Metaphotonics and metasurfaces for disruptive sensing technologies. This project aims to address a big challenge in nanophotonics by developing revolutionary methods for efficient chiral sensing of molecules without the need for spectrometry, frequency scanning, or moving mechanical parts, and to enhance chiroptical signals a hundredfold with the help of metasurface structures. Resonant metasurfaces are arrays of engineered dielectric nanoparticles with extraordinary characteristics, and they wo ....Metaphotonics and metasurfaces for disruptive sensing technologies. This project aims to address a big challenge in nanophotonics by developing revolutionary methods for efficient chiral sensing of molecules without the need for spectrometry, frequency scanning, or moving mechanical parts, and to enhance chiroptical signals a hundredfold with the help of metasurface structures. Resonant metasurfaces are arrays of engineered dielectric nanoparticles with extraordinary characteristics, and they would allow to overcome current limitations of chiral sensing analytical tools. Detecting chiral molecules in low concentrations is crucially important to many fields of biology, chemistry, and pharmacy, as well as to the food and cosmetics industries, constituting a market of tens of billions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Swift heavy ion induced nano-porous antimony-based semiconductors. This project aims to study the fabrication and application of nano-porous antimony based semiconductors prepared by high-energy ion irradiation. Using a unique combination of synchrotron and laboratory- based analytical techniques as well as computer simulations, the project expects to identify the physical mechanisms for porous structure formation and exploit the materials for application in thermoelectric and thermo-photovoltai ....Swift heavy ion induced nano-porous antimony-based semiconductors. This project aims to study the fabrication and application of nano-porous antimony based semiconductors prepared by high-energy ion irradiation. Using a unique combination of synchrotron and laboratory- based analytical techniques as well as computer simulations, the project expects to identify the physical mechanisms for porous structure formation and exploit the materials for application in thermoelectric and thermo-photovoltaic devices. Expected outcomes of the project include fabrication processes compatible with current device fabrication methodologies that should enable rapid integration of the materials into advanced device applications. Significant benefits should result from novel applications of the technologies such as energy harvesting and sensor devices.Read moreRead less
Feature Learning for High-dimensional Functional Time Series. This project aims to develop new methods and theories for common features on high-dimensional functional time series observed in empirical applications. The significance includes addressing a key gap in adaptive and efficient feature learning, improving forecasting accuracy and understanding forecasting-driven factors comprehensively for empirical data. Expected outcomes involve advances in big data theory and easy-to-implement algori ....Feature Learning for High-dimensional Functional Time Series. This project aims to develop new methods and theories for common features on high-dimensional functional time series observed in empirical applications. The significance includes addressing a key gap in adaptive and efficient feature learning, improving forecasting accuracy and understanding forecasting-driven factors comprehensively for empirical data. Expected outcomes involve advances in big data theory and easy-to-implement algorithms for applied researchers. This project benefits not only advanced manufacturing by finding optimal stopping time for wood panel compression, but also superior forecasting for mortality in demography, climate data in environmental science, asset returns in finance, and electricity consumption in economics. Read moreRead less
Tuning catalyst reaction environments towards photoreforming of wastewater. This project aims to combine high-throughput computation and machine learning to screen photocatalysts more thoroughly for photoreforming of wastewater. The reaction environments effects on surface active units will be tailored for COx-emission-free selective organic synthesis with hydrogen production from organic-contained wastewater at ambient conditions. The project expects to expand our knowledge on the fast, reliabl ....Tuning catalyst reaction environments towards photoreforming of wastewater. This project aims to combine high-throughput computation and machine learning to screen photocatalysts more thoroughly for photoreforming of wastewater. The reaction environments effects on surface active units will be tailored for COx-emission-free selective organic synthesis with hydrogen production from organic-contained wastewater at ambient conditions. The project expects to expand our knowledge on the fast, reliable screening strategies, and the relationship between electric field (or lattice strain) and reaction pathways. This project will develop a photoreforming system for selective co-production of organics and hydrogen from wastewater, benefiting sustainable technologies development for chemical synthesis and hydrogen economy.Read moreRead less
Porous Electromaterials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. This will be accomplished by the engineering of multi-scale porous materials with tuneable electrical, chemical and morphological properties using earth abundant elements. The intended outcome is the establishment of a scalable methodology for the ....Porous Electromaterials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. This will be accomplished by the engineering of multi-scale porous materials with tuneable electrical, chemical and morphological properties using earth abundant elements. The intended outcome is the establishment of a scalable methodology for the structuring and effective integration of microporous materials in highly conductive scaffolds, achieving superior charge and molecular transport, as well as high surface activity. Broad social and economic benefits are anticipated providing new technological solutions for renewable energy storage and fuel production.Read moreRead less
