Crystalline Mesoporous Metal Oxides for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes. Our crystalline mesoporous electrodes will help realise the full potentials of solid oxide fuel cells. Such advanced fuel cell technology will drastically increase the power generation efficiency, and reduce CO2 emissions from present power plants, thereby transforming Australian energy industry and improving our environment. The design and development of novel crystalline mesoporous materials that find widespread industri ....Crystalline Mesoporous Metal Oxides for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes. Our crystalline mesoporous electrodes will help realise the full potentials of solid oxide fuel cells. Such advanced fuel cell technology will drastically increase the power generation efficiency, and reduce CO2 emissions from present power plants, thereby transforming Australian energy industry and improving our environment. The design and development of novel crystalline mesoporous materials that find widespread industrial applications will advance Australia's knowledge and skill base, and help Australia's high-tech industries to stay competitive, including the development of new high-tech industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560705
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,000.00
Summary
Advanced Deformation Simulation Laboratory. For Australia to maintain its position as a world leader in the science of metals processing it must have the capability for state-of-the-art physical simulation. The present proposal is for the purchase and installation of two leading edge simulation tools: a high rate/short inter-pass hot deformation simulator and a hot equal channel angular extrusion press. Advanced hot deformation simulation is required for the development and optimisation of "fast ....Advanced Deformation Simulation Laboratory. For Australia to maintain its position as a world leader in the science of metals processing it must have the capability for state-of-the-art physical simulation. The present proposal is for the purchase and installation of two leading edge simulation tools: a high rate/short inter-pass hot deformation simulator and a hot equal channel angular extrusion press. Advanced hot deformation simulation is required for the development and optimisation of "fast" industrial processes and for understanding the complex microstructural reactions associated with them. High temperature extrusion is required for the development of ultra-fine and nano-grained light metals.Read moreRead less
Controlling Anisotropic Growth of Metal Oxide Crystals in Aqueous Solution by Selective Adsorption of Small Molecules. The proposed research will enhance our ability to make both light emitting diodes (LEDs) and piezoelectric actuators from ZnO. LEDs are a high efficiency light source that save energy compared to conventional illumination sources and can be fabricated in thin films. The proposal is to also bring the technology for device fabrication to Australia where it can ultimately be used ....Controlling Anisotropic Growth of Metal Oxide Crystals in Aqueous Solution by Selective Adsorption of Small Molecules. The proposed research will enhance our ability to make both light emitting diodes (LEDs) and piezoelectric actuators from ZnO. LEDs are a high efficiency light source that save energy compared to conventional illumination sources and can be fabricated in thin films. The proposal is to also bring the technology for device fabrication to Australia where it can ultimately be used to broaden the economic base of the country. The knowledge of crystal growth rate and crystal morphology control can be applied to improvements in the efficiency of alumina production which is already an important contributor to Australian exports.Read moreRead less
New Electron Field Emission Films Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Guests in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Hosts. This project seeks to develop a new class of electron field emitting nanocomposite consisting of nanotubes in liquid crystalline polymers. Electron emitting materials are in much demand in x-ray and microwave generation, computer displays and low-energy lighting. We utilise the ready alignability of liquid crystalline units in magnetic fields to cause realignment of incorporated carbon ....New Electron Field Emission Films Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Guests in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Hosts. This project seeks to develop a new class of electron field emitting nanocomposite consisting of nanotubes in liquid crystalline polymers. Electron emitting materials are in much demand in x-ray and microwave generation, computer displays and low-energy lighting. We utilise the ready alignability of liquid crystalline units in magnetic fields to cause realignment of incorporated carbon nanotubes, followed by polymer solidification to maintain orientation. It involves low temperature processing, contrasting very favourably with current problematic, high temperature processes. This allows materials to be cast on flexible polymer substrates, potentially enabling construction of cathode tubes to replace existing mercury-containing fluorescent lighting.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Dynamics of Nanostructure Self-Organisation during Compound Semiconductor Epitaxy. The application of LEEM to GaAs and InAs will be a world first, positioning Australia at the forefront of nanoscale self-organisation, leading to important international recognition and publicity. The spectacular movies obtained will revolutionise our basic understanding of compound semiconductor self-organisation and facilitate an improved control over nanostructure fabrication using MBE. This will ....Exploring the Dynamics of Nanostructure Self-Organisation during Compound Semiconductor Epitaxy. The application of LEEM to GaAs and InAs will be a world first, positioning Australia at the forefront of nanoscale self-organisation, leading to important international recognition and publicity. The spectacular movies obtained will revolutionise our basic understanding of compound semiconductor self-organisation and facilitate an improved control over nanostructure fabrication using MBE. This will generate entirely new device structures relevant to the frontier technologies of photonics and quantum information processing. The project will provide high level training for post-graduate and honours students in nanoscale characterisation and synchrotron science.Read moreRead less
