Face-centred cubic titanium: How is it created and why is it formed? This project aims to build on the discovery of a new titanium structure, and to understand how and why it is formed. Titanium alloys are important engineering materials for their high strength, low density and excellent corrosion resistance. The project is expected to reveal the role of magnesium in stabilising the various metastable titanium structures, by combining well controlled mechanical activation, high resolution charac ....Face-centred cubic titanium: How is it created and why is it formed? This project aims to build on the discovery of a new titanium structure, and to understand how and why it is formed. Titanium alloys are important engineering materials for their high strength, low density and excellent corrosion resistance. The project is expected to reveal the role of magnesium in stabilising the various metastable titanium structures, by combining well controlled mechanical activation, high resolution characterisation and first-principles calculations. The insight gained is expected to guide the design of a new generation of titanium alloys, benefiting the Australian titanium manufacturing and biomedical industries.Read moreRead less
Experimental mapping of electron densities in nano-structured materials. This project aims to map electrons in nano-structured materials using a new technique combining the latest solid-state theory with electron scattering experiments in one of the world’s most advanced electron microscopes. It is expected that by revealing the electronic structure of nano-scale features in bulk materials for the first time, their functions will become fully explainable. Aside from this new capability, other ....Experimental mapping of electron densities in nano-structured materials. This project aims to map electrons in nano-structured materials using a new technique combining the latest solid-state theory with electron scattering experiments in one of the world’s most advanced electron microscopes. It is expected that by revealing the electronic structure of nano-scale features in bulk materials for the first time, their functions will become fully explainable. Aside from this new capability, other expected outcomes include discovering how heat is converted into electricity in thermoelectric materials and how precipitates affect alloy strength. The benefits may include more informed materials design, more efficient thermoelectrics for sustainable energy technologies, and higher strength-to-weight ratio alloys.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100614
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
New classes of aluminium-magnesium-silicon alloys via scandium additions. This project aims to establish the knowledge required to be able to improve Aluminium (Al) alloys using scandium (Sc). The transport sector accounts for 20 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions globally, and the use of Al to reduce the weight of vehicles offers the potential to significantly reduce these emissions, however the properties of current Al alloys do not meet the necessary requirements. To overcome this chall ....New classes of aluminium-magnesium-silicon alloys via scandium additions. This project aims to establish the knowledge required to be able to improve Aluminium (Al) alloys using scandium (Sc). The transport sector accounts for 20 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions globally, and the use of Al to reduce the weight of vehicles offers the potential to significantly reduce these emissions, however the properties of current Al alloys do not meet the necessary requirements. To overcome this challenge there is a need for new Al alloys with optimal balance of cost and performance. One opportunity in this area is the use of Sc, however the high Sc price has restricted research thus far. With the recent discovery of rich sources of Sc in Australia, the price of Sc will drop and become a viable solution. This will provide benefits by securing Australia’s position as a leader in the field of advanced Al products for engineering applications.Read moreRead less
Sustainable high energy sodium batteries with enhanced safety & cycle life. This project aims to deliver a high specific energy, ambient temperature sodium metal battery that is more sustainable, safer and better performing than existing technologies. Innovative chemistry will be used to replace the current flammable and toxic organic solvent-based systems, while novel tools and capabilities will be forged to retain Australian leadership in this sector. These advances will provide a technology ....Sustainable high energy sodium batteries with enhanced safety & cycle life. This project aims to deliver a high specific energy, ambient temperature sodium metal battery that is more sustainable, safer and better performing than existing technologies. Innovative chemistry will be used to replace the current flammable and toxic organic solvent-based systems, while novel tools and capabilities will be forged to retain Australian leadership in this sector. These advances will provide a technology and materials platform to generate and support emerging energy storage industries in Australia. It will strengthen international collaborations with leading research teams and provide opportunities and training for the next generation of energy storage research leaders in both academia and industry.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100029
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,545,000.00
Summary
Nanoionics: Engineering ion transport with two-dimensional materials. This project aims to use graphene and other emerging two-dimensional materials to investigate and manipulate ion transport in nanoscale channels. Nanoionics focuses on understanding ions for transport and storage in nanoscale systems, central to numerous technologies related to water, energy and biomedicine. The project will provide sophisticated methods for revolutionary technological innovations to solve problems in several ....Nanoionics: Engineering ion transport with two-dimensional materials. This project aims to use graphene and other emerging two-dimensional materials to investigate and manipulate ion transport in nanoscale channels. Nanoionics focuses on understanding ions for transport and storage in nanoscale systems, central to numerous technologies related to water, energy and biomedicine. The project will provide sophisticated methods for revolutionary technological innovations to solve problems in several industries including manufacturing, mining, water management and bioengineering. Providing access to previously unavailable structures and materials, the project will support Australia’s manufacturing sector by transforming established industries with next generation technologies. The project will also build capacity of nanoionics engineers and provide intellectual property for commercialised products.Read moreRead less
