Materials World Network: Nanostructured Polymer Templating of Liquid Crystals. Liquid crystals have a range of technological applications, with the most successful being displays used in computers, watches and calculators. These applications are dependent on controlling the interfaces of liquid crystals. This project will combine the areas of liquid crystals and polymer adsorption for the preparation of a new class of intelligent nanomaterials with well-defined properties. These engineered mater ....Materials World Network: Nanostructured Polymer Templating of Liquid Crystals. Liquid crystals have a range of technological applications, with the most successful being displays used in computers, watches and calculators. These applications are dependent on controlling the interfaces of liquid crystals. This project will combine the areas of liquid crystals and polymer adsorption for the preparation of a new class of intelligent nanomaterials with well-defined properties. These engineered materials are of interest in industrial applications, including the development of chemical and biological sensors and drug delivery vehicles. This program also strengthens the ties between two world-class nanotechnology groups, capturing new opportunities in nanostructured materials.Read moreRead less
Novel Nanofibre-Templated Nanotubes Prepared by Using ABA Block Copolymers. The aim of this project is to prepare new, highly functional nanomaterials using layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes on a three-dimensional template. Using this approach, a core-shell fibre is initially prepared by alternate deposition of oppositely charged materials onto an electrospun fibre template. The initial fibre can then be dissolved to give hollow nanotubes. New block copolymers, incorporating both charg ....Novel Nanofibre-Templated Nanotubes Prepared by Using ABA Block Copolymers. The aim of this project is to prepare new, highly functional nanomaterials using layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes on a three-dimensional template. Using this approach, a core-shell fibre is initially prepared by alternate deposition of oppositely charged materials onto an electrospun fibre template. The initial fibre can then be dissolved to give hollow nanotubes. New block copolymers, incorporating both charged and uncharged domains, will be used in the assembly, in order to design tubes with novel properties. The behaviour of these tubes under a variety of pH and solvent conditions will then be examined, and the tubes characterized using various microscopy techniques.Read moreRead less
Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provi ....Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provide direct advantages to society, including minimally invasive and fast in-vivo diagnostics, localised delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents with increased bioavailability, patient acceptability and reduced healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
Electrochemistry of redox-active non-metal compounds. Unsaturated compounds of heavier non-metal elements can exist in multiple stable redox states. The interconversion is best assessed by electrochemical techniques, which can measure the energetics and the mechanism of the redox processes involved in both solution and solid state phases. Compounds to be studied will be prepared in the Canadian laboratories of the partner investigator. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties ....Electrochemistry of redox-active non-metal compounds. Unsaturated compounds of heavier non-metal elements can exist in multiple stable redox states. The interconversion is best assessed by electrochemical techniques, which can measure the energetics and the mechanism of the redox processes involved in both solution and solid state phases. Compounds to be studied will be prepared in the Canadian laboratories of the partner investigator. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties will initially be investigated in Australia during the visit of the partner investigator to Monash University with follow up studies in both countries. The mutual skills of synthesis and electrochemistry in the Canadian-Australian laboratories are essential to the project.Read moreRead less
Advanced nanoparticle stabilisation and functionalisation: small particles with huge potential. Australia is strongly investing in nanotechnology and through the governments priority goals 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' it has been recognised as an important area for investment. This proposal will help develop an internationally recognised nano-industry. It is envisaged that the particles made during this work will have direct implications for the pub ....Advanced nanoparticle stabilisation and functionalisation: small particles with huge potential. Australia is strongly investing in nanotechnology and through the governments priority goals 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' it has been recognised as an important area for investment. This proposal will help develop an internationally recognised nano-industry. It is envisaged that the particles made during this work will have direct implications for the public - creating a new class of medical diagnostic particles with better resolution and specificity. These particles have the potential to diagnose patients more precisely and at an earlier stage than is currently available. Additionally, these particles could be designed to load drugs and hence could be used to treat diseases such as cancer.Read moreRead less