New Nanoscale Up-converting Photoluminescent Materials for Passive Safety Visual Systems. The demand for safety and security products is growing as the importance of providing an environment safer from natural, accidental or man-made threats increases in the community. Life safety applications in buildings and work environments as well as trains and planes for example are dependent upon the ability for non-powered passive systems to give efficient visual guidance in dangerous dark and smoke fill ....New Nanoscale Up-converting Photoluminescent Materials for Passive Safety Visual Systems. The demand for safety and security products is growing as the importance of providing an environment safer from natural, accidental or man-made threats increases in the community. Life safety applications in buildings and work environments as well as trains and planes for example are dependent upon the ability for non-powered passive systems to give efficient visual guidance in dangerous dark and smoke filled environments. This project will provide a practical demonstration of the successful implementation of nanotechnology to smaller Australian companies where it will overcome significant drawbacks in current manufacturing and yield new products which are activated in darkness by infrared radiation.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of functionalised metal oxide beads with hierarchical pores for radionuclide and metal sequestration. The central aim of this project is to fabricate nanostructured materials to address the worldwide issue of nuclear waste. These novel materials, with tailored porosity and surface functionality, will decrease both radioactive waste volume and the potential for environmental risk. The collaboration between the Caruso group at the University of Melbourne and the Luca group at ANSTO will ....Synthesis of functionalised metal oxide beads with hierarchical pores for radionuclide and metal sequestration. The central aim of this project is to fabricate nanostructured materials to address the worldwide issue of nuclear waste. These novel materials, with tailored porosity and surface functionality, will decrease both radioactive waste volume and the potential for environmental risk. The collaboration between the Caruso group at the University of Melbourne and the Luca group at ANSTO will educate more scientists and students in the areas of nuclear science and engineering, and the environmental impact of nuclear power generators. Such expertise is currently in high demand around the world, thereby enhancing Australia's position in the global nuclear field.Read moreRead less
Design in Nanostructured Materials - Formation and Stability of Nanostructure in Light Alloys and Light Metal Hybrids. Under its Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the production, processing and applications of the light metals, and a growth in global markets for light metals technology. Light metals research is a designated national priority, and this program will advance an established international leadership in the design and downstream processing of the ....Design in Nanostructured Materials - Formation and Stability of Nanostructure in Light Alloys and Light Metal Hybrids. Under its Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the production, processing and applications of the light metals, and a growth in global markets for light metals technology. Light metals research is a designated national priority, and this program will advance an established international leadership in the design and downstream processing of the light alloys. It will also provide leadership in a new national research activity in light metal hybrid structures, targeted at innovation in materials design and the expansion of markets for the light metals. It will underpin major developments in the light metals industry nationally and globally, and extend linkages with major research centres internationally.Read moreRead less
States of Aggregation - Clustering, Segregation, Nucleation and Nanostructure. High strength light alloys are nanostructured materials, deriving their mechanical properties from nanoscale dispersions of strengthening precipitate phases controlled by alloy composition and thermomechanical processing. Atom-probe field-ion microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy will be combined to study the aggregation of solute atoms that precedes formation of the precipitate phases. Experimental st ....States of Aggregation - Clustering, Segregation, Nucleation and Nanostructure. High strength light alloys are nanostructured materials, deriving their mechanical properties from nanoscale dispersions of strengthening precipitate phases controlled by alloy composition and thermomechanical processing. Atom-probe field-ion microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy will be combined to study the aggregation of solute atoms that precedes formation of the precipitate phases. Experimental studies at high spatial resolution will be complemented by elastic strain energy calculations and first-principles modelling of the aggregation behaviour, to define its role in controlling precipitation processes and thus properties. The work will provide a basis for improved alloy design and a platform for computer-aided design of high-performance alloys.Read moreRead less
Novel nanostructured alloy membranes for hydrogen permeation: Advanced materials technology for renewable energy. Hydrogen purification by alloy membranes is a key technology in maintaining the greenhouse gas emission low while using the fossil fuels including coal for energy generation. However, the alloys currently available for the membrane separation are mostly based on a costly precious metal palladium, making the application of the technology limited. The proposed non-equilibrium material ....Novel nanostructured alloy membranes for hydrogen permeation: Advanced materials technology for renewable energy. Hydrogen purification by alloy membranes is a key technology in maintaining the greenhouse gas emission low while using the fossil fuels including coal for energy generation. However, the alloys currently available for the membrane separation are mostly based on a costly precious metal palladium, making the application of the technology limited. The proposed non-equilibrium material processing will enable us to fabricate novel nanocomposite niobium-based alloys to which excellent hydrogen permeation characteristics are expected with high economic viability. Successful development of the proposed alloys could enhance the competitiveness of the Australian coal industry worldwide.Read moreRead less