Flotation separation of nanoparticles. This project deals with the separation of fine nanoparticles suspended in water, by attachment to small gas bubbles. It aims to find a way of removing nanoparticles from water, or of separating one species from another. The process could be used for simple solids such as metal oxides, and for biological materials such as large molecules, viruses and small bacteria. The work will be both theoretical and experimental. This ground-breaking project will build u ....Flotation separation of nanoparticles. This project deals with the separation of fine nanoparticles suspended in water, by attachment to small gas bubbles. It aims to find a way of removing nanoparticles from water, or of separating one species from another. The process could be used for simple solids such as metal oxides, and for biological materials such as large molecules, viruses and small bacteria. The work will be both theoretical and experimental. This ground-breaking project will build upon past successes of the applicant, whose invention in the field of resource recovery is contributing close to $1 billion a year to Australia's exports.Read moreRead less
Non-polyamide-based polymer membranes for efficient water processing. This project aims to develop an innovative, two-dimensional nanosheet scaffold polymerisation technique for the fabrication of advanced membranes. Membrane technology plays a key role in wastewater treatment and water desalination and purification. However, current membranes are not stable in an oxidation environment such as chlorine, which leads to significant membrane replacement costs. Through the development of new membran ....Non-polyamide-based polymer membranes for efficient water processing. This project aims to develop an innovative, two-dimensional nanosheet scaffold polymerisation technique for the fabrication of advanced membranes. Membrane technology plays a key role in wastewater treatment and water desalination and purification. However, current membranes are not stable in an oxidation environment such as chlorine, which leads to significant membrane replacement costs. Through the development of new membrane fabrication technology the project aims to produce non-polyamide-based polymer membranes with outstanding oxidation tolerance and separation properties. This will potentially simplify membrane processes, and improve water processing efficiency in wastewater treatment for power generation, and clean drinking water production.
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Increase in Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 through Intervalence Charge Transfer. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has many proposed and realised applications in energy and the environment. The main problem that has hindered development and commercialisation of devices using TiO2 is its low photocatalytic activity, which results from its poor absorption of visible and infrared light. Most researchers modify the properties of TiO2 by conventional electrochemical methods to improve its performance but the ....Increase in Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 through Intervalence Charge Transfer. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has many proposed and realised applications in energy and the environment. The main problem that has hindered development and commercialisation of devices using TiO2 is its low photocatalytic activity, which results from its poor absorption of visible and infrared light. Most researchers modify the properties of TiO2 by conventional electrochemical methods to improve its performance but these attempts have been of limited success. The present research involves a completely new approach to the problem, which is based on the method used in the heat treatment of sapphire to improve its colour. This approach uses a phenomenon involving the modification of the optical properties to improve its absorption of light.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,000.00
Summary
Collaborative advanced spectroscopy facility for materials and devices. Collaborative advanced spectroscopy facility for materials and devices: This project aims to enable advancements in electronics, photonics, biomedicine, and sensing through a collaborative, open access facility for advanced optical and chemical spectroscopy of thin films, materials, and devices. The intended capabilities include high-speed, precise and state-of-the-art spectroscopy tools which enable in situ characterisation ....Collaborative advanced spectroscopy facility for materials and devices. Collaborative advanced spectroscopy facility for materials and devices: This project aims to enable advancements in electronics, photonics, biomedicine, and sensing through a collaborative, open access facility for advanced optical and chemical spectroscopy of thin films, materials, and devices. The intended capabilities include high-speed, precise and state-of-the-art spectroscopy tools which enable in situ characterisation at sub-micron scales and cryogenic temperatures, under bio-simulated environments, down to single pixel resolution, with parallel imaging and spectroscopy, and of fluids and biomaterials. The instrumentation will include cryogenic sub-micron photoluminescence and micro-Raman spectroscopy, single pixel optical and dark field spectroscopy, continuous wave terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, wide wavelength microscopic spectroscopy, and temperature-jump kinetics spectroscopy. It is expected that these complementary instruments will accelerate research in materials and devices for plasmonics, nanoelectronics, biomedicine, biochemistry, security, and forensic science.Read moreRead less
Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshor ....Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshore and mining industries. There are, therefore, far-reaching benefits in industries important to Australia. In addition, the reputation of the Australian aerospace research industry will be promoted through a collaborative association with Boeing, a world leader in development of commercial aircraft.Read moreRead less
Removal and degradation of microplastics using halloysite nanocomposite. The project aims to utilize halloysite clay combined with novel highly magnetized nanoparticles for the removal and degradation of microplastics in the contaminated water system. The project expects to fabricate cheap and environmentally-friendly materials using innovative chemical synthesis and surface modification for adsorption and decomposition of microplastics utilizing both high surface area of halloysite nanotubes a ....Removal and degradation of microplastics using halloysite nanocomposite. The project aims to utilize halloysite clay combined with novel highly magnetized nanoparticles for the removal and degradation of microplastics in the contaminated water system. The project expects to fabricate cheap and environmentally-friendly materials using innovative chemical synthesis and surface modification for adsorption and decomposition of microplastics utilizing both high surface area of halloysite nanotubes and catalytic activity of transition metals. This project will facilitate collaboration between multidisciplinary researchers and a vibrant group of industrial participants to advance next-generation composite materials for water treatment and ensure the supply of clean water for healthy living.Read moreRead less
High performance ultrasonically processed biodegradable alloy products. This project aims to develop new alloy processing technology to improve the material properties of biodegradable products such as plates, microclips and wound-closing devices. The project aims to understand and model the role of external fields such as ultrasonic treatment in the development of microstructure, including grain nucleation and formation processes, in biodegradable magnesium alloy components. The project plans t ....High performance ultrasonically processed biodegradable alloy products. This project aims to develop new alloy processing technology to improve the material properties of biodegradable products such as plates, microclips and wound-closing devices. The project aims to understand and model the role of external fields such as ultrasonic treatment in the development of microstructure, including grain nucleation and formation processes, in biodegradable magnesium alloy components. The project plans to fabricate and evaluate the performance of medical devices incorporating ultrasonically processed alloy products. Project outcomes are intended to be used to optimise the application of external fields for property and processing improvement.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
Carbon-free high temperature vacuum sintering facility. This facility will provide an extremely clean sintering environment for development of advanced materials free from imperfections for applications which range from energy conversion to medical components. It will ensure that Australia is an important international leader in both fundamental research and industrial innovation.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100311
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Multidirectional stretchable and wearable tactile sensors. This project aims to establish a new platform for multidirectional wearable tactile sensors with high sensitivity and stretchability based on rational material designs and structural engineering. Wearable tactile sensors with multidirectional force-sensing capabilities are of great importance in robotics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation devices. This novel form of tactile sensing will be developed through fundamental research into the wo ....Multidirectional stretchable and wearable tactile sensors. This project aims to establish a new platform for multidirectional wearable tactile sensors with high sensitivity and stretchability based on rational material designs and structural engineering. Wearable tactile sensors with multidirectional force-sensing capabilities are of great importance in robotics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation devices. This novel form of tactile sensing will be developed through fundamental research into the working mechanism of directional sensors to enable detection of different force intensities. Combined with new device fabrication techniques, and innovative material structural engineering, the expected outcome is a new multidirectional tactile sensor system with high sensitivity and stretchability.Read moreRead less
Interface structures mediating load transfer between soft and hard tissues. This project aims to develop a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. It will generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. Expected outcome ....Interface structures mediating load transfer between soft and hard tissues. This project aims to develop a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. It will generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. Expected outcomes are high-tech ceramic structures optimized to interface effectively between synthetic soft tissues and natural hard tissues. This could ultimately benefit Australian industry engaged in developing next-generation synthetic orthopaedic solutions, providing a significant competitive advantage in an expanding global market.Read moreRead less