Unravelling mechanisms in plasma growth of polymers. Surface engineering broadens the breadth of applications for many materials, and enhances the performance and value of current and emerging technologies. Surface engineering is particularly important to maintaining the competitiveness of manufacturing in developed economies such as Australia, that can not compete on a cost basis with emerging economies. Plasma coating replaces (alternative) environmentally-questionable surface treatments. This ....Unravelling mechanisms in plasma growth of polymers. Surface engineering broadens the breadth of applications for many materials, and enhances the performance and value of current and emerging technologies. Surface engineering is particularly important to maintaining the competitiveness of manufacturing in developed economies such as Australia, that can not compete on a cost basis with emerging economies. Plasma coating replaces (alternative) environmentally-questionable surface treatments. This project enhances Australian competitiveness; it cuts across industrial sectors and will deliver the new knowledge required to enhance material/technology functionality/performance. A PhD student will receive a multi-disciplinary training in a frontier technology and advanced analytical tools.Read moreRead less
Exploiting the self-assembly of hydrophobin proteins to engineer functional nanostructuring surfaces. There is an increasing world-wide demand for advanced nano-biomaterials with novel properties. We will use natural hydrophobin proteins to coat nanodevices and make them more compatible with biological systems. Hydrophobin coatings will be applicable to biosensors, medical devices, diagnostics and drug delivery systems. The research will lead to an understanding of the basic mechanisms of protei ....Exploiting the self-assembly of hydrophobin proteins to engineer functional nanostructuring surfaces. There is an increasing world-wide demand for advanced nano-biomaterials with novel properties. We will use natural hydrophobin proteins to coat nanodevices and make them more compatible with biological systems. Hydrophobin coatings will be applicable to biosensors, medical devices, diagnostics and drug delivery systems. The research will lead to an understanding of the basic mechanisms of protein self-assembly and will have application outcomes that contribute to Australia being an important player in the field of nanotechnology. This is critical for Australia's long term competitiveness and productivity in and beyond the 21st century.Read moreRead less
The Nanotechnology Desalination Research Project - Low Energy Desalination Membranes. Population growth and global warming is rapidly increasing the strain placed on fresh water supplies. Environmentally sustainable solutions to this water shortage need to be found urgently. This project will develop new, low energy desalination technologies which can be powered by renewable energy sources, to enable desalination to be widely applied with low environmental impacts. It addresses several national ....The Nanotechnology Desalination Research Project - Low Energy Desalination Membranes. Population growth and global warming is rapidly increasing the strain placed on fresh water supplies. Environmentally sustainable solutions to this water shortage need to be found urgently. This project will develop new, low energy desalination technologies which can be powered by renewable energy sources, to enable desalination to be widely applied with low environmental impacts. It addresses several national priorities: Water - a critical resource; Transforming existing industries; Overcoming soil loss, salinity and acidity; Responding to climate change and variability; Frontier technologies and Advanced materials.Read moreRead less