Advanced lanthanide-doped nanomaterials for new-generation security inks. Current security labelling technologies using pattern coding (“barcoding”) and/or UV-excited phosphorescent inks are relatively easily counterfeited. The project aims to identify optimal design, fabrication and surface treatment of infrared-excited lanthanide nanoparticles for use as pigments in UV-curable polymer inks. This is expected to result in a new-generation of jet-printable security inks with ultimate capability f ....Advanced lanthanide-doped nanomaterials for new-generation security inks. Current security labelling technologies using pattern coding (“barcoding”) and/or UV-excited phosphorescent inks are relatively easily counterfeited. The project aims to identify optimal design, fabrication and surface treatment of infrared-excited lanthanide nanoparticles for use as pigments in UV-curable polymer inks. This is expected to result in a new-generation of jet-printable security inks with ultimate capability for multidimensional coding (using multiple luminescence wavelengths and lifetimes) and robust readability. Expected outcomes are world leadership in codable inks for secure labelling against counterfeiting, greatly enhancing both global ink-product sales and the value of Australian exports subject to product substitution.Read moreRead less
Next generation easy-clean lenses by robust liquid-repellent nanotextures. This project aims to produce better performing self-cleaning lenses, which are less likely to get dirty and are easy to clean. It will develop water and oil repellent coatings with superior optical transparency and mechanical, solvent and UV stability for both hard coated and anti-reflection coated optical lenses. Engineering of stable, ultra-liquid repellent nanomaterials on transparent surfaces will create a foundation ....Next generation easy-clean lenses by robust liquid-repellent nanotextures. This project aims to produce better performing self-cleaning lenses, which are less likely to get dirty and are easy to clean. It will develop water and oil repellent coatings with superior optical transparency and mechanical, solvent and UV stability for both hard coated and anti-reflection coated optical lenses. Engineering of stable, ultra-liquid repellent nanomaterials on transparent surfaces will create a foundation of knowledge for the industrial development of the future generation of easy care coatings, with vast application potential.Read moreRead less
Hot carrier cooling mechanisms in nano structures. This project aims to systematically investigate possible mechanisms of hot carrier cooling in nano structures and to identify the most dominant mechanisms. These are important for efficient hot carrier solar cells and thermoelectrics. This project will develop new physics to understand hot carrier dynamics in nano structures. This project is expected to result in photovoltaic systems with a lower balance of system and levelised cost of electrici ....Hot carrier cooling mechanisms in nano structures. This project aims to systematically investigate possible mechanisms of hot carrier cooling in nano structures and to identify the most dominant mechanisms. These are important for efficient hot carrier solar cells and thermoelectrics. This project will develop new physics to understand hot carrier dynamics in nano structures. This project is expected to result in photovoltaic systems with a lower balance of system and levelised cost of electricity compared to conventional technologies. This should boost solar industry, create green jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100417
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,347.00
Summary
Light-emitting devices for next-generation optoelectronic applications. High-efficiency, multifunction light sources are essential in the new era of intelligent connectivity and hyper-automation for emerging applications in advanced display technologies (e.g., holographic/augmented reality displays), communication devices (e.g., 6th-generation (6G) telecommunication networks), and optical sensing (e.g., for self-driving vehicles & robotics). Realising such devices requires a paradigm shift in op ....Light-emitting devices for next-generation optoelectronic applications. High-efficiency, multifunction light sources are essential in the new era of intelligent connectivity and hyper-automation for emerging applications in advanced display technologies (e.g., holographic/augmented reality displays), communication devices (e.g., 6th-generation (6G) telecommunication networks), and optical sensing (e.g., for self-driving vehicles & robotics). Realising such devices requires a paradigm shift in optical technology beyond conventional optics. This project aims to develop new light-emitting device concepts that can deliver the technical requirements of these applications by tailoring advanced nanophotonic technologies and recent breakthroughs in advanced functional materials. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100070
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Optical wavelength conversion in nonlinear dielectric nano-resonators. This project aims to uncover new opportunities to change the colour of light on the nanoscale, taking advantage of revolutionary advances in high-precision nano-fabrication. It will bring deeper understanding of the interaction between light and matter in dielectric resonators with sizes smaller than the visible light wavelength. This is expected to open a pathway for new telecommunication and microscopy-related technologies ....Optical wavelength conversion in nonlinear dielectric nano-resonators. This project aims to uncover new opportunities to change the colour of light on the nanoscale, taking advantage of revolutionary advances in high-precision nano-fabrication. It will bring deeper understanding of the interaction between light and matter in dielectric resonators with sizes smaller than the visible light wavelength. This is expected to open a pathway for new telecommunication and microscopy-related technologies and move towards increasing energy efficiency, scalability and security of optical communication networks of the future.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100071
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,000.00
Summary
Photonic Chip Integration Facility. This project will create a Photonic Chip Integration Facility responding to newly emerging global trends towards low loss waveguides and wider coverage of the optical spectrum.
