Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453823
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,124.00
Summary
Atomic Force Microscopy Facility for Soft Interfaces. This proposal seeks to establish a specialized atomic force microscopy facility capable of performing measurements on nanometre scales at soft interfaces. This will service the needs of and collaboration between leading researchers at the Universities of Newcastle, Melbourne, New South Wales and James Cook University. The facility will allow direct measurements of properties of the interactions between atoms, molecules and surfaces associated ....Atomic Force Microscopy Facility for Soft Interfaces. This proposal seeks to establish a specialized atomic force microscopy facility capable of performing measurements on nanometre scales at soft interfaces. This will service the needs of and collaboration between leading researchers at the Universities of Newcastle, Melbourne, New South Wales and James Cook University. The facility will allow direct measurements of properties of the interactions between atoms, molecules and surfaces associated with soft interfaces which are required for ongoing research in fluid-fluid interfaces, surfactant and polymer adsorbed layers, and biomolecules as well as to develop new processes in emerging fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and medical and pharmaceutical production.Read moreRead less
Selective Adsorption throught Molecular Imprinting in Nanoporous Silica. A novel synthesis method, molecular imprinting (MI) combined with a templating technique, will be used to prepare mesoporous silica materials with specific molecular recognition sites. The surface morphology of the materials can be duplicated at a molecular level known as molecular imprinting. The imprinting of metal ions, organic and enantiomeric molecules and the subsequent interactions with the template will be studied ....Selective Adsorption throught Molecular Imprinting in Nanoporous Silica. A novel synthesis method, molecular imprinting (MI) combined with a templating technique, will be used to prepare mesoporous silica materials with specific molecular recognition sites. The surface morphology of the materials can be duplicated at a molecular level known as molecular imprinting. The imprinting of metal ions, organic and enantiomeric molecules and the subsequent interactions with the template will be studied. The molecular recognition properties of imprinted materials will be evaluated by selective adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of Hg2+/Pd2+, D-glucose and (-)-borneol/(+)-fenchol respectively. The novelty of the research is in combining the template synthesis of nanoporous silicates with the technique of MI.Read moreRead less
Production and nano-characterisation of II-VI semiconductor quantum dots from plant cell cultures. Nanocrystallites with semiconductor properties have potential applications in medicine, microelectronics and waste treatment. Cheap, reliable methods for producing large quantities of monodisperse nanoparticles are required. Solution techniques have been used most commonly; however, production of stable, high-quality particles remains difficult. Biological synthesis using plant cell culture offers ....Production and nano-characterisation of II-VI semiconductor quantum dots from plant cell cultures. Nanocrystallites with semiconductor properties have potential applications in medicine, microelectronics and waste treatment. Cheap, reliable methods for producing large quantities of monodisperse nanoparticles are required. Solution techniques have been used most commonly; however, production of stable, high-quality particles remains difficult. Biological synthesis using plant cell culture offers several important advantages. As peptide capping is incorporated into the biological assembly process, the nanoparticles are restricted in size, their stability is improved, and their surfaces are passivated. Application of plant cultures for nanocrystallite production is a novel approach with the potential to yield significant improvements in the quality of manufactured quantum dots.Read moreRead less
Tailoring nano-crystal suspensions for extended ion supply to hydrophobic and hydrophilic leaf surfaces. Nutrient deficiency undermines the potential of billions of people and many nations. The requirement is to rapidly increase micro-nutrient delivery to support intensive and fortified crop production. This proposal seeks to develop a controlled ion release system through the use of tailored suspensions of nano-crystal nutrient materials for delivery to plants through the leaves. This will incr ....Tailoring nano-crystal suspensions for extended ion supply to hydrophobic and hydrophilic leaf surfaces. Nutrient deficiency undermines the potential of billions of people and many nations. The requirement is to rapidly increase micro-nutrient delivery to support intensive and fortified crop production. This proposal seeks to develop a controlled ion release system through the use of tailored suspensions of nano-crystal nutrient materials for delivery to plants through the leaves. This will increase yields from arable land, reduce water requirements and fertiliser applications, fortifying foods for better nutrition leading to improved human health and wellbeing. It leverages and applies recent significant advances in surface science and nanotechnology to gain improved outcomes in agriculture.Read moreRead less
Novel Synthesis and Bio-applications of Functional Macroporous Ordered Siliceous Foams. This project will lead to advances in materials science and nanotechnology, providing high efficiency separation and purification for viruses or plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are important in modern gene engineering for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Application benefits also include developing a new protocol in the detection of trace amount proteins, which will afford a signific ....Novel Synthesis and Bio-applications of Functional Macroporous Ordered Siliceous Foams. This project will lead to advances in materials science and nanotechnology, providing high efficiency separation and purification for viruses or plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are important in modern gene engineering for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Application benefits also include developing a new protocol in the detection of trace amount proteins, which will afford a significant improvement in diverse fields such as health care. Through this project, novel macroporous materials will be fabricated using an economically and environmentally sustainable approach. These new materials will have unique structures and properties compared to conventional macroporous materials, advancing Australia's intellectual position in this discipline.Read moreRead less
