Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a ....Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a tool to measure the phonon density of states which is critical for developing a mathematical model of thermal boundary resistance. This is expected to identify mechanisms for ultra-low thermal conductivity leading to potential applications in thermoelectric generators and heat-resistant materials.Read moreRead less
Liquid Metal Interfaces – A Novel Platform for Catalysis. This project aims to develop the basic design principles that govern the performance of liquid metal alloy catalysts for the methane pyrolysis reaction and manufacturing of ammonia. The project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the reaction dynamics occurring at the gas-liquid metal interface under true working conditions and the composition-catalytic activity relationships of multi-component liquid alloy catalysts throug ....Liquid Metal Interfaces – A Novel Platform for Catalysis. This project aims to develop the basic design principles that govern the performance of liquid metal alloy catalysts for the methane pyrolysis reaction and manufacturing of ammonia. The project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the reaction dynamics occurring at the gas-liquid metal interface under true working conditions and the composition-catalytic activity relationships of multi-component liquid alloy catalysts through a combined experimental and computational/theoretical approach. The expected outcomes are new liquid metal alloys that open the gateway to a new dimension of catalytic applications. The project should benefit Australia’s key societal challenges of emissions reduction, hydrogen storage and food security.Read moreRead less
Magnonics with skyrmions. Skyrmions – nanoscale topologically protected spin textures, are considered as ideal candidates for encoding and transmitting bits of information. This burgeoning research field, however, suffers from the same limitations of all spintronic concepts – the high currents needed to move skyrmions. Magnonics is yet another emerging approach, which main aim is to investigate the behaviour of spin waves in magnetic nanostructures. In essence, spin waves are a propagating re-or ....Magnonics with skyrmions. Skyrmions – nanoscale topologically protected spin textures, are considered as ideal candidates for encoding and transmitting bits of information. This burgeoning research field, however, suffers from the same limitations of all spintronic concepts – the high currents needed to move skyrmions. Magnonics is yet another emerging approach, which main aim is to investigate the behaviour of spin waves in magnetic nanostructures. In essence, spin waves are a propagating re-ordering of the magnetisation and therefore use the least amount of power, making them perfect for driving skyrmions. This project fuses skyrmions with magnonics. The central goal is the formulation of model for the magnon assisted manipulation of skyrmions and their lattices.Read moreRead less
2D Multiferroics: From Materials Design to Device Conceptualization. This project aims to design new transistors with high efficiency and low energy costing for the storage applications based on two-dimensional multifunctional heterostructures. Extensive computational simulations and joint experiments will be employed to develop fundamental knowledge essential to understanding the phenomena of magnetoelectric coupling, which is used to guide rational device design and implementation. The designe ....2D Multiferroics: From Materials Design to Device Conceptualization. This project aims to design new transistors with high efficiency and low energy costing for the storage applications based on two-dimensional multifunctional heterostructures. Extensive computational simulations and joint experiments will be employed to develop fundamental knowledge essential to understanding the phenomena of magnetoelectric coupling, which is used to guide rational device design and implementation. The designed magnetoelectric heterostructures and the multiferroic devices are expected to provide strong foundations for technological innovations resulting in devices with superior functionality and efficiency. The outcome of the project will significantly benefit high-tech electronics.Read moreRead less
From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for thre ....From One Structure to Another for Improved Materials Design. This project aims to characterise a new way of generating strengthening precipitate structures for lightweight aluminium alloys. Precipitation in the solid state is key to the performance of many materials, but is especially important for light alloys used in structural applications. This project expects to deliver greater fundamental understanding of precipitation mechanisms and generate experimental and computational methods for three-dimensional characterisation and simulations at the atomic-scale of embedded nanostructures. This should provide significant benefits for the improved design of light alloys, such as for the automotive and aerospace sectors, but also for high-tech materials whose function depends on precipitates. Read moreRead less
Sustainable Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Urea. Urea is a critical chemical for agriculture, the chemical industry and pollution control, yet current production methods are unsustainable. This project aims to design high-efficiency catalysts for electrochemical urea synthesis from theoretical studies. This project expects to generate new knowledge of chemistry and catalysis from new reaction mechanisms and materials. Expected outcomes include optimum catalysts with high conversion efficiency and ....Sustainable Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Urea. Urea is a critical chemical for agriculture, the chemical industry and pollution control, yet current production methods are unsustainable. This project aims to design high-efficiency catalysts for electrochemical urea synthesis from theoretical studies. This project expects to generate new knowledge of chemistry and catalysis from new reaction mechanisms and materials. Expected outcomes include optimum catalysts with high conversion efficiency and reactant selectivity. The novel catalysts have the potential to deliver improved catalytic performance and controllable reaction reactants. This could deliver significant benefits to the crop production increase, cost reduction of chemical industry, and environmental pollution reduction.Read moreRead less