The tool will grow ultrahigh quality silicon nitride and oxide thin films in a manner that is compatible with electronics and other delicate materials, balancing flexibility for materials exploration with reliability and repeatability required for photonic chip systems research. The pr ....Photonic Chip Integration Facility. This project will create a Photonic Chip Integration Facility responding to newly emerging global trends towards low loss waveguides and wider coverage of the optical spectrum.
The tool will grow ultrahigh quality silicon nitride and oxide thin films in a manner that is compatible with electronics and other delicate materials, balancing flexibility for materials exploration with reliability and repeatability required for photonic chip systems research. The proposed facility will support Australian researchers from diverse disciplines spanning broadband networks, sensing, quantum technology, materials science, and beyond while providing a clear path for translating discoveries out of the lab towards scale up industrial manufacture
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Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitativel ....Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitatively at multiscales and the nanoscale phenomena will be linked to macroscopic performance. The results of this research should provide a fundamental understanding of tunable adhesion mechanisms for the design and development of optimized materials with superb performance of practical significance.
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All-on-chip twisted light modulator for ultrahigh-capacity data processing. The project aims to develop a conceptually new all-on-chip twisted light modulator via photonic integration of a customised twisted-light metasurface with on-chip optical waveguides. The goal is to replace current bulky, slow, and costly spatial light modulators by a compact nanophotonic chip for the generation and detection of multiple twisted-light modes. Project outcomes include new knowledge in photonic integration a ....All-on-chip twisted light modulator for ultrahigh-capacity data processing. The project aims to develop a conceptually new all-on-chip twisted light modulator via photonic integration of a customised twisted-light metasurface with on-chip optical waveguides. The goal is to replace current bulky, slow, and costly spatial light modulators by a compact nanophotonic chip for the generation and detection of multiple twisted-light modes. Project outcomes include new knowledge in photonic integration and 3D meta-optics, and novel nanophotonic devices for twisted light, which will expand applications of twisted light for all-on-chip fibre-optic communications and holographic displays. The ultra-compact, high-capacity, efficient twisted-light modulators are expected to have a practical impact on many photonic applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,000.00
Summary
Ultrastable perovskite nanocrystals for high quality optoelectronic devices. This project aims to investigate novel highly efficient luminescent nanomaterials; by utilising perovskite nanocrystals with enhanced stability by coating or mesoporous materials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of energy conversion using interdisciplinary approaches of chemistry, physics, engineering and machine learning. Expected outcomes of this project include higher efficiency display and ....Ultrastable perovskite nanocrystals for high quality optoelectronic devices. This project aims to investigate novel highly efficient luminescent nanomaterials; by utilising perovskite nanocrystals with enhanced stability by coating or mesoporous materials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of energy conversion using interdisciplinary approaches of chemistry, physics, engineering and machine learning. Expected outcomes of this project include higher efficiency display and lighting, better performance of energy harvesting. The cross disciplinary collaborations pave the way to achieve the objectives of this project. This should provide significant benefits, such as better ways to convert energy from renewable sources and more efficient ways to use electrical power for lighting and display.Read moreRead less
The Molecular Basis of Nanoparticle Resistance in Mixed-Species Biofilm. The project aims to understand how the globally significant mixed-species growth of pathogens develop resistance to silver nanoparticle, currently one of the most important alternative antimicrobials to antibiotics. The integrated research is to elucidate, for the first time, the nanoparticle multi-targeting toxicity on mixed-species bacterial community and how, in turn, the bacteria activate their cell-to-cell signalling f ....The Molecular Basis of Nanoparticle Resistance in Mixed-Species Biofilm. The project aims to understand how the globally significant mixed-species growth of pathogens develop resistance to silver nanoparticle, currently one of the most important alternative antimicrobials to antibiotics. The integrated research is to elucidate, for the first time, the nanoparticle multi-targeting toxicity on mixed-species bacterial community and how, in turn, the bacteria activate their cell-to-cell signalling for a synergistic defence to adapt to the nanoparticle toxicity. The pioneering knowledge is the foundation for technologies targeting the interspecies metabolite cross-talking to overcome the resistance phenomena, ensuring a long-term efficacy of the alternative antimicrobial on the difficult-to-control pathogenic growth.Read moreRead less