Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silic ....Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silicon electrodes where irradiating with light causes an increase in conductivity at the illumination spot. The project will explore the variables that influence the spatial resolution and apply the ideas to making soft connects for nanoelectronics and making high density electrode arrays for electroanalysis.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface act ....Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface active ionic liquids in the bulk and at electrode surfaces, and use this to elucidate rules for the rational design of new surface active ionic liquids with fast dynamics at low temperature, towards their use at room temperature in diverse areas; this project will target capacitors and gas sensors. Read moreRead less
Mobile and rapid nuclear magnetic resonance characterisation of oilfield emulsions. Oilfield emulsions, which can severely disrupt crude oil production, require droplet sizing in order to enable separation of the emulsified water. This project will provide this measurement capability based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance techniques, as are frequently used for chemical identification and medical diagnostics.
The effect of de-gassing on the dispersion and stability of emulsions and colloidal solutions. Although it is widely accepted that oil and water will not mix, the reverse has recently been found to occur (by the applicant) under the unusual conditions of complete de-gassing. This discovery has opened up new areas for investigation and for the development of new processes and products. Hydrocarbon oils and hydrophobic powders can now be readily dispersed in water without the use of additives. Ho ....The effect of de-gassing on the dispersion and stability of emulsions and colloidal solutions. Although it is widely accepted that oil and water will not mix, the reverse has recently been found to occur (by the applicant) under the unusual conditions of complete de-gassing. This discovery has opened up new areas for investigation and for the development of new processes and products. Hydrocarbon oils and hydrophobic powders can now be readily dispersed in water without the use of additives. However, the mechanisms involved have not yet been elucidated and it is the aim of this project to understand the process and develop potential commercial applications.Read moreRead less
Ionic lquids for scalable production of monolayer two-dimensional materials. This project aims to produce stable solutions of high quality, two-dimensional materials (2DMs, exemplified by graphene) in ionic liquids by spontaneous exfoliation. The project will develop processes for producing significant quantities of high quality 2DMs for use in a diverse range of technologies, and train graduate students in experimental and computational chemistry techniques.
On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and ....On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and selectivities increase on water’s surface rather than in its bulk will remove fundamental constraints on the viability of aqueous electro-synthesis – moving beyond current reactor designs to transform our view of electrochemistry and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry.Read moreRead less
Mass flux pathways in stratified lakes. The aims of this project are to determine parametric descriptions of all transport and mixing mechanisms and their interactions in a stratified lake, validate these parameterisations through process fieldwork (Lake Argyle and Lake St Clair) and then use this understanding to validate and improve a new Lagrangian Dynamic Lake Multi-Basin Model. This project will endeavour to provide lake managers with a new, validated numerical model that will allow inter-s ....Mass flux pathways in stratified lakes. The aims of this project are to determine parametric descriptions of all transport and mixing mechanisms and their interactions in a stratified lake, validate these parameterisations through process fieldwork (Lake Argyle and Lake St Clair) and then use this understanding to validate and improve a new Lagrangian Dynamic Lake Multi-Basin Model. This project will endeavour to provide lake managers with a new, validated numerical model that will allow inter-seasonal simulations with the numerical error being less than the signal. This will be of great importance to ecology, as future advances in that area will largely depend upon a model with correct description of the mass flux paths in a stratified lake.Read moreRead less
Exploiting the properties of gold nanoparticles for nanolithography using visible wavelengths. The next generation of nano-devices, such as biosensors and molecular electronics, will require nanopatterning as part of the production process. Conventional optical lithographies cannot provide sufficient resolution, and alternative techniques, such as e-beam lithographies are expensive. This project aims to demonstrate a solution to this problem with obvious commercial benefit. It is the first t ....Exploiting the properties of gold nanoparticles for nanolithography using visible wavelengths. The next generation of nano-devices, such as biosensors and molecular electronics, will require nanopatterning as part of the production process. Conventional optical lithographies cannot provide sufficient resolution, and alternative techniques, such as e-beam lithographies are expensive. This project aims to demonstrate a solution to this problem with obvious commercial benefit. It is the first time a multidisciplinary team has made such a concerted effort to understand the unusual science of gold nanoparticles and will strengthen Australia's already considerable reputation in this field.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Ionic-Molecular Hybrid Liquids. This project aims to produce a new class of green, economical, non-toxic, low volatility, designer solvents from mixtures of one or more molecular components, and ionic liquid-inspired salts. By manipulating the intermolecular forces between components of these nanostructured ionic molecular "hybrid liquids" (HLs), we will develop new understanding of how liquid structure arises from the nano- to the colloidal and even micro-scale. HLs will enable ....Nanostructured Ionic-Molecular Hybrid Liquids. This project aims to produce a new class of green, economical, non-toxic, low volatility, designer solvents from mixtures of one or more molecular components, and ionic liquid-inspired salts. By manipulating the intermolecular forces between components of these nanostructured ionic molecular "hybrid liquids" (HLs), we will develop new understanding of how liquid structure arises from the nano- to the colloidal and even micro-scale. HLs will enable the development novel complex fluids, which are liquids containing interacting particles, polymers, and/or surfactants. Lubricants developed from HL based complex fluids will act as a “test-bed” application for the new understanding this project will engender, towards use of HLs in diverse areas.Read moreRead less
Species redundancy in response to multiple disturbances. This project aims to elucidate how the context within which disturbances occur affects food web linkages and how these map to responses in ecosystem function. There is a critical need to test the common assumption in environmental management that high biodiversity makes ecosystems resilient to disturbances. Studies that merely observe biodiversity change after disturbance cannot identify ecological processes connecting high diversity and e ....Species redundancy in response to multiple disturbances. This project aims to elucidate how the context within which disturbances occur affects food web linkages and how these map to responses in ecosystem function. There is a critical need to test the common assumption in environmental management that high biodiversity makes ecosystems resilient to disturbances. Studies that merely observe biodiversity change after disturbance cannot identify ecological processes connecting high diversity and ecosystem function, making experiments that manipulate identical disturbances in ecosystems with different biodiversity essential. This project will use field experiments that manipulate disturbances in streams replicated in low and high biodiversity regions and across gradients of chronic background stress to show how biodiversity sustains functional ecosystems, and how much diversity can be lost before ecosystems collapse.Read moreRead less