Enlightening single rare-earth atoms in scanning-tunnelling microscopy. This project aims to create a tool to systematically engineer optical properties of emitters in solids by understanding and manipulating materials atom by atom. The tool – an optically enhanced scanning tunnelling microscope – is expected to drive future developments in optical technologies. The project expects to deliver an atomic-scale understanding of rare-earth sites optimised for sensing and coherence. The expected outc ....Enlightening single rare-earth atoms in scanning-tunnelling microscopy. This project aims to create a tool to systematically engineer optical properties of emitters in solids by understanding and manipulating materials atom by atom. The tool – an optically enhanced scanning tunnelling microscope – is expected to drive future developments in optical technologies. The project expects to deliver an atomic-scale understanding of rare-earth sites optimised for sensing and coherence. The expected outcomes include highly developed theoretical insights into solid-state emitters and how to control their interactions with light and other fields. The expected benefit based on the ability to engineer optimised emitters for optical sensors and quantum technologies will transform material science from exploration to design.Read moreRead less
Design and Fabrication of 2D Hybrid Materials. There are >300 2D materials like graphene with potentially exotic and useful electrooptic and superconductor properties that will drive novel industrial applications. This project aims to use advanced computational and experimental techniques to discover and fabricate new 2D hybrid materials built from different layers of 2D materials. This approach is essential as the number of possible hybrids is huge (millions) and current processes to identify a ....Design and Fabrication of 2D Hybrid Materials. There are >300 2D materials like graphene with potentially exotic and useful electrooptic and superconductor properties that will drive novel industrial applications. This project aims to use advanced computational and experimental techniques to discover and fabricate new 2D hybrid materials built from different layers of 2D materials. This approach is essential as the number of possible hybrids is huge (millions) and current processes to identify and build 2D hybrids are technically challenging and slow. Expected outcomes include defining a new paradigm for efficient identification and synthesis of 2D hybrids with exotic, bespoke properties. The generation of a large database of materials for researchers/industry would be of wide benefit.Read moreRead less
Switching, sensing and multifunctionality in spin crossover materials. This project aims to increase the temperature range where molecular spin states can be switched optically or electronically, and to develop new multifunctional materials combining switchable hosts with functional guests. By combining novel theories, synthesis and experiments, this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of spin-switching materials and discover materials with novel properties wort ....Switching, sensing and multifunctionality in spin crossover materials. This project aims to increase the temperature range where molecular spin states can be switched optically or electronically, and to develop new multifunctional materials combining switchable hosts with functional guests. By combining novel theories, synthesis and experiments, this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of spin-switching materials and discover materials with novel properties worthy of commercial development. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the identification and development of several new classes of materials function, each of major fundamental interest, and the generation of new advanced materials with applications in electronics, sensing and gas separations.Read moreRead less
Cost-efficient 2D heterostructures for solar overall water splitting. This project aims to develop novel processes to enable water splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen under sunlight using cost-efficient 2D van der Waals heterostructures. Enhanced optical absorption and reduced charge transfer distance across the interface are expected to improve the photocatalytic activity. Experimental design and theoretical simulations will be combined to modulate the materials and achieve optimum photoc ....Cost-efficient 2D heterostructures for solar overall water splitting. This project aims to develop novel processes to enable water splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen under sunlight using cost-efficient 2D van der Waals heterostructures. Enhanced optical absorption and reduced charge transfer distance across the interface are expected to improve the photocatalytic activity. Experimental design and theoretical simulations will be combined to modulate the materials and achieve optimum photocatalytic performances. Expected outcomes of this project include expanded chemistry knowledge and techniques in materials design and synthesis, photophysics and photocatalysis mechanism and solar energy conversion. This will provide significant benefits to clean energy and environmental protections.Read moreRead less