Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. ....Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. The significance lies in the ability to optimise reaction outcomes without the need for solvent screening. The innovation lies in the measurement of microscopic interactions between solvent and reagents, and the use of these interactions to affect a given process.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic surface coatings for drag and fouling reduction. This project aims to provide new insights into liquid flow and adsorption at liquid/solid and liquid/liquid interfaces, by using a combination of theoretical predictions, nanoscale techniques and nanofabrication approaches. Expected outcomes are the development of liquid-repellent slippery surface coatings that reduce hydrodynamic drag and inhibit marine fouling. This will benefit the fields of advanced manufacturing and smart coatings, ....Biomimetic surface coatings for drag and fouling reduction. This project aims to provide new insights into liquid flow and adsorption at liquid/solid and liquid/liquid interfaces, by using a combination of theoretical predictions, nanoscale techniques and nanofabrication approaches. Expected outcomes are the development of liquid-repellent slippery surface coatings that reduce hydrodynamic drag and inhibit marine fouling. This will benefit the fields of advanced manufacturing and smart coatings, and will underpin a wide range of energy efficient processes and products. Slippery coatings will solve urgent environmental problems of social value by improving the energy and chemical efficiency in fluid flow, heat transfer, secondary oil recovery, microfluidics, and anti-fouling.Read moreRead less
A molecular understanding of transport fuels to drive clean and efficient combustion. A molecular understanding of hydrocarbon combustion remains incomplete and this inhibits the deployment of alternative fuels and clean/efficient engine technologies. This project will develop the chemistry that will enable accurate combustion models to accelerate developments towards clean and efficient fuels for the twenty-first century.
High performance cathode materials for rechargeable lithium ion batteries. This project aims to address the limitation of current battery technology though the development of innovative high energy/power cathode materials for next generation rechargeable lithium ion batteries with high capacity, high power density and outstanding retention. This improvement will dramatically reduce the costs necessary for the market competitiveness of electric vehicles (EVs). By promoting greater EV uptake, this ....High performance cathode materials for rechargeable lithium ion batteries. This project aims to address the limitation of current battery technology though the development of innovative high energy/power cathode materials for next generation rechargeable lithium ion batteries with high capacity, high power density and outstanding retention. This improvement will dramatically reduce the costs necessary for the market competitiveness of electric vehicles (EVs). By promoting greater EV uptake, this project will contribute to Australia’s emissions targets by helping to decarbonise the transport sector.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. This Centre aims to manipulate the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. The research programme spans high-throughput computational screening, single molecule photochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy and embraces innovative outreach and commercial translation activities. The Centre plans to capture the knowledge generated as new intellectual property, materials processing know-how, and through the ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. This Centre aims to manipulate the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. The research programme spans high-throughput computational screening, single molecule photochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy and embraces innovative outreach and commercial translation activities. The Centre plans to capture the knowledge generated as new intellectual property, materials processing know-how, and through the creation of new employment opportunities. The expected outcomes and benefits include new Australian technologies in solar energy conversion, energy-efficient lighting and displays, security labelling and optical sensor platforms for defence.Read moreRead less
Design of adsorbents for kinetic separation of gases. The purpose of this project is to design, synthesise and test a new family of adsorbents for separation of gas mixtures of environmental and energy significance. The outcome will be a thorough understanding of diffusion in adsorbents and preparation of several candidate adsorbents with superior separation characteristics.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100009
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,064,000.00
Summary
Ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for physical applications. Ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for physical applications: Ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging provides unique high contrast images at previously inaccessible levels of resolution (<0.1mm). It non-invasively provides unprecedented information on chemical and biochemical processes including functional biological mechanisms. This infrastructure will be the focal point for ....Ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for physical applications. Ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for physical applications: Ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging provides unique high contrast images at previously inaccessible levels of resolution (<0.1mm). It non-invasively provides unprecedented information on chemical and biochemical processes including functional biological mechanisms. This infrastructure will be the focal point for more than 100 academics and HDR students. It will take Australia to the forefront of magnetic resonance imaging capability as well as providing unique insights into diffusion and electrophoretic problems central to designing next generation energy storage. Outcomes will range from agricultural advances, higher performing batteries, and more effective cancer treatments as well advancing Australia's fundamental scientific capabilities.Read moreRead less
Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes. This project aims to achieve a predictive understanding of liquid transport through two-dimensional (2D) membranes driven by concentration gradients by using a combination of novel theory and computation. Membranes made from 2D nanomaterials hold great promise for many applications from desalination to power generation to chemical sensing, but the concentration-gradient-driven transport processes that underlie these appli ....Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes. This project aims to achieve a predictive understanding of liquid transport through two-dimensional (2D) membranes driven by concentration gradients by using a combination of novel theory and computation. Membranes made from 2D nanomaterials hold great promise for many applications from desalination to power generation to chemical sensing, but the concentration-gradient-driven transport processes that underlie these applications are not well understood. The expected outcome of this project is an unprecedented quantitative understanding of the parameters that control these transport processes. This will enable predictive optimisation of 2D membranes, which will reduce the time and cost of membrane development for diverse applications.
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Breaking emulsions. Droplet coalescence is the key to breaking emulsions, that is, separating oil from water. This process underpins the recovery of crude oil and the remediation of industrial and environmental waste-waters. Through a unique and novel experimental program that simultaneously tracks drop trajectories up to the millimetre scale and drop deformations in the nanometre scale, this project aims to fill a fundamental gap in our understanding of such coalescence events. A complete theor ....Breaking emulsions. Droplet coalescence is the key to breaking emulsions, that is, separating oil from water. This process underpins the recovery of crude oil and the remediation of industrial and environmental waste-waters. Through a unique and novel experimental program that simultaneously tracks drop trajectories up to the millimetre scale and drop deformations in the nanometre scale, this project aims to fill a fundamental gap in our understanding of such coalescence events. A complete theoretical model of coalescence will result, forming a predictive framework for separating emulsions to recover pure oil and water, and laying the foundation for using compound drops to tune the optical properties of surface for speciality applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100433
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Optimising light harvesting using quantum transport. Observations of wavelike energy transport in photosynthetic systems have exposed the role of quantum mechanics in natural light harvesting. This project is a study of how light harvesting functions for an incoherent source like sunlight. In sunlight, energy transport occurs at steady state, a dramatically simpler regime than when a coherent source like lasers are used. This project will exploit this simplification to develop new methods for tr ....Optimising light harvesting using quantum transport. Observations of wavelike energy transport in photosynthetic systems have exposed the role of quantum mechanics in natural light harvesting. This project is a study of how light harvesting functions for an incoherent source like sunlight. In sunlight, energy transport occurs at steady state, a dramatically simpler regime than when a coherent source like lasers are used. This project will exploit this simplification to develop new methods for treating light harvesting in sunlight and apply them to a variety of natural and artificial systems. It will clarify how bacteria and plants harvest sunlight and lead to design principles that will enable artificial light harvesting to take advantage of quantum effects.Read moreRead less