Materials World Network: Nanostructured Polymer Templating of Liquid Crystals. Liquid crystals have a range of technological applications, with the most successful being displays used in computers, watches and calculators. These applications are dependent on controlling the interfaces of liquid crystals. This project will combine the areas of liquid crystals and polymer adsorption for the preparation of a new class of intelligent nanomaterials with well-defined properties. These engineered mater ....Materials World Network: Nanostructured Polymer Templating of Liquid Crystals. Liquid crystals have a range of technological applications, with the most successful being displays used in computers, watches and calculators. These applications are dependent on controlling the interfaces of liquid crystals. This project will combine the areas of liquid crystals and polymer adsorption for the preparation of a new class of intelligent nanomaterials with well-defined properties. These engineered materials are of interest in industrial applications, including the development of chemical and biological sensors and drug delivery vehicles. This program also strengthens the ties between two world-class nanotechnology groups, capturing new opportunities in nanostructured materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560679
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$932,870.00
Summary
Materials and Surface Characterisation Facility. Australian scientists are well positioned to be at the forefront of nanotechnology, biotechnology and advanced materials development. The proposed Facility, housing state-of-the-art equipment, will enable cutting-edge research in these areas by internationally renowned researchers at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, and CSIRO. Such research will facilitate the development of advanced materials for diverse applicatio ....Materials and Surface Characterisation Facility. Australian scientists are well positioned to be at the forefront of nanotechnology, biotechnology and advanced materials development. The proposed Facility, housing state-of-the-art equipment, will enable cutting-edge research in these areas by internationally renowned researchers at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, and CSIRO. Such research will facilitate the development of advanced materials for diverse applications including drug delivery, quantum computing, photonics and tissue engineering. The multi-user Facility will enable closer collaboration with researchers in academia and industry, and will be integral in training the next generation of Australian scientists in the nano- and biosciences.Read moreRead less
Controlled Macromolecular Architectures for Functional Nanomaterials Design. The research involves an exciting and innovative collaboration between two internationally recognized Australian research groups, cementing Australia's position as a leading country for research in polymer science and nanotechnology. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to make ?smart? polymers that can controllably respond to changes in their surroundings. These will then be assembled to form materials with dimensio ....Controlled Macromolecular Architectures for Functional Nanomaterials Design. The research involves an exciting and innovative collaboration between two internationally recognized Australian research groups, cementing Australia's position as a leading country for research in polymer science and nanotechnology. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to make ?smart? polymers that can controllably respond to changes in their surroundings. These will then be assembled to form materials with dimensions of the order of millionths of millimeters - forming so-called "smart nanomaterials". The materials prepared are expected to find application in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors, contributing to the well-being of Australian citizens and the development of a robust Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provi ....Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provide direct advantages to society, including minimally invasive and fast in-vivo diagnostics, localised delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents with increased bioavailability, patient acceptability and reduced healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and th ....Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment will allow advances in processing and consequently improved final products. The potential growth in market share, by improved product performance, is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, m ....Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, minerals processing, the food industries, pumping of fuel and water, and other processes. And the research described in this proposal will help to maintain the high international profile of Australian science in the field of Colloid and Surface Research. Read moreRead less
Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commerci ....Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commercial benefits for Australia. Read moreRead less
Fundamentals and applications of dynamic interfacial forces in soft matter. The proposed program will make an internationally significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of soft matter on the nanoscale. This has a direct impact upon processes that are key to a wide range of Australian industries ranging from the manufacture of functional foods to minerals recovery to pharmaceutical formulation, where innovative solutions can substantially improve productivity, increase export pote ....Fundamentals and applications of dynamic interfacial forces in soft matter. The proposed program will make an internationally significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of soft matter on the nanoscale. This has a direct impact upon processes that are key to a wide range of Australian industries ranging from the manufacture of functional foods to minerals recovery to pharmaceutical formulation, where innovative solutions can substantially improve productivity, increase export potential and reduce environmental impact. The outcomes of this work, in the form of high impact papers and conference presentations, will build and enhance Australia's reputation as a world leader in nanotechnology and colloid science. Read moreRead less
Designer Surfactants for Creation of Emulsion Properties. We propose new approaches to the design of surfactants for stabilising water in oil emulsions. New block copolymer surfactants may be "tailored" for head group structure and a pre-chosen hydrophilic/lipophilic balance at the oil-water interface using the Australian developed RAFT polymer synthesis method and polymeric inorganic species. The proposers have an extensive background in these areas.
X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, de ....Designer Surfactants for Creation of Emulsion Properties. We propose new approaches to the design of surfactants for stabilising water in oil emulsions. New block copolymer surfactants may be "tailored" for head group structure and a pre-chosen hydrophilic/lipophilic balance at the oil-water interface using the Australian developed RAFT polymer synthesis method and polymeric inorganic species. The proposers have an extensive background in these areas.
X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, developed by us, allow the interfacial structure of the surfactant to be found and the intellectual "loop" closed in the design process. Preliminary screening will be done using the surface balance and bulk emulsion synthesis.Read moreRead less
High Internal Phase Emulsions - Structure and Rheology Control. Our first SPIRT Grant with ORICA Australia Ltd has successfully identified nanostructures in high internal phase emulsions which confer useful stability and robustness on these industrially important systems. The aim now is to ramify those discoveries both scientifically and technologically in the design of emulsion structure using our, now established, techniques. In particular, the objective is to control both nanoscale and mes ....High Internal Phase Emulsions - Structure and Rheology Control. Our first SPIRT Grant with ORICA Australia Ltd has successfully identified nanostructures in high internal phase emulsions which confer useful stability and robustness on these industrially important systems. The aim now is to ramify those discoveries both scientifically and technologically in the design of emulsion structure using our, now established, techniques. In particular, the objective is to control both nanoscale and mesoscale structure in emulsion formulation, as well as the rheology and stability of emulsion preparations. To do this we plan to use mixed surfactant systems and to study intersurfactant synergic effects on the structure and fluidity of the interfacial material. We believe that the proposed work is unique and that the outcomes will be scientifically novel and also valuable for Australian industry.Read moreRead less