Neuromorphic Sensing and Diagnostics with Carbon: Towards a Biomimetic Nose. Neuromorphic electronics emulates cognitive processes of the brain and like the brain, is capable of extracting features and recognising patterns within data with extremely low energy requirements. Carbon materials are naturally adapted to neuromorphic electronics and uniquely form a compatible interface for sensing molecules in liquid and gaseous media. This project aims to develop a carbon-based neuromorphic electroni ....Neuromorphic Sensing and Diagnostics with Carbon: Towards a Biomimetic Nose. Neuromorphic electronics emulates cognitive processes of the brain and like the brain, is capable of extracting features and recognising patterns within data with extremely low energy requirements. Carbon materials are naturally adapted to neuromorphic electronics and uniquely form a compatible interface for sensing molecules in liquid and gaseous media. This project aims to develop a carbon-based neuromorphic electronic sensing device and couple it with carbon based neuromorphic pattern recognition technology to build an ‘artificial nose’ for improved health and environmental monitoring. Intended outcomes will include a technology for low-cost and rapid diagnostic services.
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Multifunctional and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor systems. This project aims to design new, environmentally friendly coating systems for steel in marine environments by incorporating novel, non-toxic pigments that can be combined to protect against both corrosion and microbial attack. Structural requirements for these compounds will be determined through the use of advanced characterisation techniques to identify the largely unknown mechanisms of attachment and protection on steel ....Multifunctional and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor systems. This project aims to design new, environmentally friendly coating systems for steel in marine environments by incorporating novel, non-toxic pigments that can be combined to protect against both corrosion and microbial attack. Structural requirements for these compounds will be determined through the use of advanced characterisation techniques to identify the largely unknown mechanisms of attachment and protection on steel surfaces. The components may themselves be dual active, or be combined to capitalise on individual protection mechanisms that provide a synergy whereby the combination leads to better protection outcomes. Such coatings have the potential to significantly improve the lifetime of marine infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100465
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Advanced sodium batteries using 2D material interphases with ionic liquids. This project aims to stabilise alkali metal electrodes that are necessary for the development of advanced batteries by using interphase engineering mechanisms to protect electrodes from unfavourable reactions. This project will enable the use of high-energy and safer anodes, essential in promoting better use of renewable energy in the future. This is expected to contribute to fundamental knowledge and have real commercia ....Advanced sodium batteries using 2D material interphases with ionic liquids. This project aims to stabilise alkali metal electrodes that are necessary for the development of advanced batteries by using interphase engineering mechanisms to protect electrodes from unfavourable reactions. This project will enable the use of high-energy and safer anodes, essential in promoting better use of renewable energy in the future. This is expected to contribute to fundamental knowledge and have real commercial prospects for sodium batteries via improved artificial protective interface design. This project has many potential benefits, such as the development of new materials and processes needed to produce safe, high-capacity batteries with applications in both smart-grid, and behind-the-meter stationary storage.Read moreRead less
Towards room-temperature multiferroics by doping and ionic liquid gating . This project aims to develop new multiferroic materials for high performance computing and data storage technologies. Semiconductor industry leaders have identified the development of these materials, operating a room temperature, as a key challenge in enabling future high speed, high performance logic and memory devices. The intended outcomes of this work are (i) the delivery of new multiferroic materials by magnetic do ....Towards room-temperature multiferroics by doping and ionic liquid gating . This project aims to develop new multiferroic materials for high performance computing and data storage technologies. Semiconductor industry leaders have identified the development of these materials, operating a room temperature, as a key challenge in enabling future high speed, high performance logic and memory devices. The intended outcomes of this work are (i) the delivery of new multiferroic materials by magnetic doping of a semiconductor, strained to a ferroelectric state and (ii) the demonstration of a new paradigm in materials design to realise such materials. The key benefit of this work is the enabling of next generation computing and memory devices exhibiting higher speeds, reduced sizes and lower power consumption. Read moreRead less
Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artifici ....Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artificial ion-transporter membranes and bring new technologies to applications such as in solar energy harvesting, osmotic power generation, ionic batteries, and ionic circuits. The proposed research should provide significant benefits such as new energy conversion and storage technologies for Australian manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less