Development and investigation of functional solid-state nano-pore membranes. This project aims to develop robust membranes with molecular size pores using atomically thin layers and silicon-based materials. Using state-of-the-art characterisation techniques and computer simulations it seeks to derive a fundamental understanding of the membrane formation processes and pore properties. Expected outcomes include industrially compatible fabrication processes that should enable rapid integration of t ....Development and investigation of functional solid-state nano-pore membranes. This project aims to develop robust membranes with molecular size pores using atomically thin layers and silicon-based materials. Using state-of-the-art characterisation techniques and computer simulations it seeks to derive a fundamental understanding of the membrane formation processes and pore properties. Expected outcomes include industrially compatible fabrication processes that should enable rapid integration of the membranes into advanced device applications as well as enhancing national capabilities for materials characterisation. Significant benefits should result from novel applications of the technologies in the areas of medical- and bio-sensing, filtration, and lab-on-the-chip devices.Read moreRead less
Porous transparent conducting oxides for efficient solar fuel production. This project aims to develop highly porous, transparent and electrically conducting networks of oxide nanoparticles for artificial photosynthesis applications. The majority of hydrogen is currently produced via natural gas reforming, a process that generates a significant carbon footprint due to the use of fossil fuels. This project will develop novel materials and fabrication methods to improve the efficiency of hydrogen ....Porous transparent conducting oxides for efficient solar fuel production. This project aims to develop highly porous, transparent and electrically conducting networks of oxide nanoparticles for artificial photosynthesis applications. The majority of hydrogen is currently produced via natural gas reforming, a process that generates a significant carbon footprint due to the use of fossil fuels. This project will develop novel materials and fabrication methods to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production using clean and renewable solar energy. This project will contribute to development of technologies for the chemical storage of renewable energy, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. This will have applications in the areas of optoelectronic devices, medical biosensors, and photocatalysis, offering downstream benefits for the society, the economy and the environment.Read moreRead less
Epitaxial growth of III-V microring lasers for integrated silicon photonics. This project aims to investigate the growth and demonstration of compound semiconductor microring lasers on silicon substrates, using selective area growth to engineer the shape of the lasing cavity at the nano/micro-scale. Silicon photonics is currently a dominant technology in optical and data communication systems, and the continued development demands higher speeds, lower power consumption and lower costs. However, ....Epitaxial growth of III-V microring lasers for integrated silicon photonics. This project aims to investigate the growth and demonstration of compound semiconductor microring lasers on silicon substrates, using selective area growth to engineer the shape of the lasing cavity at the nano/micro-scale. Silicon photonics is currently a dominant technology in optical and data communication systems, and the continued development demands higher speeds, lower power consumption and lower costs. However, on-chip integrated, high efficiency lasers are still elusive due to mismatch in material platforms between the lasers and silicon substrates. This project will produce reliable, efficient and easily manufacturable laser sources integrated on silicon photonic chips. It is also expected to pave the way for more development of this technology by the industry to further drive the cost of silicon photonics technology down whilst increasing data transmission speed.Read moreRead less
Next generation easy-clean lenses by robust liquid-repellent nanotextures. This project aims to produce better performing self-cleaning lenses, which are less likely to get dirty and are easy to clean. It will develop water and oil repellent coatings with superior optical transparency and mechanical, solvent and UV stability for both hard coated and anti-reflection coated optical lenses. Engineering of stable, ultra-liquid repellent nanomaterials on transparent surfaces will create a foundation ....Next generation easy-clean lenses by robust liquid-repellent nanotextures. This project aims to produce better performing self-cleaning lenses, which are less likely to get dirty and are easy to clean. It will develop water and oil repellent coatings with superior optical transparency and mechanical, solvent and UV stability for both hard coated and anti-reflection coated optical lenses. Engineering of stable, ultra-liquid repellent nanomaterials on transparent surfaces will create a foundation of knowledge for the industrial development of the future generation of easy care coatings, with vast application potential.Read moreRead less
Locally structured polar-photofunctional materials for energy conversion. This project aims to develop a novel method to engineer local chemical structures for achieving the polarity in narrow bandgap oxides via advanced thin-film growth and ion beam irradiation techniques. The developed new polar-photofunctional materials will significantly improve opto-electro-mechanical coupling and energy conversion, facilitating uses in renewable energy harvesting and smart optomechanical devices. The proje ....Locally structured polar-photofunctional materials for energy conversion. This project aims to develop a novel method to engineer local chemical structures for achieving the polarity in narrow bandgap oxides via advanced thin-film growth and ion beam irradiation techniques. The developed new polar-photofunctional materials will significantly improve opto-electro-mechanical coupling and energy conversion, facilitating uses in renewable energy harvesting and smart optomechanical devices. The project expects to advance material science through a new concept and innovative methodology, achieve properties forbidden/limited by conventional strategies and expand candidate pools for new generation multifunctional materials, significantly advancing Australia’s capacity in advanced manufacturing and industry.Read moreRead less