Cation Ordering - A Strategy to Prepare Multiferroic Oxides. This project will produce new families of functional metal oxides with technologically relevant properties, especially multiferroic behavior. Such materials are highly sort-after in the rapidly emerging field of spintronics. Through comprehensive experimental studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials.
Nickel(III) Oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a Positive Electrode Material in Primary Cells. In recent years, the demands put on batteries has increased due to the development of sophisticated portable electronic devices. With the currently available primary battery systems finding it difficult to cope with these demands, there is considerable incentive to develop an improved system with an appropriate capability. This project focuses on nickel(III) oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a cathode material. NiOOH is us ....Nickel(III) Oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a Positive Electrode Material in Primary Cells. In recent years, the demands put on batteries has increased due to the development of sophisticated portable electronic devices. With the currently available primary battery systems finding it difficult to cope with these demands, there is considerable incentive to develop an improved system with an appropriate capability. This project focuses on nickel(III) oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a cathode material. NiOOH is used widely in rechargeable battery systems, where it performs adequately even under severe discharge conditions. However, in primary battery systems, NiOOH suffers from self discharge. This project aims to use the performance capabilities of NiOOH in a primary system, by investigating ways to improve its stability. The benefits for Delta EMD will be protection of their existing business, as well as opening the door to the commercial manufacture of an advanced export material.Read moreRead less
Capacitance Fade Mechanisms in Carbon-Based Supercapacitors. Energy storage is of significant importance to the global community. This project addresses certain performance issues concerning prolonged energy storage in supercapacitors, which are an emerging technology in the electronics industry. CAP-XX is Australia's only manufacturer of supercapacitors, and the improvements to their products that will result from this work, will lead to significant returns to them and the Australian economy.
Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with ....Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capabilities leading to ?designer materials? of the future.Read moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The realisation of these aims will give new routes to the production of new catalysts (analogous to enzymes in biological systems), nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistryRead moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or h ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysts, selective molecular sieves, or show unusual host-guest chemistry. Techniques developed will provide a means by which present homogeneous catalysts used widely in industry could be converted into heterogeneous species. This would have many benefits, including improved recovery and re-use of catalysts.Read moreRead less
Advanced Materials constructed from 'Nanoballs' and Variable Length Ligands. Novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as car ....Advanced Materials constructed from 'Nanoballs' and Variable Length Ligands. Novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, molecular sensing, catalysis, and information storage.Read moreRead less
Coordination Polymers and Oligomers. Routes are proposed to real chemical examples of both finite nets (polyhedral cages) and infinite nets (coordination polymers); very similar synthetic strategies are to be used in both areas. The icosahedral cages proposed including the unknown C60N60 are without precedent. If they can be made they will rival or surpass the fullerenes in impact and in potential applications. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targetted coordination polymers wit ....Coordination Polymers and Oligomers. Routes are proposed to real chemical examples of both finite nets (polyhedral cages) and infinite nets (coordination polymers); very similar synthetic strategies are to be used in both areas. The icosahedral cages proposed including the unknown C60N60 are without precedent. If they can be made they will rival or surpass the fullerenes in impact and in potential applications. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targetted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capablities leading to "designer materials" of the future.Read moreRead less
Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules. Large discrete or infinite assemblies of molecules will be designed and produced by self-assembly processes. Through careful design of the precursors, these nano-sized assemblies will be chemically reactive. The new techniques pioneered in this study will allow the design of new advanced materials, such as homogeneous multicentre catalysts (analogous to biological enzymes), industrially important heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale molecular siev ....Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules. Large discrete or infinite assemblies of molecules will be designed and produced by self-assembly processes. Through careful design of the precursors, these nano-sized assemblies will be chemically reactive. The new techniques pioneered in this study will allow the design of new advanced materials, such as homogeneous multicentre catalysts (analogous to biological enzymes), industrially important heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors and switches, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistry.Read moreRead less
Enhanced pigment weathering resistance by coating with high dielectric ceramic. The partner company, Tiwest, based in Western Australia, is a major contributor to the economy, and earns more than $A400m annually in exports. It is the only company in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titania products, including pigments, in one region. The current post-titania particle formation wet-coating process, however, presents a major capital and recurrent cost and necessitates a pi ....Enhanced pigment weathering resistance by coating with high dielectric ceramic. The partner company, Tiwest, based in Western Australia, is a major contributor to the economy, and earns more than $A400m annually in exports. It is the only company in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titania products, including pigments, in one region. The current post-titania particle formation wet-coating process, however, presents a major capital and recurrent cost and necessitates a pigment regrind stage. The research will investigate the development of a highly durable dry-coated pigment utilising a novel high dielectric coating. This development has the potential to ensure the partner company's future competitiveness through reduced processing costs and improved product performance.Read moreRead less