Efficient CO and CO2 conversion to biopolymers using phototrophic bacteria. This project aims to deliver efficient processes for the large-scale production of biopolymers from low cost inputs, using phototrophic bacteria. Feedstocks include syngas from solid wastes and carbon-dioxide-hydrogen mixes from fossil and renewable sources. The choice of phototrophic bacteria avoids the energy losses associated with existing technologies, since photons are used instead of chemical energy for metabolic n ....Efficient CO and CO2 conversion to biopolymers using phototrophic bacteria. This project aims to deliver efficient processes for the large-scale production of biopolymers from low cost inputs, using phototrophic bacteria. Feedstocks include syngas from solid wastes and carbon-dioxide-hydrogen mixes from fossil and renewable sources. The choice of phototrophic bacteria avoids the energy losses associated with existing technologies, since photons are used instead of chemical energy for metabolic needs. This project enables the production and optimisation of biopolymers through collaborations between engineers, polymer scientists and molecular biologists. The project will deliver technologies to produce tough, flexible and affordable biopolymers, converting wastes and greenhouse gases to a valuable product.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired Ceramifiable Fire-Retardant Composite Coatings. This project aims to design bioinspired, adhesive, ceramifiable fire-retardant coatings through understanding their composition-property relationship and fire-retardant mechanism. The fire-retardant coatings are then applied to typical polymer foams to create fire-safe building thermal insulation materials. This project will generate new knowledge in materials science that helps to expedite next-generation advanced fire-retardant coatin ....Bioinspired Ceramifiable Fire-Retardant Composite Coatings. This project aims to design bioinspired, adhesive, ceramifiable fire-retardant coatings through understanding their composition-property relationship and fire-retardant mechanism. The fire-retardant coatings are then applied to typical polymer foams to create fire-safe building thermal insulation materials. This project will generate new knowledge in materials science that helps to expedite next-generation advanced fire-retardant coatings for a variety of flammable substrates. Expected outcomes of this project are cost-effective fire-retardant coatings and fire-safe, inexpensive thermal insulation materials. This project will bring significant economic benefits to Australia and help to create fire-resilient and energy-efficient buildings.Read moreRead less
Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and b ....Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and biodegradability. Outcomes include greater understanding of design of self-reinforced biopolymer composites structure, processing and properties. This will produce opportunities for high performance biobased composite manufacturing and a growing circular plastics economy for Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100616
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,574.00
Summary
Development of high-performance flame-retardant one-component epoxy resins. This project will create a new class of phosphorus/imidazole oligomers for single-component epoxy resins with superior storage stability, fire retardancy and mechanical properties. By establishing a fundamental understanding of the structure-composition-property relationships of one-component epoxy resins, it will address two major challenges - high reactivity and short shelf life, and poor flame retardancy and mechanica ....Development of high-performance flame-retardant one-component epoxy resins. This project will create a new class of phosphorus/imidazole oligomers for single-component epoxy resins with superior storage stability, fire retardancy and mechanical properties. By establishing a fundamental understanding of the structure-composition-property relationships of one-component epoxy resins, it will address two major challenges - high reactivity and short shelf life, and poor flame retardancy and mechanical properties, which limit practical applications. This project will develop environmentally benign, flame-retardant oligomers, reducing fire hazards, protecting lives, property and the environment, by replacing current flammable epoxy resins used in electrical, construction and transportation.Read moreRead less
Bioplastics in the environment: lifetimes and toxicology. Globally, governments are implementing policies to drive a move to a circular economy. In the process, new materials are being introduced whose potential impacts need to be understood before they are widely used. This project pioneers investigations into the rate and extent of biodegradation of biodegradable plastics in aquatic and soil environments and the associated ecotoxicology of this process. In particular, it aims to quantify the e ....Bioplastics in the environment: lifetimes and toxicology. Globally, governments are implementing policies to drive a move to a circular economy. In the process, new materials are being introduced whose potential impacts need to be understood before they are widely used. This project pioneers investigations into the rate and extent of biodegradation of biodegradable plastics in aquatic and soil environments and the associated ecotoxicology of this process. In particular, it aims to quantify the extent to which the surfaces of these materials accumulate environmental pollutants via adsorption and other mechanisms. The outcomes will include conceptual models of biodegradation across environments, including lifetimes and likely impacts, critical information for framing a sustainable plastics industry.Read moreRead less
