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
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
The Interface of Oil-in-Water Emulsions. The interface between two immiscible liquids controls many phenomena including the formation and properties of emulsions, the nature of many chemical separation processes and the behaviour of biological systems. There are few methods to study such interfaces and most of these are susceptible to trace contamination by adventitious surfactants, but emulsions with their large surface area avoid this problem. Significant advances are possible with the new Aus ....The Interface of Oil-in-Water Emulsions. The interface between two immiscible liquids controls many phenomena including the formation and properties of emulsions, the nature of many chemical separation processes and the behaviour of biological systems. There are few methods to study such interfaces and most of these are susceptible to trace contamination by adventitious surfactants, but emulsions with their large surface area avoid this problem. Significant advances are possible with the new Australian technique of electroacoustics, complemented by neutron scattering, nmr, rheological and dielectric response measurements on concentrated emulsions. Our surfactant-free emulsions provide a fundamental breakthrough in such studies, leading to new materials from nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Synchrotron radiation techniques applied to melting and resolidification at a nanometric scale. By delivering underpinning knowledge of melting characteristics of nanoparticles, the proposal seeks results that can lead to breakthrough applications in advanced materials engineering. Measurements of the liquid nanoparticle structure performed at the Australian Synchrotron are unprecedented and are thus likely to include the development of new methodology. National and international exposure of Aus ....Synchrotron radiation techniques applied to melting and resolidification at a nanometric scale. By delivering underpinning knowledge of melting characteristics of nanoparticles, the proposal seeks results that can lead to breakthrough applications in advanced materials engineering. Measurements of the liquid nanoparticle structure performed at the Australian Synchrotron are unprecedented and are thus likely to include the development of new methodology. National and international exposure of Australian science and the Australian Synchrotron will have both scientific and economic ramifications. Involvement of students will contribute to developing the local synchrotron knowledge base and is beneficial to the Australian synchrotron-research community as a whole.Read moreRead less
Boron nitride nanotubes for tunable conductivity. The proposed research in nanotubes falls into the national research priority areas of advanced materials and breakthrough science. This ANU research group has a leading role in Boron Nitride (BN) nanotube research internationally. The proposed collaborative research will enhance this position and further improve the nation's research profile in nanotechnology. New intellectual properties will be generated if the project is successful, which wi ....Boron nitride nanotubes for tunable conductivity. The proposed research in nanotubes falls into the national research priority areas of advanced materials and breakthrough science. This ANU research group has a leading role in Boron Nitride (BN) nanotube research internationally. The proposed collaborative research will enhance this position and further improve the nation's research profile in nanotechnology. New intellectual properties will be generated if the project is successful, which will benefit the commercialization activity of BN nanotubes at ANU. New PhD and undergraduate students will be trained by the proposed cutting edge research project.Read moreRead less
Structure-property correlation in metal-oxide aerogels. Aerogels are truly remarkable materials with unique physical properties including extraordinary thermal insulation capabilities. The influence of mechanical deformation on these nanoscale materials is only poorly understood, despite key technological interest. This project aims to measure the response of a variety of aerogels samples to forces applied by nanoindentation and, using advanced electron microscopy and ion-beam analysis techniqu ....Structure-property correlation in metal-oxide aerogels. Aerogels are truly remarkable materials with unique physical properties including extraordinary thermal insulation capabilities. The influence of mechanical deformation on these nanoscale materials is only poorly understood, despite key technological interest. This project aims to measure the response of a variety of aerogels samples to forces applied by nanoindentation and, using advanced electron microscopy and ion-beam analysis techniques, to directly identify the atomic-level deformation mechanisms.Read moreRead less
Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. ....Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. This project addresses these issues using model materials in thin-film and bulk-crystal forms. Capacitance dilatometry, optical, electron and scanning-probe microscopies, and x-ray techniques, will unlock an understanding of the physical and metallurgical conditions controlling these transformations.Read moreRead less
Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, m ....Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, minerals processing, the food industries, pumping of fuel and water, and other processes. And the research described in this proposal will help to maintain the high international profile of Australian science in the field of Colloid and Surface Research. Read moreRead less