Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commerci ....Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commercial benefits for Australia. Read moreRead less
Low viscosity, high ionic conductivity ionic liquids for lithium metal batteries. Current consumer electronic devices rely on lithium-ion batteries to provide a high energy density power source. There are growing safety concerns about the electrolytes in these devices after recent incidents involving fires in mobile phones. Recent advances in ionic liquids (ILs) have seen the development of new electrolytes for such devices, with enhanced physical properties that offer major safety advantages. H ....Low viscosity, high ionic conductivity ionic liquids for lithium metal batteries. Current consumer electronic devices rely on lithium-ion batteries to provide a high energy density power source. There are growing safety concerns about the electrolytes in these devices after recent incidents involving fires in mobile phones. Recent advances in ionic liquids (ILs) have seen the development of new electrolytes for such devices, with enhanced physical properties that offer major safety advantages. However, the viscosity of these materials currently limit their capabilities. New IL materials to be developed in this project will pave the way for the development of safer devices and new sustainable energy industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
A Direct Approach to Crystal Structure Determination - a solution to the phase problem. The purpose of this research is to determine the positions of atoms in crystals and nano-crystals. We have developed a theory that shows how to extract all of the information required to determine atomic positions from such crystals and we have carried through initial successful tests on simple materials. In particular, we have found that crystallographic phase, hitherto not directly measurable, can in fact b ....A Direct Approach to Crystal Structure Determination - a solution to the phase problem. The purpose of this research is to determine the positions of atoms in crystals and nano-crystals. We have developed a theory that shows how to extract all of the information required to determine atomic positions from such crystals and we have carried through initial successful tests on simple materials. In particular, we have found that crystallographic phase, hitherto not directly measurable, can in fact be extracted uniquely from a single electron diffraction pattern. This constitutes a solution to the phase problem in crystallography. It is now our aim to develop this method into a routine technique.Read moreRead less
Better Batteries via Controlling the Properties of Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide. Physical properties of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) such as crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical characteristics determine its usefulness in alkaline batteries. However, the relationship between these parameters is not well understood. This APAI project will attempt to address these shortcomings in the current understanding of the production process by focussing on the relationships between fu ....Better Batteries via Controlling the Properties of Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide. Physical properties of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) such as crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical characteristics determine its usefulness in alkaline batteries. However, the relationship between these parameters is not well understood. This APAI project will attempt to address these shortcomings in the current understanding of the production process by focussing on the relationships between fundamental physical, chemical and electrochemical properties of EMD. The results will be of benefit in optimising the process and ensuring that EMD with superior performance can be consistently produced.Read moreRead less
Poly-crystalline Thin Films for LASER Applications. This project is based on a recent discovery which reports LASER emission in disordered media such as polycrystalline ZnO. This behaviour appears to be related to the crystallographic properties of ZnO (wurztite) material. Using a novel deposition process the defect density, size of crystallites and macroscopic orientation within such thin films will be controlled independently. This will provide an opportunity to study the fundamental basis of ....Poly-crystalline Thin Films for LASER Applications. This project is based on a recent discovery which reports LASER emission in disordered media such as polycrystalline ZnO. This behaviour appears to be related to the crystallographic properties of ZnO (wurztite) material. Using a novel deposition process the defect density, size of crystallites and macroscopic orientation within such thin films will be controlled independently. This will provide an opportunity to study the fundamental basis of such behaviour. In conjunction with this the development of structure in similarly produced GaN (wurztite) films will be examined. This work should also provide practical information concerning the potential performance of LASER devices based on disordered materials.Read moreRead less
