Mechanisms and modelling of gels for protein separation. Gradipore approached Sydney University to collaborate on fundamental science needed to improve polymer gels for separation and characterization of proteins. These gels have many applications: e.g. proteomics and diagnostics. Presently, control of polymer microstructure in the synthesis of these gels is by trial and error. This project will create an accurate model of the process so pore size can be predicted. This involves novel work in ex ....Mechanisms and modelling of gels for protein separation. Gradipore approached Sydney University to collaborate on fundamental science needed to improve polymer gels for separation and characterization of proteins. These gels have many applications: e.g. proteomics and diagnostics. Presently, control of polymer microstructure in the synthesis of these gels is by trial and error. This project will create an accurate model of the process so pore size can be predicted. This involves novel work in experimental and theoretical methods developed by the Sydney University group. The result will be qualitative and quantitative understanding which can be subsequently used to tailor-make gels for new applications.Read moreRead less
Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these w ....Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these ways, in order to provide the information necessary to refine procedures and design new molecules suitable for advanced applications. Expected outcomes are new methods and architectures that can ultimately yield devices that act at the molecular level.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237384
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$156,000.00
Summary
Raman Spectroscopy Mapping Facility. This proposal seeks to provide a confocal Raman spectrometer for researchers at the Universities of Wollongong, Western Sydney, Newcastle and University of Technology, Sydney. The Facility will have the exceptional capability of characterising and mapping, at the micron level, the chemical nature of a wide range of advanced materials under development in our laboratories. The information derived will be of critical value for potential applications such as new ....Raman Spectroscopy Mapping Facility. This proposal seeks to provide a confocal Raman spectrometer for researchers at the Universities of Wollongong, Western Sydney, Newcastle and University of Technology, Sydney. The Facility will have the exceptional capability of characterising and mapping, at the micron level, the chemical nature of a wide range of advanced materials under development in our laboratories. The information derived will be of critical value for potential applications such as new corrosion-protection coatings, highly selective chemical and biochemical sensors, and new solar energy materials. The Facility will also be invaluable for the quantitative characterisation of forensic and geological samples that are otherwise difficult to identify due to their heterogeneous nature.Read moreRead less
Atomistic Mechanisms of Stress Relaxation in Amorphous Materials. Amorphous materials represent a major thrust in the search for new materials. Metallic glasses have very high strength and can be cast to much finer tolerances than regular (polycrystalline) metals. Ceramic glasses are finding increasing applications in data storage, photoelectronics and fibre optics. The greatest obstacle to the application of amorphous solids is their brittleness. The goal of this project is to use accurate comp ....Atomistic Mechanisms of Stress Relaxation in Amorphous Materials. Amorphous materials represent a major thrust in the search for new materials. Metallic glasses have very high strength and can be cast to much finer tolerances than regular (polycrystalline) metals. Ceramic glasses are finding increasing applications in data storage, photoelectronics and fibre optics. The greatest obstacle to the application of amorphous solids is their brittleness. The goal of this project is to use accurate computer simulations to provide detailed pictures of how atomic motions relax stress in very different types of glasses and, through this insight, explore ways of modifying the mechanical properties of these materials.Read moreRead less
Switchable interfaces. The discovery project will challenge some of the most demanding issues regarding adhesion and molecular separation: - Surfaces that can release/prevent bio-film formation can provide novel solutions for corrosion-protection, implants, anti-fouling in medical devices as well as in industrial piping and reactors. - Materials for separation on the molecular level, which can bring new possibilities for fast and selective processes to the pharmaceutical industry. The novel comb ....Switchable interfaces. The discovery project will challenge some of the most demanding issues regarding adhesion and molecular separation: - Surfaces that can release/prevent bio-film formation can provide novel solutions for corrosion-protection, implants, anti-fouling in medical devices as well as in industrial piping and reactors. - Materials for separation on the molecular level, which can bring new possibilities for fast and selective processes to the pharmaceutical industry. The novel combination of the two materials research fields - plasma-polymerisation and electroactive materials- will lead to an international capability at the forefront of separation and adhesion research.Read moreRead less
