Engineering Functional Antimicrobial Polypeptide Surfaces. Antimicrobial coatings are vital in preventing bacterial contamination but a versatile solution does not exist. Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) were recently developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. To expand their application into antimicrobial coatings across a range of surfaces, a simple and universal coating strategy is needed. By developing phenolic-functionalised SNAPPs, this project aims ....Engineering Functional Antimicrobial Polypeptide Surfaces. Antimicrobial coatings are vital in preventing bacterial contamination but a versatile solution does not exist. Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) were recently developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. To expand their application into antimicrobial coatings across a range of surfaces, a simple and universal coating strategy is needed. By developing phenolic-functionalised SNAPPs, this project aims to exploit the adhesive nature of metal–phenolic materials to rapidly coat diverse surfaces, including stainless steel and textiles. The expected outcome is the generation of antimicrobial polypeptide surfaces, which will have benefits in food safety, medical implant technology and advanced textiles.Read moreRead less
Innovative Stable Free Radical-Substituted Conjugated Electronic Polymers. The project aims to develop an innovative class of stable free radicals side-chain substituted conjugated donor-acceptor electronic polymers with unique polaronic and radical charge transport capabilities. The targeted optoelectronic material class is unique and has not been explored in depth before. The combination of unpaired electrons and delocalized backbone -electrons delivers exciting modes of charge transfer that ....Innovative Stable Free Radical-Substituted Conjugated Electronic Polymers. The project aims to develop an innovative class of stable free radicals side-chain substituted conjugated donor-acceptor electronic polymers with unique polaronic and radical charge transport capabilities. The targeted optoelectronic material class is unique and has not been explored in depth before. The combination of unpaired electrons and delocalized backbone -electrons delivers exciting modes of charge transfer that provide these novel materials with clear potential as electroactive materials with applications in various nanoelectronics devices. Developing a fundamental understanding of charge transport properties and potential device applications will open up a new field of research in advanced optoelectronic technology. Read moreRead less
Nanobionic sensors for Real-Time Plant Health Monitoring. This project aims to develop nanosensors to detect and monitor plant health in real-time by measuring stress molecules. The project will create new knowledge on functional materials with unique optical, electronic and thermal properties as well as their bio-nano interactions with plants. The expected outcomes of the project will provide insight into 1) how localised nanosensors target organelles in living plants to 2) generate signals tha ....Nanobionic sensors for Real-Time Plant Health Monitoring. This project aims to develop nanosensors to detect and monitor plant health in real-time by measuring stress molecules. The project will create new knowledge on functional materials with unique optical, electronic and thermal properties as well as their bio-nano interactions with plants. The expected outcomes of the project will provide insight into 1) how localised nanosensors target organelles in living plants to 2) generate signals that can be picked up by portable devices to 3) report on plant health. Functional nanosensors will enable smart farming, precision agriculture and contribute to future agronomic research, further strengthening Australia’s position as an international leader in nanobiotechnology.Read moreRead less
Mixed-Dimensional 2D/0D Heterostructures for Infrared Detection. The aim of this proposal is to develop novel mixed-dimensional 2D/0D heterostructures based on halide and chalcogenide nanomaterials to construct a highly efficient solution-processing platform for short wave infrared detection. Moreover, innovative low-dose transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy will be applied to unveil the fundamental structure-property relationship and fill the gap of knowledge for these materials. S ....Mixed-Dimensional 2D/0D Heterostructures for Infrared Detection. The aim of this proposal is to develop novel mixed-dimensional 2D/0D heterostructures based on halide and chalcogenide nanomaterials to construct a highly efficient solution-processing platform for short wave infrared detection. Moreover, innovative low-dose transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy will be applied to unveil the fundamental structure-property relationship and fill the gap of knowledge for these materials. Such mixed-dimensional nano-heterostructures combining 2D halide perovskites with 0D quantum dots with complementary physical properties and atomically resolved interfaces will significantly enhance the performance, thereby enabling breakthroughs in a broad range of disruptive optoelectronic technologies. Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Characterisation of Tracer-Functionalised Nanoparticles . This project aims to engineer nanomaterials by utilising gold nanochemistry and neural tracing capabilities of plant-based, nontoxic proteins. In a significant departure from current nanomaterials being developed, functionalising nanoparticles with the tracers enable them to undergo path-specific axonal retrograde transport, transneuronal transport, and anatomical tract flow to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Microfluidics w ....Synthesis and Characterisation of Tracer-Functionalised Nanoparticles . This project aims to engineer nanomaterials by utilising gold nanochemistry and neural tracing capabilities of plant-based, nontoxic proteins. In a significant departure from current nanomaterials being developed, functionalising nanoparticles with the tracers enable them to undergo path-specific axonal retrograde transport, transneuronal transport, and anatomical tract flow to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Microfluidics will be used to characterise the neuronal activities of the synthesised nanoconjugates of different sizes and compositions to understand their bio-interactions with axons, synapses, and neuromuscular junctions. The results will lead to a new class of functional nanomaterials as well as cell-based functional assays.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100743
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,067.00
Summary
High-mobility transparent p-type materials synthesised from metal surfaces. This project aims to investigate the novel high mobility atomically thin materials synthesised from solid and liquid metal surfaces and to analyse the interfacial properties of their crystal. This project is expected to generate fundamental knowledge and applied research capability in interdisciplinary fields of advanced materials, nanomaterials, and electrical and chemical engineering using innovative synthesis approach ....High-mobility transparent p-type materials synthesised from metal surfaces. This project aims to investigate the novel high mobility atomically thin materials synthesised from solid and liquid metal surfaces and to analyse the interfacial properties of their crystal. This project is expected to generate fundamental knowledge and applied research capability in interdisciplinary fields of advanced materials, nanomaterials, and electrical and chemical engineering using innovative synthesis approaches. This project promises to support the development of new sustainable, low-waste and green technology for transparent, reliable, energy-efficient, high-performance nanoelectronics that can help to build high throughput and low dissipating power electronics components for energy generation, distribution and utilisation.
