Accurate quantum modeling of the van der Waals interaction and its application to molecular physisorption onto surfaces. Developing zero emission clean fuel technology for transportation and developing sensitive diagnostic markers for medical diagnosis will clearly benefit Australia. In both cases large technological challenges need to be overcome. This investigation will provide theoretical insight and understanding into the molecular processes which underpin these highly desirable technologies ....Accurate quantum modeling of the van der Waals interaction and its application to molecular physisorption onto surfaces. Developing zero emission clean fuel technology for transportation and developing sensitive diagnostic markers for medical diagnosis will clearly benefit Australia. In both cases large technological challenges need to be overcome. This investigation will provide theoretical insight and understanding into the molecular processes which underpin these highly desirable technologies and aid scientists and engineers in their development. A further, more general, outcome will be an accurate and predictive methodology for investigating nanotechnology problems in any material where molecular physisorption is an important process.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Interactions with Novel Nanostructures. While governments around the world are planning to implement a hydrogen-based energy economy in the next several decades, the delivery of practical hydrogen energy technology has proven elusive to date, with major developments required in the production, storage and transport of hydrogen. This research will undertake to provide one key step in the development of safe and efficient hydrogen storage, namely a fundam ....Fundamental Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Interactions with Novel Nanostructures. While governments around the world are planning to implement a hydrogen-based energy economy in the next several decades, the delivery of practical hydrogen energy technology has proven elusive to date, with major developments required in the production, storage and transport of hydrogen. This research will undertake to provide one key step in the development of safe and efficient hydrogen storage, namely a fundamental study delivering basic knowledge of hydrogen interactions with nano-structured materials constructed from inexpensive light metals such as Aluminium.Read moreRead less
Understanding and controlling the processes underlying self assembly of nanostructures on surfaces. Efficient clean fuel technology, new classes of nano- and bio-materials, bio specific drug delivery systems, efficient environmental remediation technologies, advanced catalytic applications, namely every area of technology would benefit from the ability to control self-assembly of matter at the atomic level during fabrication of nanodevices. This proposal seeks to understand the processes driving ....Understanding and controlling the processes underlying self assembly of nanostructures on surfaces. Efficient clean fuel technology, new classes of nano- and bio-materials, bio specific drug delivery systems, efficient environmental remediation technologies, advanced catalytic applications, namely every area of technology would benefit from the ability to control self-assembly of matter at the atomic level during fabrication of nanodevices. This proposal seeks to understand the processes driving self-assembly of nanomaterials and how to control these processes.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
Innovating Smaller, Stronger, Faster Nanoscale Light Sources: SPASERs. The SPASER is a new type of nano-size amplifier which is analogous to a transistor in modern electronics but operates more like a laser. It will be possible to build ultrafast processors of information with SPASERs replacing transistors or can be used in nanosensing, nanoimaging and many other fields. This project will assemble a world-class team consisting of the pioneer of the concept of SPASER and others who developed desi ....Innovating Smaller, Stronger, Faster Nanoscale Light Sources: SPASERs. The SPASER is a new type of nano-size amplifier which is analogous to a transistor in modern electronics but operates more like a laser. It will be possible to build ultrafast processors of information with SPASERs replacing transistors or can be used in nanosensing, nanoimaging and many other fields. This project will assemble a world-class team consisting of the pioneer of the concept of SPASER and others who developed design and analysis techniques in the context of semiconductor lasers and detectors to engineer SPASER design. The aim is to make robust, fast and efficient SPASERs which resembles the features of current lasers for use in circuits in the smallest possible size that consume lowest possible energy.Read moreRead less