Stretchable Organic Transistors for Wearable Electronics and Robotics. The project aims to address the challenges of fabricating stretchable organic transistors for applications in wearable electronics and robotics through the development of new semiconducting polymers with stretchability and integrating them into novel, stretchable organic transistor configurations. The project will take a molecular engineering approach to the complex needs of this challenge by combining appropriate chemical f ....Stretchable Organic Transistors for Wearable Electronics and Robotics. The project aims to address the challenges of fabricating stretchable organic transistors for applications in wearable electronics and robotics through the development of new semiconducting polymers with stretchability and integrating them into novel, stretchable organic transistor configurations. The project will take a molecular engineering approach to the complex needs of this challenge by combining appropriate chemical functionality which provides high charge carrier mobility with judiciously placed flexible spacers and side chains to provide mechanical dexterity. These novel polymers will be integrated into transistor structures and their fabricated arrays deposited on stretchable substrates will be used for a real world applications.Read moreRead less
Development of next generation smart sucker rod wear guides . In a natural gas wells, sucker rod guides protect the production tubing from wear by the rod string. Premature and erratic failures are costing the industry tens of millions every year. In collaboration with two local SMEs, this project aims to develop the next generation of smart and durable wear guides. The project seeks to understand the complex three body wear mechanisms that drive guide and tubing wear, then use this knowledge to ....Development of next generation smart sucker rod wear guides . In a natural gas wells, sucker rod guides protect the production tubing from wear by the rod string. Premature and erratic failures are costing the industry tens of millions every year. In collaboration with two local SMEs, this project aims to develop the next generation of smart and durable wear guides. The project seeks to understand the complex three body wear mechanisms that drive guide and tubing wear, then use this knowledge to develop new wear resistant compounds and develop a smart guide that provides feedback on its wear state. This will enable the industry partners to supply cutting edge technology to the global oil and gas industry that not only reduces well operation cost but also enhances well resilience.Read moreRead less
Innovative Stable Free Radical-Substituted Conjugated Electronic Polymers. The project aims to develop an innovative class of stable free radicals side-chain substituted conjugated donor-acceptor electronic polymers with unique polaronic and radical charge transport capabilities. The targeted optoelectronic material class is unique and has not been explored in depth before. The combination of unpaired electrons and delocalized backbone -electrons delivers exciting modes of charge transfer that ....Innovative Stable Free Radical-Substituted Conjugated Electronic Polymers. The project aims to develop an innovative class of stable free radicals side-chain substituted conjugated donor-acceptor electronic polymers with unique polaronic and radical charge transport capabilities. The targeted optoelectronic material class is unique and has not been explored in depth before. The combination of unpaired electrons and delocalized backbone -electrons delivers exciting modes of charge transfer that provide these novel materials with clear potential as electroactive materials with applications in various nanoelectronics devices. Developing a fundamental understanding of charge transport properties and potential device applications will open up a new field of research in advanced optoelectronic technology. Read moreRead less
Core-shell nanofibrous bio-based flame retardants with reinforcement function. This project aims to develop high-performance bio-based flame retardants (FRs) by designing a novel core-shell nanofibrous FR system, combining exceptional flame retardant qualities and mechanical reinforcement to enhance the safe use of thermoplastic products. Thermoplastic products are widespread in building, electric and electronic, automobile and packaging products, but their intrinsic flammability poses great fir ....Core-shell nanofibrous bio-based flame retardants with reinforcement function. This project aims to develop high-performance bio-based flame retardants (FRs) by designing a novel core-shell nanofibrous FR system, combining exceptional flame retardant qualities and mechanical reinforcement to enhance the safe use of thermoplastic products. Thermoplastic products are widespread in building, electric and electronic, automobile and packaging products, but their intrinsic flammability poses great fire threats to the society. Flame retardants are key to producing fire-resistant plastic products with a low fire hazard rating. The novel bio-based flame retardant material developed by this project seeks to combine enhanced flame retardant properties and mechanical reinforcement functions. The outcomes of the project will demonstrate eco-friendly flame retardants and high performance flame retardant thermoplastic products.Read moreRead less