Links between carbon and nitrogen cycling processes in forest soils: An innovative approach with both NMR and stable isotope techniques. Understanding the critical links between soil carbon and nitrogen cycling processes in forest ecosystems is necessary for developing effective site management to enhance forest productivity and environmental benefits. In the first application of 14N-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to soil humic acid (HA), we have discovered that surprisingly nitrate-N is prese ....Links between carbon and nitrogen cycling processes in forest soils: An innovative approach with both NMR and stable isotope techniques. Understanding the critical links between soil carbon and nitrogen cycling processes in forest ecosystems is necessary for developing effective site management to enhance forest productivity and environmental benefits. In the first application of 14N-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to soil humic acid (HA), we have discovered that surprisingly nitrate-N is present in soil HAs, with the HA-nitrate N extremely sensitive to forest management practices. This project represents the first attempt to integrate the use of advanced NMR and stable isotope techniques to examine both chemical and biological linkages between carbon and nitrogen cycling processes in Australian and US forest ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Untangling Complex Molecular Spectra with an Optical Frequency Comb. The exhaled breath is a rich source of information about the inner life of the human body - but untangling this complicated molecular mixture into a quantitative measurement of its constituent components is currently an unsolved problem. This project aims to develop a new instrument that leverages the Nobel Prize winning technology of the optical frequency comb to enable analysis of such mixtures. It is expected that by combini ....Untangling Complex Molecular Spectra with an Optical Frequency Comb. The exhaled breath is a rich source of information about the inner life of the human body - but untangling this complicated molecular mixture into a quantitative measurement of its constituent components is currently an unsolved problem. This project aims to develop a new instrument that leverages the Nobel Prize winning technology of the optical frequency comb to enable analysis of such mixtures. It is expected that by combining a frequency comb source, with an innovative detector and a highly sensitive sampling system, a real-time spectral signature of each sample will be generated. Computational techniques developed by the radio astronomy community will then be used to extract concentrations of individual molecular components at the parts-per-billion level.Read moreRead less
Soil microbial ecology and function in forest nutrient cycling: Improving the understanding and management with bio-molecular and stable isotope techniques. An improved understanding of soil microbial ecology and function is required to advance our knowledge and management of important carbon and nutrient cycling processes underpinning forest productivity and sustainability. Recent advances in bio-molecular techniques and application of stable isotope 13C and 15N methodologies have highlighted t ....Soil microbial ecology and function in forest nutrient cycling: Improving the understanding and management with bio-molecular and stable isotope techniques. An improved understanding of soil microbial ecology and function is required to advance our knowledge and management of important carbon and nutrient cycling processes underpinning forest productivity and sustainability. Recent advances in bio-molecular techniques and application of stable isotope 13C and 15N methodologies have highlighted the exciting opportunities and potential for studying soil microbial ecology and function in forest nutrient cycling. These innovative bio-molecular and stable isotope techniques will be effectively used to examine the impacts of management practices and global change on the soil carbon and nutrient cycling processes for enhancing both productivity and environmental benefits of forest ecosystems.Read moreRead less
A new nano-sensor technology for the detection and identification of residual vapours of explosives, drugs and chemicals in the air. Fighting terrorism and crime is one of the most important and difficult tasks that requires substantial human and technological resources. This project will help to address this enormous problem by developing a new optical sensor technology for the detection and identification of traces of chemicals, explosives, drugs and biological agents. It will develop a labora ....A new nano-sensor technology for the detection and identification of residual vapours of explosives, drugs and chemicals in the air. Fighting terrorism and crime is one of the most important and difficult tasks that requires substantial human and technological resources. This project will help to address this enormous problem by developing a new optical sensor technology for the detection and identification of traces of chemicals, explosives, drugs and biological agents. It will develop a laboratory prototype of this sensor that is expected to have superior sensitivity and operational capabilities. Thus it will noticeably contribute to practical law enforcement, air quality and environmental monitoring, counter-terrorism, air safety, border security and customs service. It will also lead to further development of nano-optics and nanotechnology in Australia. Read moreRead less
Diamond lasers for precision applications. Diamond lasers for precision applications. The project aims to create single mode lasers of ultrahigh spectral brightness. Single-mode lasers could improve many areas of science and technology, but existing technologies do not meet all performance requirements. This project will harness the intrinsic properties of diamond Raman lasers to increase the wavelength reach, power and stability of single mode lasers. The expected outcome is laser technology th ....Diamond lasers for precision applications. Diamond lasers for precision applications. The project aims to create single mode lasers of ultrahigh spectral brightness. Single-mode lasers could improve many areas of science and technology, but existing technologies do not meet all performance requirements. This project will harness the intrinsic properties of diamond Raman lasers to increase the wavelength reach, power and stability of single mode lasers. The expected outcome is laser technology that satisfies the needs of emerging markets, for example in gas sensing and atom cooling.Read moreRead less
Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge ....Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge behaviours. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise battery electrode performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in low-cost, large-scale battery applications.Read moreRead less
Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Sign ....Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development, spanning small scale mobile to large scale stationary storage applications.Read moreRead less
Development of New Generation Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectrometers. We are building two Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD spectrometers) to meet a rising need in the study of metallo-proteins and other molecules of biological interest. The PhD project described in this application will involve instrumentation design, interfacing and sampling handling development for biological samples. We wish to involve a Lastek, a scientific instrumentation company, in the possible commercial development o ....Development of New Generation Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectrometers. We are building two Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD spectrometers) to meet a rising need in the study of metallo-proteins and other molecules of biological interest. The PhD project described in this application will involve instrumentation design, interfacing and sampling handling development for biological samples. We wish to involve a Lastek, a scientific instrumentation company, in the possible commercial development of aspects of this project.Read moreRead less
Avoiding cryogenic solids formation in liquefied natural gas production. This project will determine how and under what conditions cryogenic hydrocarbon solids form during liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, which often cause expensive unplanned plant shutdowns. New sensors will be developed to understand and monitor the conditions which cause these blockages and will be deployed into LNG plants to avoid the critical conditions.
Molecular Fingerprinting: Forensic Spectroscopy of Trace Gases. Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime and invasive diseases is essential to securing our national infrastructure. This project will develop national capabilities in anticipating and responding to critical threats to society. The scientific instrumentation developed from this effort will enhance Australia's potential aid for early detection of explosive and chemical weaponry and also in the analysis of crime scenes. This rese ....Molecular Fingerprinting: Forensic Spectroscopy of Trace Gases. Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime and invasive diseases is essential to securing our national infrastructure. This project will develop national capabilities in anticipating and responding to critical threats to society. The scientific instrumentation developed from this effort will enhance Australia's potential aid for early detection of explosive and chemical weaponry and also in the analysis of crime scenes. This research will significantly improve our abilities to maintain the operational advantage of Australia's security agencies through superior capabilities in threat detection.Read moreRead less