Synthesis of novel microporous metallosilicate adsorbents. Nano-engineered materials will play an enormous role in the 21st century. As our understanding of the molecular structure of materials improves and our manipulation techniques develop, it will become possible to create materials that direct desirable reactions and separations with unprecedented yields and specificity. The proposed work aims to develop novel synthetic microporous metallosilicates using a variety of experimental approach ....Synthesis of novel microporous metallosilicate adsorbents. Nano-engineered materials will play an enormous role in the 21st century. As our understanding of the molecular structure of materials improves and our manipulation techniques develop, it will become possible to create materials that direct desirable reactions and separations with unprecedented yields and specificity. The proposed work aims to develop novel synthetic microporous metallosilicates using a variety of experimental approaches to nano-engineer superior adsorbents for gas separations. We expect the project to contribute to fundamental knowledge of creating tailor-made microporous adsorbents and lead to important fundamental and applied intellectual property for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Understanding and controlling ion-neutral interactions. Australia faces significant environmental and technological challenges including development of clean, sustainable energy sources and technologies that do not adversely affect the terrestrial atmosphere. This project seeks to facilitate a cleaner, greener future through investigations of fundamental chemical interactions responsible for hydrogen storage in solid media, and atmospheric processes responsible for the production and destruction ....Understanding and controlling ion-neutral interactions. Australia faces significant environmental and technological challenges including development of clean, sustainable energy sources and technologies that do not adversely affect the terrestrial atmosphere. This project seeks to facilitate a cleaner, greener future through investigations of fundamental chemical interactions responsible for hydrogen storage in solid media, and atmospheric processes responsible for the production and destruction of ozone. In both cases, the key interactions between ions and neutral molecules will be elucidated through high-resolution laser studies. Ensuing experimental data will play a crucial role in controlling and predicting ion-neutral interactions in technological and environmental contexts.Read moreRead less
Towards a Microscopic Understanding of Anion Solvation. Atomic and molecular anions are ubiquitous components of oceans, rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and serve as key participants in natural and industrial chemical processes. In most situations ions are surrounded by a structured sheath of neutral solvent molecules which profoundly affects their physical and chemical properties. Currently, interactions between anions and solvent molecules are poorly understood. In this project we will use ....Towards a Microscopic Understanding of Anion Solvation. Atomic and molecular anions are ubiquitous components of oceans, rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and serve as key participants in natural and industrial chemical processes. In most situations ions are surrounded by a structured sheath of neutral solvent molecules which profoundly affects their physical and chemical properties. Currently, interactions between anions and solvent molecules are poorly understood. In this project we will use lasers to probe clusters consisting of just a few molecules attached to an anion, generating information that will enhance our ability to predict and control chemical processes involved in drug design, salination, atmospheric chemistry, and chemical waste remediation.Read moreRead less
Lighting up the charged brigade: laser spectroscopy of protonated and metal-containing complexes. Increasingly, the design of new pharmaceuticals uses computer modeling to account for the shapes of molecules and how they interact with their surroundings. The strongest forces between molecular components are those that involve charged chemical species known as ions. In this project, we will develop advanced laser-based techniques to study in unprecedented detail how molecules respond to the prese ....Lighting up the charged brigade: laser spectroscopy of protonated and metal-containing complexes. Increasingly, the design of new pharmaceuticals uses computer modeling to account for the shapes of molecules and how they interact with their surroundings. The strongest forces between molecular components are those that involve charged chemical species known as ions. In this project, we will develop advanced laser-based techniques to study in unprecedented detail how molecules respond to the presence of nearby charge, or to acquiring charge themselves. Understanding the nature of these attractions, and the structural changes that they induce eventually results in more accurate computer models. This has relevance to fields that include the architecture of proteins, recognition of signaling molecules in the brain, and drug development.Read moreRead less
Approaching anion solvation from the bottom up: infrared studies of negatively charged complexes and clusters. We will employ novel spectroscopic strategies to probe the structures of mass-selected anion complexes and clusters in the gas-phase with the purpose of exploring non-covalent forces responsible for anion solvation. The work is motivated by a recognition that anions serve as key participants in a host of natural and industrial chemical processes, and that their physical and chemical pro ....Approaching anion solvation from the bottom up: infrared studies of negatively charged complexes and clusters. We will employ novel spectroscopic strategies to probe the structures of mass-selected anion complexes and clusters in the gas-phase with the purpose of exploring non-covalent forces responsible for anion solvation. The work is motivated by a recognition that anions serve as key participants in a host of natural and industrial chemical processes, and that their physical and chemical properties depend critically upon interactions with solvent molecules. The experimental results should serve as a critical test for computational approaches to describing anion-neutral interactions, and provide new insights into the behaviour of electrolytes, acid-base chemistry, and fundamental bimolecular reactions.Read moreRead less