Fluctuation Effects in Non-Crystallising Liquids. Understanding the behaviour of liquids colder than their freezing temperature is important in areas as diverse as metal alloy preparation, prevention of cell damage in plants and animals at low temperatures, extending the working temperature range of new high voltage automotive batteries and controlling drug delivery in pharmaceuticals. Advances in these areas would represent important new manufacturing opportunities in industries already establi ....Fluctuation Effects in Non-Crystallising Liquids. Understanding the behaviour of liquids colder than their freezing temperature is important in areas as diverse as metal alloy preparation, prevention of cell damage in plants and animals at low temperatures, extending the working temperature range of new high voltage automotive batteries and controlling drug delivery in pharmaceuticals. Advances in these areas would represent important new manufacturing opportunities in industries already established in Australia. In this project the fundamental physical chemistry of supercooled liquids is developed and applied to a number of these technological challenges.Read moreRead less
Nanogels: Next Generation Polymeric Particles. The existing knowledge in the formation of polymeric networks limits the technological development of polymer materials. This project will introduce new polymeric particles, called nanogels to open a new area in new polymeric architecture research. A number of new structures based on the nanogels will be developed. These new macromolecules will not only bring the polymer science into a new field, it will provide a great opportunity to discover the ....Nanogels: Next Generation Polymeric Particles. The existing knowledge in the formation of polymeric networks limits the technological development of polymer materials. This project will introduce new polymeric particles, called nanogels to open a new area in new polymeric architecture research. A number of new structures based on the nanogels will be developed. These new macromolecules will not only bring the polymer science into a new field, it will provide a great opportunity to discover the next generation of the polymeric products, particularly for application in automotive paint, drug delivery and bio-molecular separations.Read moreRead less
Nanoparticles with designed morphology for surface-coating applications. Significantly improved water-based paints, with zero volatile organic content and organic opacifiers, are highly desirable for environmental and health reasons. The science needed to produce such paints has been persistently elusive. USyd and Dulux will collaborate to achieve these paints by using Australian-developed platform technologies that allow polymer architecture to be controlled at molecular and nanoscale levels. T ....Nanoparticles with designed morphology for surface-coating applications. Significantly improved water-based paints, with zero volatile organic content and organic opacifiers, are highly desirable for environmental and health reasons. The science needed to produce such paints has been persistently elusive. USyd and Dulux will collaborate to achieve these paints by using Australian-developed platform technologies that allow polymer architecture to be controlled at molecular and nanoscale levels. This will give us the means to make structured nanoparticles with morphologies that had been regarded as unachievable, and that are the key to dispensing with harmful ingredients in paints.Read moreRead less
Integrated approach to self assembled molecular capsules. Process intensification technologies in the form of spinning disc and rotating tube processing are new to Australia and present many opportunities for both carrying out the synthesis of organic compounds and in fabricating nanomaterials. The ensuing nanotechnological applications are more benign in approach then other fabrication techniques, minimising the generation of waste at the same time under continuous flow which is likely to be mo ....Integrated approach to self assembled molecular capsules. Process intensification technologies in the form of spinning disc and rotating tube processing are new to Australia and present many opportunities for both carrying out the synthesis of organic compounds and in fabricating nanomaterials. The ensuing nanotechnological applications are more benign in approach then other fabrication techniques, minimising the generation of waste at the same time under continuous flow which is likely to be more attractive to industry. Proposed applications such as drug delivery, catalysis, smart materials and device technology are expected to foster industrial collaborations. The project will provide first-rate research training and promote Australian science through the development of these new technologies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454249
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$157,004.00
Summary
Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Fl ....Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Flinders University and the University of South Australia. This equipment will allow the universities to carry out this research in a unique manner. Other researchers cannot offer the synergy of synthesis, processing and characterisation of nanomaterials and biomaterials as described in this project.Read moreRead less