Innovative green technology for bio-particle engineering. Approximately 40% of new pharmaceuticals are poorly soluble in bodily fluids. In many cases this leads to poor bioavailability, and consequent undesirable side effects as a result of high compensating dosages and generally poor patient compliance. These issues will be addressed by developing a green technology for the re-engineering of pharmaceuticals with the objective of increasing bioavilability. The research programme falls within th ....Innovative green technology for bio-particle engineering. Approximately 40% of new pharmaceuticals are poorly soluble in bodily fluids. In many cases this leads to poor bioavailability, and consequent undesirable side effects as a result of high compensating dosages and generally poor patient compliance. These issues will be addressed by developing a green technology for the re-engineering of pharmaceuticals with the objective of increasing bioavilability. The research programme falls within the Designated Research Priority of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. Read moreRead less
Fundamentals and applications of dynamic interfacial forces in soft matter. The proposed program will make an internationally significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of soft matter on the nanoscale. This has a direct impact upon processes that are key to a wide range of Australian industries ranging from the manufacture of functional foods to minerals recovery to pharmaceutical formulation, where innovative solutions can substantially improve productivity, increase export pote ....Fundamentals and applications of dynamic interfacial forces in soft matter. The proposed program will make an internationally significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of soft matter on the nanoscale. This has a direct impact upon processes that are key to a wide range of Australian industries ranging from the manufacture of functional foods to minerals recovery to pharmaceutical formulation, where innovative solutions can substantially improve productivity, increase export potential and reduce environmental impact. The outcomes of this work, in the form of high impact papers and conference presentations, will build and enhance Australia's reputation as a world leader in nanotechnology and colloid science. Read moreRead less
Fluidised bed nanoparticle reactors for gas-solid catalytic reactions. This is a "frontier technologies" (nanotechnology) project and promises to open up new opportunities for exciting development in molecular engineering. Catalytic gas-solid reactions are among the most important reactions in chemical industry and energy industry. The novel fluidised bed nanoparticle catalytic reactor is expected to have many important advantages over the conventional porous supported catalyst system. These rea ....Fluidised bed nanoparticle reactors for gas-solid catalytic reactions. This is a "frontier technologies" (nanotechnology) project and promises to open up new opportunities for exciting development in molecular engineering. Catalytic gas-solid reactions are among the most important reactions in chemical industry and energy industry. The novel fluidised bed nanoparticle catalytic reactor is expected to have many important advantages over the conventional porous supported catalyst system. These reactors promise to minimise the waste product generation from chemical and energy industries and so offer great benefit for the environment. Young researchers involved in the project will be equipped with knowledge at the forefront of nanotechnology, enabling them to contribute to Australia's new, high technology future.Read moreRead less
An integrated study of dynamic interactions in soft matter systems. Established Australian pharmaceutical, dairy and food processing industries and growing high-value biotechnology and nanotechnology rely on the processing and control of a generic class of materials called Soft Matter. Cost driven demands for high throughput and increasing water and energy conservation requirements will be met by advances in the underpinning engineering science pursued in this project. In addition to increasing ....An integrated study of dynamic interactions in soft matter systems. Established Australian pharmaceutical, dairy and food processing industries and growing high-value biotechnology and nanotechnology rely on the processing and control of a generic class of materials called Soft Matter. Cost driven demands for high throughput and increasing water and energy conservation requirements will be met by advances in the underpinning engineering science pursued in this project. In addition to increasing the international competitiveness of Australian industries in high value products, the research outcomes also add to the knowledge capacity of the nation for future technological developments.Read moreRead less
Nano- and micro-scale engineering of MoS2-based catalyst for conversion of syngas to ethanol. Domestic production of ethanol to provide a 10% blend in petrol (E10) can be achieved from waste methane gas that Australia currently vents or flares to atmosphere. This project aims to develop a conversion process for making ethanol from syngas (the product of coal or methane gasification). Small scale, modularised plants would make ethanol locally to the methane emission source. The benefits of local ....Nano- and micro-scale engineering of MoS2-based catalyst for conversion of syngas to ethanol. Domestic production of ethanol to provide a 10% blend in petrol (E10) can be achieved from waste methane gas that Australia currently vents or flares to atmosphere. This project aims to develop a conversion process for making ethanol from syngas (the product of coal or methane gasification). Small scale, modularised plants would make ethanol locally to the methane emission source. The benefits of local E10 production would be a reduction in the oil trade deficit of $1 billion per year, $500 million per year in lower carbon imposts to industry and government, 25 million tonnes per year of reduced CO2e release to atmosphere and significantly improved urban air through reduced emissions from car transport, with attendant human health benefits.Read moreRead less