Overcoming the Barriers in the Development of Solid State Materials. A major impact of this proposal shall be in terms of researcher training. By synergistically combining materials chemistry, fundamental physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and electrochemistry, this basic program will provide high level training to a new generation of Australian and Irish scientists thus helping to safeguard the economic competitiveness of the countries. Beyond the impact of the fundamental insight into t ....Overcoming the Barriers in the Development of Solid State Materials. A major impact of this proposal shall be in terms of researcher training. By synergistically combining materials chemistry, fundamental physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and electrochemistry, this basic program will provide high level training to a new generation of Australian and Irish scientists thus helping to safeguard the economic competitiveness of the countries. Beyond the impact of the fundamental insight into the rational design, structure and behaviour of a new class of solid materials, success in this program will have widespread applications for a variety of strategically important industries and should place Australia and Ireland at the forefront of this technologyRead moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989747
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Ultrafast Dynamics Measurement Facility for the Physical, Biochemical, and Materials Sciences. The term "ultrafast revolution" describes the transformations in science due to ultrafast laser technology. Today, ultrafast lasers are used in surgery, nanomaterial fabrication, biomedical imaging, spectroscopic investigations, and new applications are still emerging. This facility will draw together leading chemists, physicists, and engineers to investigate key ultrafast processes and phenomena in th ....Ultrafast Dynamics Measurement Facility for the Physical, Biochemical, and Materials Sciences. The term "ultrafast revolution" describes the transformations in science due to ultrafast laser technology. Today, ultrafast lasers are used in surgery, nanomaterial fabrication, biomedical imaging, spectroscopic investigations, and new applications are still emerging. This facility will draw together leading chemists, physicists, and engineers to investigate key ultrafast processes and phenomena in the physical, biochemical and material sciences. This is of strategic importance to keep Australia at the global forefront for scientific endeavours, supporting new research and commercial opportunities. This facility will also produce highly trained graduates, who will find employment in industry throughout Australia and globally.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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775481
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,000.00
Summary
X-ray Molecular Structure Elucidation Facility (MSEF). X-ray diffraction plays a key role in identification and molecular characterization. X-ray techniques are the single most widely used analytical resource in structure determination and provide invaluable information for scientists working in the fields of synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and protein chemistry amongst many others. The facility brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and provides state-of-the-art re ....X-ray Molecular Structure Elucidation Facility (MSEF). X-ray diffraction plays a key role in identification and molecular characterization. X-ray techniques are the single most widely used analytical resource in structure determination and provide invaluable information for scientists working in the fields of synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and protein chemistry amongst many others. The facility brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and provides state-of-the-art research and training facilities.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354775
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian Synchrotron Sciences Network. A synchrotron light source is a critical piece of infrastructure for a modern technological nation. In 2001, the Victorian government announced that it would contribute $157M towards the establishment of a national synchrotron facility, becoming operational in 2007. The research performed at such a facility is exceedingly diverse, and often the underpinning technology is the only point of contact for users. A vibrant and productive facility requires a tra ....Australian Synchrotron Sciences Network. A synchrotron light source is a critical piece of infrastructure for a modern technological nation. In 2001, the Victorian government announced that it would contribute $157M towards the establishment of a national synchrotron facility, becoming operational in 2007. The research performed at such a facility is exceedingly diverse, and often the underpinning technology is the only point of contact for users. A vibrant and productive facility requires a transparent interface between the scientist and the technology. This Network will set up the communication channels within the user base, and between the users and the facility development program.Read moreRead less