Making Strong Alloys Ductile and Hydrogen-Tolerant via Tuning Nanogradients. This project aims to develop a novel design concept of gradient segregation engineering (GSE) to produce high-performance alloys. The innovative GSE will synergistically introduce a chemical gradient via grain boundary segregation and a physical gradient by microstructure control to simultaneously achieve an excellent strength-ductility combination and exceptional resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. This project expec ....Making Strong Alloys Ductile and Hydrogen-Tolerant via Tuning Nanogradients. This project aims to develop a novel design concept of gradient segregation engineering (GSE) to produce high-performance alloys. The innovative GSE will synergistically introduce a chemical gradient via grain boundary segregation and a physical gradient by microstructure control to simultaneously achieve an excellent strength-ductility combination and exceptional resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. This project expects to create new fundamental knowledge and provide critical perspectives for future mechanistic alloy design. The results will enhance Australia’s capacity to develop next-generation advanced alloys to underpin current and emerging industrial applications and strengthen the country’s leading position in materials engineering.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Characterisation of Tracer-Functionalised Nanoparticles . This project aims to engineer nanomaterials by utilising gold nanochemistry and neural tracing capabilities of plant-based, nontoxic proteins. In a significant departure from current nanomaterials being developed, functionalising nanoparticles with the tracers enable them to undergo path-specific axonal retrograde transport, transneuronal transport, and anatomical tract flow to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Microfluidics w ....Synthesis and Characterisation of Tracer-Functionalised Nanoparticles . This project aims to engineer nanomaterials by utilising gold nanochemistry and neural tracing capabilities of plant-based, nontoxic proteins. In a significant departure from current nanomaterials being developed, functionalising nanoparticles with the tracers enable them to undergo path-specific axonal retrograde transport, transneuronal transport, and anatomical tract flow to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Microfluidics will be used to characterise the neuronal activities of the synthesised nanoconjugates of different sizes and compositions to understand their bio-interactions with axons, synapses, and neuromuscular junctions. The results will lead to a new class of functional nanomaterials as well as cell-based functional assays.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Toughening of Carbon Fibre Composites for Liquid Hydrogen Storage. This project aims to develop hybrid toughening technologies to overcome the major problem of transverse matrix cracking and splitting in existing carbon fibre composites when subjected to thermal-mechanical loading at the ultracold liquid hydrogen temperature. Nano-toughened thin-ply carbon fibre layers will be hybridised with standard-ply laminates to sustain internal pressure and external impact loading at cryogenic temp ....Hybrid Toughening of Carbon Fibre Composites for Liquid Hydrogen Storage. This project aims to develop hybrid toughening technologies to overcome the major problem of transverse matrix cracking and splitting in existing carbon fibre composites when subjected to thermal-mechanical loading at the ultracold liquid hydrogen temperature. Nano-toughened thin-ply carbon fibre layers will be hybridised with standard-ply laminates to sustain internal pressure and external impact loading at cryogenic temperatures without leaks. The hybrid composites are expected to enable Australian companies to engineer, manufacture and export lightweight carbon fibre tanks for storing and exporting liquid hydrogen, which is emerging as a transformational opportunity for Australia to become a global supplier of green energy.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$754,700.00
Summary
Ultra-fast structure-property characterisation of materials. The design of materials for functional and damage-tolerant applications requires detailed knowledge of their structure and the mechanisms that operate at length scales ranging from interatomic layers to micro, meso and macro scales. This project aims to establish ultra-fast processing capabilities that enable ion-damage free structural modifications and microstructure-mechanical properties characterisation across multiple length scales ....Ultra-fast structure-property characterisation of materials. The design of materials for functional and damage-tolerant applications requires detailed knowledge of their structure and the mechanisms that operate at length scales ranging from interatomic layers to micro, meso and macro scales. This project aims to establish ultra-fast processing capabilities that enable ion-damage free structural modifications and microstructure-mechanical properties characterisation across multiple length scales at unprecedented speed and accuracy. Expected outcomes include the ability to create new knowledge about multi-scale structure, composition and deformation mechanisms for the design of novel materials systems that enable manufacturing benefits throughout transportation, defence and clean energy sectors.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100086
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,000.00
Summary
Integrated multimodal microscopy facility for single molecule analysis. This project aims to establish an integrated multimodal microscopy facility in Australia for extensive structural characterization of functional and biological materials at the nanoscale and single molecule level. Discoveries using the facility will provide new insights into the relationship between molecules, materials, and their functions. The key outcomes and benefits of this facility are to i) strengthen the research eff ....Integrated multimodal microscopy facility for single molecule analysis. This project aims to establish an integrated multimodal microscopy facility in Australia for extensive structural characterization of functional and biological materials at the nanoscale and single molecule level. Discoveries using the facility will provide new insights into the relationship between molecules, materials, and their functions. The key outcomes and benefits of this facility are to i) strengthen the research effort in materials science and biotechnology, ii) advance the development of functional materials for biosensing and energy storage, and iii) create new catalysts for green energy conversion. The funding will ensure researchers have access to the latest technology critical to maintaining world-class research.Read moreRead less
Light Powered Materials for Producing Chemical Fuels. This project aims to develop a hybrid, solar-powered catalytic material for the manufacture of liquid hydrocarbon chemicals, without consuming external heating. The key concept is to transform hydrogen and carbon monoxide into long-chain hydrocarbons over hybrid materials that can convert light energy into heat and simultaneously catalyze the chemical transformation. Investigations on the relations between material synthesis, nanostructures, ....Light Powered Materials for Producing Chemical Fuels. This project aims to develop a hybrid, solar-powered catalytic material for the manufacture of liquid hydrocarbon chemicals, without consuming external heating. The key concept is to transform hydrogen and carbon monoxide into long-chain hydrocarbons over hybrid materials that can convert light energy into heat and simultaneously catalyze the chemical transformation. Investigations on the relations between material synthesis, nanostructures, and performance of the new catalysis processes will be conducted using experiments and theoretical computation. Expected outcomes include low cost and efficient materials for solar-to-fuel conversion, will provide benefits to low-carbon living, new clean energy resource and environmental protections.Read moreRead less
Energy-efficient liquid-flow system for electroreduction of carbon dioxide. Concerns about fossil fuel depletion and rising carbon emissions have brought about an urgent demand for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilisation technologies. Facilitated by the mechanism-driven catalyst development and engineering innovation, this project aims to deliver a durable and cost-effective approach to electrochemical transformation of CO2 into the valuable products. The proposed automatic liquid-flow reac ....Energy-efficient liquid-flow system for electroreduction of carbon dioxide. Concerns about fossil fuel depletion and rising carbon emissions have brought about an urgent demand for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilisation technologies. Facilitated by the mechanism-driven catalyst development and engineering innovation, this project aims to deliver a durable and cost-effective approach to electrochemical transformation of CO2 into the valuable products. The proposed automatic liquid-flow reactor system is expected to enable an energy efficient and practical viable CO2 reduction in benign aqueous electrolytes. The resulting innovations will not only reduce the environmental impact of atmospheric CO2 but also generate highly concentrated industrial feedstocks for the sustainable production of commodity chemicals.Read moreRead less