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Designer Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Protein Factories. Intracellular delivery of mRNA facilitates target protein production, which could build protein factories that are essential in biomanufacturing industries. However, the instability of mRNA greatly lowers the protein production performance, limiting the commercial translation potential. This project aims to develop a new generation of nanoparticle delivery system to enhance mRNA stability against intracellular unstable cue, enzymatic digestio ....Designer Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Protein Factories. Intracellular delivery of mRNA facilitates target protein production, which could build protein factories that are essential in biomanufacturing industries. However, the instability of mRNA greatly lowers the protein production performance, limiting the commercial translation potential. This project aims to develop a new generation of nanoparticle delivery system to enhance mRNA stability against intracellular unstable cue, enzymatic digestion and thermal stress. This will be achieved by tailoring the nanochemistry at multi-scales. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in custom-design of functional nanomaterials for mRNA delivery, and new technology that will bring commercial benefits to the partner organisation and the biopharma sector.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100917
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,647.00
Summary
Manufacturing Nanostructured Metallic Materials via 3D Printed Polymers. This project aims to develop additive manufacturing processes capable of rapidly producing nanostructured polymer and metallic materials with tuneable physical and chemical properties. This project expects to develop new knowledge and chemical processes, allowing the rational design of functional materials with applications in catalysis, energy storage, and chemical separations. Expected outcomes include more energy efficie ....Manufacturing Nanostructured Metallic Materials via 3D Printed Polymers. This project aims to develop additive manufacturing processes capable of rapidly producing nanostructured polymer and metallic materials with tuneable physical and chemical properties. This project expects to develop new knowledge and chemical processes, allowing the rational design of functional materials with applications in catalysis, energy storage, and chemical separations. Expected outcomes include more energy efficient and environmentally benign methods for functional materials synthesis, and increased understanding of structure-property-performance relationships in nanostructured materials. This should provide benefits to Australia by providing cost-effective routes for materials used in energy, health, and water.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101231
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,837.00
Summary
Quinoid Polymers for Organic Electrochemical Transistors and Bioelectronics. This project aims to develop organic semiconductors (OSCs) with excellent mechanical flexibility and biocompatibility to exploit their potentials in bioelectronics. It connects the electronic world with ionic world of biology to push the biomedical application of OSCs a big step forward. Interdisciplinary knowledge, intellectual properties (IPs), top-notch publications, invited talks, and international collaborations ar ....Quinoid Polymers for Organic Electrochemical Transistors and Bioelectronics. This project aims to develop organic semiconductors (OSCs) with excellent mechanical flexibility and biocompatibility to exploit their potentials in bioelectronics. It connects the electronic world with ionic world of biology to push the biomedical application of OSCs a big step forward. Interdisciplinary knowledge, intellectual properties (IPs), top-notch publications, invited talks, and international collaborations are expected. Additionally, it will earn Australia a commercial lead in the biomedical sector to attract more talents to serve Australia. This project also matches well with several government’s strategic research priorities, attracting industries to realise IPs transfer to bring “great value for money” to feed back Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100810
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,072.00
Summary
Solar-powered methanol conversion for on-demand hydrogen production. Methanol is an ideal hydrogen carrier due to its low cost, high hydrogen content, and liquid phase for easy storage and transport but facing problems with hydrogen release. This project aims to achieve cost-effective and emission-free methanol conversion for on-demand hydrogen production. The key concept is the rational design of high-performance single-atom catalytic materials for solar-powered photocatalytic methanol conversi ....Solar-powered methanol conversion for on-demand hydrogen production. Methanol is an ideal hydrogen carrier due to its low cost, high hydrogen content, and liquid phase for easy storage and transport but facing problems with hydrogen release. This project aims to achieve cost-effective and emission-free methanol conversion for on-demand hydrogen production. The key concept is the rational design of high-performance single-atom catalytic materials for solar-powered photocatalytic methanol conversion to hydrogen and value-added chemical formaldehyde with high productivity and selectivity. Expected outcomes include cutting-edge knowledge in the synthesis of functional materials and technology for efficient methanol-to-hydrogen conversion, contributing to the development of the hydrogen economy in Australia.Read moreRead less