Structure of Adsorbed Surfactant Layers at Ionic Liquid-Air Interfaces. The research conducted in the project will greatly enhance our understanding of the physical properties of ionic liquids, an important new class of designer solvents. Australian researchers will receive advanced training and experience using Sum Frequency Spectroscopy in the laboratory of OI Rutland, and in the use of Neutron Reflection. This project is especially timely with the imminent start-up of the new Australian resea ....Structure of Adsorbed Surfactant Layers at Ionic Liquid-Air Interfaces. The research conducted in the project will greatly enhance our understanding of the physical properties of ionic liquids, an important new class of designer solvents. Australian researchers will receive advanced training and experience using Sum Frequency Spectroscopy in the laboratory of OI Rutland, and in the use of Neutron Reflection. This project is especially timely with the imminent start-up of the new Australian research reactor, OPAL, and will help to seed an active program by Australian researchers at this facility.Read moreRead less
Development of a New Type of Large-Area Robust Superhydrophobic Surfaces (MWN). Electrochemical manipulation will be used to produce robust metal surfaces of controlled roughness and characteristic size of the surface features in the 10-1000 nanometre range. Subsequent surface modification (e.g. self-assembled monolayers, silane chemisorption, plasma polymer deposition) will render these surfaces superhydrophobic. The surfaces will have highly depressed adhesion properties and hence a significan ....Development of a New Type of Large-Area Robust Superhydrophobic Surfaces (MWN). Electrochemical manipulation will be used to produce robust metal surfaces of controlled roughness and characteristic size of the surface features in the 10-1000 nanometre range. Subsequent surface modification (e.g. self-assembled monolayers, silane chemisorption, plasma polymer deposition) will render these surfaces superhydrophobic. The surfaces will have highly depressed adhesion properties and hence a significantly improved chemical resistance and corrosion stability. A viable procedure for the making of polymer imprints from the metal surfaces will be developed. This will form the basis of a new method for cheap fabrication of various superhydrophobic surfaces with large areas and specific functionality.Read moreRead less
Sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles for fuel cell applications. The sonochemical synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles is one of several developing applications of ultrasound. Ultrasonically produced nanoparticles possess a number of specific properties, such as, pronounced catalytic activity. This project aims to ultrasonically synthesize metal nanoparticles and evaluate their suitability for fuel cell applications. The University of Melbourne and the Indiana University Nor ....Sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles for fuel cell applications. The sonochemical synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles is one of several developing applications of ultrasound. Ultrasonically produced nanoparticles possess a number of specific properties, such as, pronounced catalytic activity. This project aims to ultrasonically synthesize metal nanoparticles and evaluate their suitability for fuel cell applications. The University of Melbourne and the Indiana University North-West research groups have a strong background and experience in the proposed research field. The outcome of this investigation will provide the basis for gaining other funding (e.g., ARC-NSF), which will establish a more extensive longer term collaboration between the universities.Read moreRead less
Correlation between surface force and morphology of self-assembled monolayer. As a most potential solid support for biological molecules without denaturing their functions, gold thiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been studied extensively for surface fabrication. In this project we will prepare functional monolayers using newly synthesized thiol derivatives, evaluate correlation between surface force and surface morphology of the SAMs using the surface forces apparatus, and optimize the ....Correlation between surface force and morphology of self-assembled monolayer. As a most potential solid support for biological molecules without denaturing their functions, gold thiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been studied extensively for surface fabrication. In this project we will prepare functional monolayers using newly synthesized thiol derivatives, evaluate correlation between surface force and surface morphology of the SAMs using the surface forces apparatus, and optimize the condition to fabricate biological devices such as immune sensors.Read moreRead less
Nano-structured sol-gels synthesised under microgravity conditions. This project aims to study the nano-structured silica formation under microgravity conditions using a sol-gel process. In the absence of gravitional forces and associated free convective disturbances, the sol reaction in our preliminary testing with NASA has revealed fundamental reorganisation in nano properties (i.e. fractal dimension, pore size, surface area and pore volume) as compared to tests carried out under normal gravi ....Nano-structured sol-gels synthesised under microgravity conditions. This project aims to study the nano-structured silica formation under microgravity conditions using a sol-gel process. In the absence of gravitional forces and associated free convective disturbances, the sol reaction in our preliminary testing with NASA has revealed fundamental reorganisation in nano properties (i.e. fractal dimension, pore size, surface area and pore volume) as compared to tests carried out under normal gravity conditions. This is a key feature of scientific interest for the production of nanomaterials for applications such as linear and non-linear optical materials and quantum materials.Read moreRead less