Novel Coatings For Steel. The aim of this project is to design coatings for steel that have high flexibility and high resistance to scatching and hardness. This will be achieved by the introduction of liquid crystalline phases in the coatings. The outcome will be a new generation of steel coatings with novel properties
New silane anti-corrosion coatings for steel surfaces. Steel products are a major export for Australia. Orrcon is one of Australia's largest suppliers of steel pipe and tubing. This study of how to stop steel from corroding will produce new breakthroughs in understanding silane chemistry, which is safer, cheaper and more effective in reducing rust, than what is being used today. This new science will benefit Australia's research into corrosion and help us to be more competitive in the export of ....New silane anti-corrosion coatings for steel surfaces. Steel products are a major export for Australia. Orrcon is one of Australia's largest suppliers of steel pipe and tubing. This study of how to stop steel from corroding will produce new breakthroughs in understanding silane chemistry, which is safer, cheaper and more effective in reducing rust, than what is being used today. This new science will benefit Australia's research into corrosion and help us to be more competitive in the export of steel. Our proof of concept studies on the corrosion resistance of new silanes on aerospace aluminium alloys has helped Australian products enter markets where chromium(VI) is now banned. Silicon chemistry is also little researched in Australia and this project will train four new researchers in this field.Read moreRead less
Metallosupramolecular Cages for Enantioselective Applications. The project aims to explore new synthetic routes to functional supramolecular cages/containers which are able to selectively host small molecules in their interior space, and may provide feedback upon the presence of a guest (i.e. molecular sensing) or catalyse reactions within the enclosed cavity. The project expects to produce chiral cages that are capable of detecting specific enantiomers in solution and act upon them. The expecte ....Metallosupramolecular Cages for Enantioselective Applications. The project aims to explore new synthetic routes to functional supramolecular cages/containers which are able to selectively host small molecules in their interior space, and may provide feedback upon the presence of a guest (i.e. molecular sensing) or catalyse reactions within the enclosed cavity. The project expects to produce chiral cages that are capable of detecting specific enantiomers in solution and act upon them. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of the structure/property relationship of these novel species and steps towards application. This should provide benefits given the application of solution-based methods for enantioselective sensing/catalysis are of significance in high-value pharmaceutical synthesis.Read moreRead less
Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both a ....Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both academia and industry. The expected outcomes from this project include the creation of opportunities to explore the manufacture and commercialisation of high-value products with Australian industry. This will provide significant benefits, such as reduction in the carbon footprint of homes, businesses and other applicable structures due to passive power generation, while creating jobs and up-skilling the workforce.Read moreRead less
Molecular Interactions of Chemical Agents with Ion-Channel Proteins. With a minimal number of functional units (proteins) viruses are able to replicate. All of these proteins are possible antiviral targets. In this project we wil1 focus on a short protein called Vpu found in membranes of the HIV-1 virus and aim to analyse the interaction of potential pore blocking compounds. It is essential to know exactly where they sit and how the overall structure of Vpu is affected. For this enterprise we wi ....Molecular Interactions of Chemical Agents with Ion-Channel Proteins. With a minimal number of functional units (proteins) viruses are able to replicate. All of these proteins are possible antiviral targets. In this project we wil1 focus on a short protein called Vpu found in membranes of the HIV-1 virus and aim to analyse the interaction of potential pore blocking compounds. It is essential to know exactly where they sit and how the overall structure of Vpu is affected. For this enterprise we will use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This information will serve as a springboard for future investigations of virus membrane proteins.
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Factors controlling higher-level starch structure. In a new paradigm for cereal chemistry, we will link structural and functional genomics to a mechanistic understanding of starch polymer structure. By using our novel characterization techniques, we will obtain the first data on the complex multiscale structure of starch in cereal grains that will be sensitive to the mechanisms of starch biosynthesis. These results will enable us to identify the genetic and environmental factors that, separately ....Factors controlling higher-level starch structure. In a new paradigm for cereal chemistry, we will link structural and functional genomics to a mechanistic understanding of starch polymer structure. By using our novel characterization techniques, we will obtain the first data on the complex multiscale structure of starch in cereal grains that will be sensitive to the mechanisms of starch biosynthesis. These results will enable us to identify the genetic and environmental factors that, separately and together, control starch structure in a range of cereals. This knowledge will provide a powerful tool for plant breeders and biotechnologists to produce cereals with improved properties.Read moreRead less
The first structure/function-derived starches for the food and related industries. The project will use equipment and theory, developed in Australia, to create the first understanding of the characteristics that govern the performance of complex polymers as emulsifiers. The insights so gained will be a key step towards developing improved modified starches for the food and other industries. These advances will also provide the science by which new modified starches can be produced from sorghum, ....The first structure/function-derived starches for the food and related industries. The project will use equipment and theory, developed in Australia, to create the first understanding of the characteristics that govern the performance of complex polymers as emulsifiers. The insights so gained will be a key step towards developing improved modified starches for the food and other industries. These advances will also provide the science by which new modified starches can be produced from sorghum, a drought-resistant crop well suited to Australia.Read moreRead less
New Strategies for Modelling Polyoxometalates. Polyoxometalates are a versatile class of genuine nanomaterials with remarkable chemical and physical properties and dimensions ranging from tens to tens of thousands of atoms. Designing functional materials which exploit their enormous potential is limited by practical difficulties in their structural characterization and restrictions on our ability to model their behaviour. In this project, we will develop a new strategy for computer modelling of ....New Strategies for Modelling Polyoxometalates. Polyoxometalates are a versatile class of genuine nanomaterials with remarkable chemical and physical properties and dimensions ranging from tens to tens of thousands of atoms. Designing functional materials which exploit their enormous potential is limited by practical difficulties in their structural characterization and restrictions on our ability to model their behaviour. In this project, we will develop a new strategy for computer modelling of polyoxometalates based on the classical molecular mechanics approach and high-level techniques. This novel line of attack will be exploited in the characterization of large and highly substituted derivatives which are key to developing functional materials.Read moreRead less
Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch. The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as viscoelastic ....Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch. The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as viscoelastic response and adhesion. Theory, simulation and neural networks will be used to guide experiments to elucidate which partial structure measures control which property. Outcomes will include means of helping biotechnology create improved biomaterials, and plant breeders to improve food quality.Read moreRead less
Coordination Polymers and Oligomers and Labyrinthine Molecular Solids as Materials for the Sorption of Gases/Vapours, with Emphasis on Hydrogen. The work will afford new types of gas sorbing solids, which may find practical uses in the separation and storage of gases and in catalysis. Hydrogen is almost the perfect, pollution-free fuel; Australia's abundant sunlight potentially makes it cheap and readily available here. The lack of a safe and economic means of storing hydrogen at easily achiev ....Coordination Polymers and Oligomers and Labyrinthine Molecular Solids as Materials for the Sorption of Gases/Vapours, with Emphasis on Hydrogen. The work will afford new types of gas sorbing solids, which may find practical uses in the separation and storage of gases and in catalysis. Hydrogen is almost the perfect, pollution-free fuel; Australia's abundant sunlight potentially makes it cheap and readily available here. The lack of a safe and economic means of storing hydrogen at easily achieved and maintained pressures remains the chief obstacle to the viability of numerous hydrogen-powered devices of the future such as cell phones, laptop computers, cordless tools and vehicles. The work proposed will contribute to the development of safe, efficient, and portable hydrogen storage systems.Read moreRead less