Understanding structure-property relations in amorphous silicon. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology and has a number of clear benefits for Australia. 1) Ensures Australia maintains its current position as a world leader in the fields of nanotechnology and material science; 2) Provides training to students in the exciting areas of synchrotron operation and nanotechnology. 3) Enables leverage for further funding from both companies and international funding ....Understanding structure-property relations in amorphous silicon. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology and has a number of clear benefits for Australia. 1) Ensures Australia maintains its current position as a world leader in the fields of nanotechnology and material science; 2) Provides training to students in the exciting areas of synchrotron operation and nanotechnology. 3) Enables leverage for further funding from both companies and international funding sources; and 4) Supports Australian industry by contributing to research which has resulted in the formation of a new company.Read moreRead less
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
Engineering nanoscale material properties by controlled-temperature indentation. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology. The technology is based on semiconductor modification at the nanoscale by nanoindentation. This project will further provide valuable opportunities for a number of research students and early-career researchers to gain skills as well as learn techniques and processes needed for Australia's nanotechnology workforce. Australia will further ....Engineering nanoscale material properties by controlled-temperature indentation. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology. The technology is based on semiconductor modification at the nanoscale by nanoindentation. This project will further provide valuable opportunities for a number of research students and early-career researchers to gain skills as well as learn techniques and processes needed for Australia's nanotechnology workforce. Australia will further benefit as the skills and knowledge garnered from this work will be patented at every opportunity and transferred to a spin-off company, WRiota.Read moreRead less
Novel Synthesis and Bio-applications of Functional Macroporous Ordered Siliceous Foams. This project will lead to advances in materials science and nanotechnology, providing high efficiency separation and purification for viruses or plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are important in modern gene engineering for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Application benefits also include developing a new protocol in the detection of trace amount proteins, which will afford a signific ....Novel Synthesis and Bio-applications of Functional Macroporous Ordered Siliceous Foams. This project will lead to advances in materials science and nanotechnology, providing high efficiency separation and purification for viruses or plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are important in modern gene engineering for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Application benefits also include developing a new protocol in the detection of trace amount proteins, which will afford a significant improvement in diverse fields such as health care. Through this project, novel macroporous materials will be fabricated using an economically and environmentally sustainable approach. These new materials will have unique structures and properties compared to conventional macroporous materials, advancing Australia's intellectual position in this discipline.Read moreRead less
Mechanical deformation of layered semiconductor structures. This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of mechanical deformation in thin film layered semiconductors structures. Currently, there is little knowledge in this area despite the importance of such structures in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Layered structures are not expected to respond to mechanical stress in the same way as bulk materials, as a result of size constraints in nanoscale films, the critical importance of strai ....Mechanical deformation of layered semiconductor structures. This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of mechanical deformation in thin film layered semiconductors structures. Currently, there is little knowledge in this area despite the importance of such structures in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Layered structures are not expected to respond to mechanical stress in the same way as bulk materials, as a result of size constraints in nanoscale films, the critical importance of strain, and the possibility of disparities between the mechanical properties of the individual layers. The results of this project will dramatically enhance the understanding of the deformation responses of nanoscale structures to mechanical stress.Read moreRead less
Amorphisation of Semiconductor and Elemental Metallic Nanocrystals by Ion Irradiation. This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Advanced Materials and Frontier Technologies. We seek to understand and develop a unique methodology for modifying and tailoring the structure of semiconductor and metallic nanocrystals in ways not achievable within the bulk phase. Our res ....Amorphisation of Semiconductor and Elemental Metallic Nanocrystals by Ion Irradiation. This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Advanced Materials and Frontier Technologies. We seek to understand and develop a unique methodology for modifying and tailoring the structure of semiconductor and metallic nanocrystals in ways not achievable within the bulk phase. Our results and accompanying scientific insight will broaden the applicability of these materials in advanced technologies, enhance the national research profile, increase the domestic knowledge base and yield skilled, young scientists trained to utilize the Australian Synchrotron when commissioned in 2007.Read moreRead less
Boron nitride nanotubes for tunable conductivity. The proposed research in nanotubes falls into the national research priority areas of advanced materials and breakthrough science. This ANU research group has a leading role in Boron Nitride (BN) nanotube research internationally. The proposed collaborative research will enhance this position and further improve the nation's research profile in nanotechnology. New intellectual properties will be generated if the project is successful, which wi ....Boron nitride nanotubes for tunable conductivity. The proposed research in nanotubes falls into the national research priority areas of advanced materials and breakthrough science. This ANU research group has a leading role in Boron Nitride (BN) nanotube research internationally. The proposed collaborative research will enhance this position and further improve the nation's research profile in nanotechnology. New intellectual properties will be generated if the project is successful, which will benefit the commercialization activity of BN nanotubes at ANU. New PhD and undergraduate students will be trained by the proposed cutting edge research project.Read moreRead less
Structure-property correlation in metal-oxide aerogels. Aerogels are truly remarkable materials with unique physical properties including extraordinary thermal insulation capabilities. The influence of mechanical deformation on these nanoscale materials is only poorly understood, despite key technological interest. This project aims to measure the response of a variety of aerogels samples to forces applied by nanoindentation and, using advanced electron microscopy and ion-beam analysis techniqu ....Structure-property correlation in metal-oxide aerogels. Aerogels are truly remarkable materials with unique physical properties including extraordinary thermal insulation capabilities. The influence of mechanical deformation on these nanoscale materials is only poorly understood, despite key technological interest. This project aims to measure the response of a variety of aerogels samples to forces applied by nanoindentation and, using advanced electron microscopy and ion-beam analysis techniques, to directly identify the atomic-level deformation mechanisms.Read moreRead less
Design in Nanostructured Materials - Formation and Stability of Nanostructure in Light Alloys and Light Metal Hybrids. Under its Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the production, processing and applications of the light metals, and a growth in global markets for light metals technology. Light metals research is a designated national priority, and this program will advance an established international leadership in the design and downstream processing of the ....Design in Nanostructured Materials - Formation and Stability of Nanostructure in Light Alloys and Light Metal Hybrids. Under its Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the production, processing and applications of the light metals, and a growth in global markets for light metals technology. Light metals research is a designated national priority, and this program will advance an established international leadership in the design and downstream processing of the light alloys. It will also provide leadership in a new national research activity in light metal hybrid structures, targeted at innovation in materials design and the expansion of markets for the light metals. It will underpin major developments in the light metals industry nationally and globally, and extend linkages with major research centres internationally.Read moreRead less
States of Aggregation - Clustering, Segregation, Nucleation and Nanostructure. High strength light alloys are nanostructured materials, deriving their mechanical properties from nanoscale dispersions of strengthening precipitate phases controlled by alloy composition and thermomechanical processing. Atom-probe field-ion microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy will be combined to study the aggregation of solute atoms that precedes formation of the precipitate phases. Experimental st ....States of Aggregation - Clustering, Segregation, Nucleation and Nanostructure. High strength light alloys are nanostructured materials, deriving their mechanical properties from nanoscale dispersions of strengthening precipitate phases controlled by alloy composition and thermomechanical processing. Atom-probe field-ion microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy will be combined to study the aggregation of solute atoms that precedes formation of the precipitate phases. Experimental studies at high spatial resolution will be complemented by elastic strain energy calculations and first-principles modelling of the aggregation behaviour, to define its role in controlling precipitation processes and thus properties. The work will provide a basis for improved alloy design and a platform for computer-aided design of high-performance alloys.Read moreRead less