Understanding, prediction and control of polymorphism in pharmaceuticals. The proposed research will lead, through a better understanding of polymorphism, to more efficient production of pharmaceuticals and will enhance the establishment and protection of patents. The work will have flow-on in other areas such as the manufacture of pigments, dyes and explosives. The project uses methodology for the elucidation of local structure and function at the atomic to nanoscale level in which Australia is ....Understanding, prediction and control of polymorphism in pharmaceuticals. The proposed research will lead, through a better understanding of polymorphism, to more efficient production of pharmaceuticals and will enhance the establishment and protection of patents. The work will have flow-on in other areas such as the manufacture of pigments, dyes and explosives. The project uses methodology for the elucidation of local structure and function at the atomic to nanoscale level in which Australia is a world leader. The project will further enhance our standing in this field and will provide excellent research training opportunities in areas particularly pertinent to future exploitation of the Australian Synchrotron and the new Research Reactor OPAL, which open in 2007. Read moreRead less
Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these w ....Patterned assemblies of molecules on surfaces. Because of their redox and photophysical properties, artificial porphyrin systems have been designed for applications such as light-harvesting antennae, catalysts and sensors. Control of molecular orientation is required in order to construct practical devices, and in this project methods of assembling porphyrins on surfaces in well-defined patterns will be developed. Sophisticated methods will be used to characterise the films produced in these ways, in order to provide the information necessary to refine procedures and design new molecules suitable for advanced applications. Expected outcomes are new methods and architectures that can ultimately yield devices that act at the molecular level.Read moreRead less
Atomistic Mechanisms of Stress Relaxation in Amorphous Materials. Amorphous materials represent a major thrust in the search for new materials. Metallic glasses have very high strength and can be cast to much finer tolerances than regular (polycrystalline) metals. Ceramic glasses are finding increasing applications in data storage, photoelectronics and fibre optics. The greatest obstacle to the application of amorphous solids is their brittleness. The goal of this project is to use accurate comp ....Atomistic Mechanisms of Stress Relaxation in Amorphous Materials. Amorphous materials represent a major thrust in the search for new materials. Metallic glasses have very high strength and can be cast to much finer tolerances than regular (polycrystalline) metals. Ceramic glasses are finding increasing applications in data storage, photoelectronics and fibre optics. The greatest obstacle to the application of amorphous solids is their brittleness. The goal of this project is to use accurate computer simulations to provide detailed pictures of how atomic motions relax stress in very different types of glasses and, through this insight, explore ways of modifying the mechanical properties of these materials.Read moreRead less
Fluctuation Effects in Non-Crystallising Liquids. Understanding the behaviour of liquids colder than their freezing temperature is important in areas as diverse as metal alloy preparation, prevention of cell damage in plants and animals at low temperatures, extending the working temperature range of new high voltage automotive batteries and controlling drug delivery in pharmaceuticals. Advances in these areas would represent important new manufacturing opportunities in industries already establi ....Fluctuation Effects in Non-Crystallising Liquids. Understanding the behaviour of liquids colder than their freezing temperature is important in areas as diverse as metal alloy preparation, prevention of cell damage in plants and animals at low temperatures, extending the working temperature range of new high voltage automotive batteries and controlling drug delivery in pharmaceuticals. Advances in these areas would represent important new manufacturing opportunities in industries already established in Australia. In this project the fundamental physical chemistry of supercooled liquids is developed and applied to a number of these technological challenges.Read moreRead less
Cooperativity in Spin Crossover Systems: Memory, Magnetism and Microporosity. Spin-crossover centres are a well known form of inorganic electronic switch for which variation of temperature, pressure and irradiation leads to a change in d-electron configuration and therefore changes to structure, colour and magnetism. Here we aim to synthesise and study a wide variety of new spin-crossover systems where cooperativitiy between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecul ....Cooperativity in Spin Crossover Systems: Memory, Magnetism and Microporosity. Spin-crossover centres are a well known form of inorganic electronic switch for which variation of temperature, pressure and irradiation leads to a change in d-electron configuration and therefore changes to structure, colour and magnetism. Here we aim to synthesise and study a wide variety of new spin-crossover systems where cooperativitiy between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecules and materials having memory retention, magnetic ordering and/or microporosity. The significance of these aims covers several fundamental questions in the science of electronic systems. We also identify a number of potential nanochemical switching applications for the unique systems proposed.Read moreRead less