Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use ....Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use. The expected outcomes of the project will have a huge impact on industrial purification processing by providing a disruptive membrane technology, and will significantly reduce energy consumption and open up new routes for resources.Read moreRead less
Atomically thin membranes to transform chemical separations. Energy-efficient chemical separation is at the heart of modern resource and manufacturing industries, central to a prosperous and sustainable Australia. This project aims to develop next generation membrane technologies to transform chemical separations by employing recent breakthrough in materials discovery and nanofluidics. Expected outcomes include new fundamental understandings on sub-continuum transport physics and new atomically ....Atomically thin membranes to transform chemical separations. Energy-efficient chemical separation is at the heart of modern resource and manufacturing industries, central to a prosperous and sustainable Australia. This project aims to develop next generation membrane technologies to transform chemical separations by employing recent breakthrough in materials discovery and nanofluidics. Expected outcomes include new fundamental understandings on sub-continuum transport physics and new atomically thin membranes that enable energy-efficient separations for processing challenging streams beyond water purification. This project aims to position Australia at the forefront of sustainable separation technology and make the local resource and manufacturing industries more sustainable and globally competitive.Read moreRead less
Wireless Integrated Circuits for the Era of 6G: System-in-a-Package. The aim of this project is to build a hardware foundation for future wireless integrated circuits, using a combination of silicon and compound semiconductor technologies. The project will generate knowledge for circuit design and system integration to pivot towards the engineering of emerging 6G technology. Expected outcomes include a transceiver-in-package using multiple semiconductor technologies and the development of sovere ....Wireless Integrated Circuits for the Era of 6G: System-in-a-Package. The aim of this project is to build a hardware foundation for future wireless integrated circuits, using a combination of silicon and compound semiconductor technologies. The project will generate knowledge for circuit design and system integration to pivot towards the engineering of emerging 6G technology. Expected outcomes include a transceiver-in-package using multiple semiconductor technologies and the development of sovereign design capabilities. The results will constitute an important step towards implementing 6G. Benefits for Australia include the development of early career workers, generation of intellectual property, and securing social and economic benefits for Australians through application of this next-generation technology.Read moreRead less
Performing cold microwave measurements with warm diamonds. Detecting weak microwave signals at room temperature is an exceptionally difficult task, due to the excessive thermal microwave noise that exists all around us. At present, the best microwave receivers must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures, restricting their widespread use. This project aims to apply diamond-based quantum technologies to achieve unprecedented microwave signal detection sensitivities with a room-temperature setup, prov ....Performing cold microwave measurements with warm diamonds. Detecting weak microwave signals at room temperature is an exceptionally difficult task, due to the excessive thermal microwave noise that exists all around us. At present, the best microwave receivers must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures, restricting their widespread use. This project aims to apply diamond-based quantum technologies to achieve unprecedented microwave signal detection sensitivities with a room-temperature setup, providing more accessible ultra-low noise detectors. The ability to measure weak microwave signals is crucial for a range of sectors and the results of this project are expected to have applications in defence (radar), space exploration (satellite communication), and fundamental research (spectroscopy).Read moreRead less
Quantum Nanophotonics with Atomically Thin Materials . This project aims to deliver new hardware for scalable integrated quantum photonics based on fluorescent defects in hexagonal boron nitride. The project will generate new knowledge in advanced manufacturing of two-dimensional systems, to pivot towards engineering of new optical qubits. Expected outcomes include a solid-state platform for on-chip quantum technologies and development of sovereign quantum capabilities. The results will constitu ....Quantum Nanophotonics with Atomically Thin Materials . This project aims to deliver new hardware for scalable integrated quantum photonics based on fluorescent defects in hexagonal boron nitride. The project will generate new knowledge in advanced manufacturing of two-dimensional systems, to pivot towards engineering of new optical qubits. Expected outcomes include a solid-state platform for on-chip quantum technologies and development of sovereign quantum capabilities. The results will constitute an important step towards implementation of secure communications and quantum information protocols. Benefits include advances in emerging manufacturing capabilities, training of young Australians, generation of intellectual property and securing major economic benefits to all Australians.Read moreRead less
