Development of Metal-Titania Core-Shell Nanostructures for Photocatalysis. The aim of this project is to develop innovative techniques for the synthesis of advanced nanomaterials for pollutant removal and antibacterial applications. Improving the photocatalysis efficiency of titanium oxide (TiO2) is critical in energy and environmental applications. This project aims to develop innovative strategies to prepare metal–TiO2 core-shell nanostructures, in which metals (eg gold, silver) can be used as ....Development of Metal-Titania Core-Shell Nanostructures for Photocatalysis. The aim of this project is to develop innovative techniques for the synthesis of advanced nanomaterials for pollutant removal and antibacterial applications. Improving the photocatalysis efficiency of titanium oxide (TiO2) is critical in energy and environmental applications. This project aims to develop innovative strategies to prepare metal–TiO2 core-shell nanostructures, in which metals (eg gold, silver) can be used as light absorbers for visible incident light and generate intense electromagnetic fields, thus improving efficiency.Read moreRead less
Hot carrier cooling mechanisms in nano structures. This project aims to systematically investigate possible mechanisms of hot carrier cooling in nano structures and to identify the most dominant mechanisms. These are important for efficient hot carrier solar cells and thermoelectrics. This project will develop new physics to understand hot carrier dynamics in nano structures. This project is expected to result in photovoltaic systems with a lower balance of system and levelised cost of electrici ....Hot carrier cooling mechanisms in nano structures. This project aims to systematically investigate possible mechanisms of hot carrier cooling in nano structures and to identify the most dominant mechanisms. These are important for efficient hot carrier solar cells and thermoelectrics. This project will develop new physics to understand hot carrier dynamics in nano structures. This project is expected to result in photovoltaic systems with a lower balance of system and levelised cost of electricity compared to conventional technologies. This should boost solar industry, create green jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Sustainable hydrogen production is highly significant towards decarbonised economy. This project aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelecrochemical hydrogen production. The key concept is to design toxic Lead free/less OHPQDs for use as stable photoelectrode materials in self-powered sunlight driven water splitting devices. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced mat ....Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Sustainable hydrogen production is highly significant towards decarbonised economy. This project aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelecrochemical hydrogen production. The key concept is to design toxic Lead free/less OHPQDs for use as stable photoelectrode materials in self-powered sunlight driven water splitting devices. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced materials and revolutionary technologies for efficient solar hydrogen generation. The successful completion of this project will significantly benefit Australia by positioning the nation at the frontier of renewable hydrogen supply technologies. Read moreRead less
Structurally designed catalysts for high-performance natural gas reforming. This project aims to develop a new class of highly stable catalysts with specially designed physical and chemical structures that can be used in high temperature chemical processes. These catalysts can potentially be used for the reforming of natural gas to produce the synthesis gas, which can then be used to produce liquid fuels and chemicals.
Programming soft plasmene nanosheets with living RAFT functional polymers. This project aims to use recently discovered plasmene to demonstrate programmable materials properties using living RAFT polymeric ligands. Plasmene is free-standing, one-particle-thick, superlattice sheets of plasmonic nanoparticles. It represents a conceptually new class of two-dimensional metamaterials with broad applications in energy, environment, sensors and optoelectronic devices. This project expects to generate n ....Programming soft plasmene nanosheets with living RAFT functional polymers. This project aims to use recently discovered plasmene to demonstrate programmable materials properties using living RAFT polymeric ligands. Plasmene is free-standing, one-particle-thick, superlattice sheets of plasmonic nanoparticles. It represents a conceptually new class of two-dimensional metamaterials with broad applications in energy, environment, sensors and optoelectronic devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge and patentable technologies, and advance Australian worldwide standing in the field of nanotechnology and polymer science.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear near-field nanophotonics. This project aims to develop nanostructures which employ both high intrinsic nonlinearities and high indices of refraction to create nanophotonic devices. Silicon photonics promises a technological leap forward through efficient photon-photon interactions within lossless dielectric nanoparticles. Light-controlling-light devices open new ways to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, which form the basis for many applications from all-optical inform ....Nonlinear near-field nanophotonics. This project aims to develop nanostructures which employ both high intrinsic nonlinearities and high indices of refraction to create nanophotonic devices. Silicon photonics promises a technological leap forward through efficient photon-photon interactions within lossless dielectric nanoparticles. Light-controlling-light devices open new ways to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, which form the basis for many applications from all-optical information processing to biomedical sensing. The expected outcomes will provide Australia with advanced technologies of integrated optical circuits with applications in optical communication networks, bioimaging, solar cells and quantum information technologies.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitativel ....Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitatively at multiscales and the nanoscale phenomena will be linked to macroscopic performance. The results of this research should provide a fundamental understanding of tunable adhesion mechanisms for the design and development of optimized materials with superb performance of practical significance.
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Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e ....Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e-skin) sensors, which are wearable for monitoring blood pulses, body motions and hand gestures in real-time and in situ. This is expected to advance our knowledge in nanotechnology and generate patentable technologies in soft e-skin sensors, and to bring significant scientific and economic gains to Australia.Read moreRead less
Soft Plasmene Nanosheets for Stretchable Plasmonic Skins. Conventional plasmonic sensors and devices are rigid, planar, and not stretchable. This project aims to apply plasmene materials developed at Monash's Nanobionics lab to design highly stretchable plasmonic devices (artificial plasmonic skins). Systematic experimental and theoretical studies will be undertaken to understand how the plasmonic skins respond to strains and how they can be used for fabricating novel stretchable devices. Such s ....Soft Plasmene Nanosheets for Stretchable Plasmonic Skins. Conventional plasmonic sensors and devices are rigid, planar, and not stretchable. This project aims to apply plasmene materials developed at Monash's Nanobionics lab to design highly stretchable plasmonic devices (artificial plasmonic skins). Systematic experimental and theoretical studies will be undertaken to understand how the plasmonic skins respond to strains and how they can be used for fabricating novel stretchable devices. Such studies will generate important new knowledge of fabrication, characterisation, and modelling of stretchable plasmene, hence, contributing to further Australian standing in the field of nanotechnology and plasmonics. It may also incubate patentable technologies, bringing potential economic gains.Read moreRead less
Ultrastretchable, Highly Transparent, Wearable Gold Nanowire Generators. Next-generation wearable electronics should be thin, soft and even transparent, enabling applications impossible to achieve with traditional rigid electronics. Such future electronics will require disruptive soft skin-conformal energy devices to power. This project aims to develop a bi-modal gold nanowire percolation strategy to design ultrathin conductors that are electrically conductive, optically transparent and mechanic ....Ultrastretchable, Highly Transparent, Wearable Gold Nanowire Generators. Next-generation wearable electronics should be thin, soft and even transparent, enabling applications impossible to achieve with traditional rigid electronics. Such future electronics will require disruptive soft skin-conformal energy devices to power. This project aims to develop a bi-modal gold nanowire percolation strategy to design ultrathin conductors that are electrically conductive, optically transparent and mechanically stretchable. It expects to generate new knowledge in nanomaterials design and new technologies to fabricate skin-like invisible wearable generators. This should provide significant benefits in advancing Australian standing in the fields of nanotechnology and energy science, and bringing potential economic gains.Read moreRead less