace metals such as those mentioned above.Read moreRead less
Exploiting shear to form new structures of carbon. This project aims to create new, technologically-interesting, materials by combining shear (sliding forces) with high pressure. The work will use both modelling and experiments to understand the pathways to form new materials such as a different form of diamond that is predicted to be harder than regular diamond. Such a material could be used in coatings for cutting tools or ultra-low-scratch surfaces. Expected outcomes include both an understan ....Exploiting shear to form new structures of carbon. This project aims to create new, technologically-interesting, materials by combining shear (sliding forces) with high pressure. The work will use both modelling and experiments to understand the pathways to form new materials such as a different form of diamond that is predicted to be harder than regular diamond. Such a material could be used in coatings for cutting tools or ultra-low-scratch surfaces. Expected outcomes include both an understanding of the importance of shear in the study of high-pressure science, and as a tool to manufacture new functional materials.Read moreRead less