Nanobionic plants. This project aims to develop nanobionic plants as network of semi-permanent sensors capable of rapid, sensitive, selective and unmanned detection and detoxification of chemical warfare agents in aquatic environments and in open air on-site, to allow timely and effective countermeasures. The anticipated goal is to advance the field of advanced manufacturing, environmental change, and nanotechnology with potential to support new national defence capabilities and to value-add Aus ....Nanobionic plants. This project aims to develop nanobionic plants as network of semi-permanent sensors capable of rapid, sensitive, selective and unmanned detection and detoxification of chemical warfare agents in aquatic environments and in open air on-site, to allow timely and effective countermeasures. The anticipated goal is to advance the field of advanced manufacturing, environmental change, and nanotechnology with potential to support new national defence capabilities and to value-add Australian manufacturing industries with innovative, disruptive technologies that lead to achievable opportunities to address its unique needs and to claim Australia’s position within the competitive global manufacturing and defence technology market.Read moreRead less
Compressed network sharing for large-scale distributed systems. The project will make the critical theoretical advances to enable the building of large-scale machine-to-machine communications systems. This will be the essential precursor to technologies for constructing Australia’s intelligent infrastructure and smart cities.
Nano-toughening of Conductive Composites with High Electrical Ductility. This project aims to develop a new technology to effectively toughen conductive thin films including metals and conductive polymers with significantly improved mechanical robustness for next-generation stretchable electronics. This new technique will tackle the major limitation of stretchable electronics propensity to abrupt electrical failure caused by plastic deformation and long channel cracks in conductive thin films of ....Nano-toughening of Conductive Composites with High Electrical Ductility. This project aims to develop a new technology to effectively toughen conductive thin films including metals and conductive polymers with significantly improved mechanical robustness for next-generation stretchable electronics. This new technique will tackle the major limitation of stretchable electronics propensity to abrupt electrical failure caused by plastic deformation and long channel cracks in conductive thin films of low yield strain and ductility. By overcoming the bottleneck issue of low stretchability and ductility of existing conductive thin film materials, it will be possible to significantly expand the design space of flexible and stretchable electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Illicit networks and emerging nuclear states. This project aims to understand how illicit networks might proliferate by tapping into the legitimate global spread of nuclear materials and dual-use technologies. Using an economic geographic framework, the project will conceptually integrate terrorists, criminals, and companies into nuclear-related trade networks, and assess the nuclear proliferation threat illicit networks pose in emerging civil nuclear states, with proof of concept through Southe ....Illicit networks and emerging nuclear states. This project aims to understand how illicit networks might proliferate by tapping into the legitimate global spread of nuclear materials and dual-use technologies. Using an economic geographic framework, the project will conceptually integrate terrorists, criminals, and companies into nuclear-related trade networks, and assess the nuclear proliferation threat illicit networks pose in emerging civil nuclear states, with proof of concept through Southeast Asian case studies. This is intended to minimise proliferation risk, and improve the Australian government and industry’s ability to participate in the global nuclear trade by increasing the effectiveness of strategic trade controls and nuclear materials security.Read moreRead less
Sustainable wastewater management. This project aims to extract high-value liquid products (medium-chain fatty acids) from wastewater with minimised greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, in addition to clean water. Traditional wastewater treatment removes organic carbon and nutrients by using vast amounts of energy and releasing greenhouse gas. However, wastewater is a substantial but largely untapped renewable resource. The intended outcome is to transform wastewater from a troubleso ....Sustainable wastewater management. This project aims to extract high-value liquid products (medium-chain fatty acids) from wastewater with minimised greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, in addition to clean water. Traditional wastewater treatment removes organic carbon and nutrients by using vast amounts of energy and releasing greenhouse gas. However, wastewater is a substantial but largely untapped renewable resource. The intended outcome is to transform wastewater from a troublesome pollutant to a valuable resource and reduce carbon footprints.Read moreRead less