Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
A prototype Scanning Helium Atom Microscope (SHeM) for soft materials. The scanning helium atom microscope (SHeM) has been a tantalising prospect since the birth of quantum physics. The SHeM would have unparalleled resolution and would be completely non-damaging; potentially revolutionising the imaging of soft delicate materials. This project will develop the first SHeM instrument in Australia to study soft matter.
Phonon based condensed matter imaging. This project will exploit observations of phonon-based chemical contrast in the SHeM to determine the physics that underpins the imaging mechanism and use them to probe vibrational processes in condensed matter imaging. Imaging is an essential tool for the discovery, application and fabrication of new materials, structures and devices. However, many delicate structures are irrevocably degraded and changed when imaged using conventional microscopy. This team ....Phonon based condensed matter imaging. This project will exploit observations of phonon-based chemical contrast in the SHeM to determine the physics that underpins the imaging mechanism and use them to probe vibrational processes in condensed matter imaging. Imaging is an essential tool for the discovery, application and fabrication of new materials, structures and devices. However, many delicate structures are irrevocably degraded and changed when imaged using conventional microscopy. This team recently invented the scanning helium atom microscope (SHeM), which can image surfaces non-destructively with nanoscale resolution. They will use the SHeM to determine the new fundamental physics that underpins the imaging mechanism. Outcomes include turning SHeM into a tool that materials and biological scientists can use in laboratories worldwide.Read moreRead less
3D integrated crystalline UV optical lens-fiber couplers for astronomy. This project aims to create micro-optics for astronomical and bio medical applications by 3D sculpturing them out of crystals by ultra-short pulse lasers. This project will introduce a new 3D fabrication approach of optical probes which have self-aligned micro-optical elements and optical fibres for a wide spectral range and with high quality optical surfaces. Expected outcomes of this project include building new capabiliti ....3D integrated crystalline UV optical lens-fiber couplers for astronomy. This project aims to create micro-optics for astronomical and bio medical applications by 3D sculpturing them out of crystals by ultra-short pulse lasers. This project will introduce a new 3D fabrication approach of optical probes which have self-aligned micro-optical elements and optical fibres for a wide spectral range and with high quality optical surfaces. Expected outcomes of this project include building new capabilities in micro-optical probes for industrial environments, establishing new solutions for international astronomy partners, and developing new techniques to image through optical fibres. This should provide significant benefits by improving astronomical instrumentation and also lead to less invasive endoscopy.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundame ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundamental advances in understanding details of immune responses in health and disease. The Centre will enable Australia to be an international leader in biological imaging, to train next
generation interdisciplinary scientists, and to provide new insights for combating common diseases that afflict society.Read moreRead less
The photons take charge: Elucidating the structure and stability of distonic radical anions by mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy. Recent work has discovered that certain radical anions have electronic configurations that defy chemical convention and exhibit exceptional radical stability. Exploitation of this breakthrough first requires experimental elucidation of the intrinsic electronic structure of these compounds and how it relates to their remarkable properties. This project w ....The photons take charge: Elucidating the structure and stability of distonic radical anions by mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy. Recent work has discovered that certain radical anions have electronic configurations that defy chemical convention and exhibit exceptional radical stability. Exploitation of this breakthrough first requires experimental elucidation of the intrinsic electronic structure of these compounds and how it relates to their remarkable properties. This project will probe the fundamental structure and energetics of radical anions by modifying instrumentation to enable multi-step gas-phase ion synthesis to be efficiently coupled with anion photoelectron spectroscopy. These investigations are essential to revealing the scope of this phenomenon in free radical chemistry and biology and could inform future development of new catalysts for polymerisation.Read moreRead less
Creating a non-invasive window into the mind. This project aims to create better tools to study the human mind. This project expects to generate new knowledge that can be used to non-invasively image neuronal activity. Expected outcomes include the development of unique new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) instruments to study neuronal activity in both highly controlled laboratory conditions and in humans, with the spatial and temporal resolution needed to study the neuronal circuitry that drive ....Creating a non-invasive window into the mind. This project aims to create better tools to study the human mind. This project expects to generate new knowledge that can be used to non-invasively image neuronal activity. Expected outcomes include the development of unique new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) instruments to study neuronal activity in both highly controlled laboratory conditions and in humans, with the spatial and temporal resolution needed to study the neuronal circuitry that drives low and high-level brain functions, i.e., creating a window into the mind. In the future, outcomes from this study could improve our understanding of mental disorders, advance computer brain interface technology, and inspire the next paradigm shift in artificial intelligence.Read moreRead less
Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silic ....Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silicon electrodes where irradiating with light causes an increase in conductivity at the illumination spot. The project will explore the variables that influence the spatial resolution and apply the ideas to making soft connects for nanoelectronics and making high density electrode arrays for electroanalysis.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100732
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,544.00
Summary
Electrostatic Catalysis: guiding reactive interfaces using electric fields. This project seeks to gain quantitative understanding of the role of electrostatics over chemical processes. Chemical transformations of organic compounds at interfaces underpin some of the most important processes, from the production of fine chemicals for pharmaceuticals to assisting bio-degradation of pollutants in clean technologies. Recent computational studies suggest that by applying oriented electric fields at in ....Electrostatic Catalysis: guiding reactive interfaces using electric fields. This project seeks to gain quantitative understanding of the role of electrostatics over chemical processes. Chemical transformations of organic compounds at interfaces underpin some of the most important processes, from the production of fine chemicals for pharmaceuticals to assisting bio-degradation of pollutants in clean technologies. Recent computational studies suggest that by applying oriented electric fields at interfaces, the rate and the selectivity of chemical processes can be altered at will. The project intends to test these theoretical findings. The knowledge generated by this research may translate into new technologies for the fine-chemical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100467
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Unravelling the intrinsic structure and stability of multiply charged anions in the gas-phase using photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Molecules possessing multiple negative charges are common constituents in chemistry, influencing a range of processes ranging from photochemical smog formation to protein structure in vivo. This project will develop new technologies to probe their molecular structure in the gas-phase, leading to a more rigorous understanding of these species.
Adaptive Base Isolation using Innovative Magnetorheological Elastomers. Base isolation is of great importance for the safety of infrastructure, such as hospitals, bridges and nuclear power plants. Utilisation of a traditional passive base isolator makes the base isolation system vulnerable and susceptible to unexpected/extreme dynamic loadings, such as earthquakes. This project aims to address this critical issue through the development of a novel adaptive seismic isolator working with an innova ....Adaptive Base Isolation using Innovative Magnetorheological Elastomers. Base isolation is of great importance for the safety of infrastructure, such as hospitals, bridges and nuclear power plants. Utilisation of a traditional passive base isolator makes the base isolation system vulnerable and susceptible to unexpected/extreme dynamic loadings, such as earthquakes. This project aims to address this critical issue through the development of a novel adaptive seismic isolator working with an innovative stiffness softening magnetorheological elastomer (MRE). This research represents a fundamental step towards the understanding of MRE behaviour and is expected to be the breakthrough for the development of a future smart base isolation system.Read moreRead less