Novel Carbon Coatings for Exceptional Performance. Carbon coatings are technologically important and have many applications in automotive and biomedical industries worldwide. An example automotive application is as a coating for high performance fuel injectors. Carbon coatings have significant unrealised potential for applications in hostile environments such as those encountered in high performance engineering components and in the human body. This project will develop new types of carbon coat ....Novel Carbon Coatings for Exceptional Performance. Carbon coatings are technologically important and have many applications in automotive and biomedical industries worldwide. An example automotive application is as a coating for high performance fuel injectors. Carbon coatings have significant unrealised potential for applications in hostile environments such as those encountered in high performance engineering components and in the human body. This project will develop new types of carbon coatings with properties and performance tailored to applications in biomedical engineering, energy conversion, automotive engineering, manufacturing and microelectronics. The result will be a range of new carbon coatings with exceptional properties and cost-effective synthesis methods.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 cooperativity between centres, induced by careful supramolecular design, will lead to molecule ....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 cooperativity 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
Cementitious gel: the missing link in understanding the ageing of built infrastructure. Exposure of built reinforced concrete infrastructure to coastal environments causes premature ageing, unplanned remediation and reduced safety. Enhanced forecasting, achieved by advanced methods, including Helium Ion Microscopy and modeling interactions between cement gel, chloride and water, will deliver proactive management of ageing assets.
Kruppel-like factors and the methylome. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the KLF/SP family of transcription factors work in part via dynamic interactions with methylated cytosine nucleotides in DNA. This is fundamental to their function as pioneer factors in reprograming and their ability to co-ordinate differentiation and organogenesis. Conversely, dynamic changes in methylation status engage or disengage new regulatory elements in the genome via recruitment of KLF/SP family protei ....Kruppel-like factors and the methylome. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the KLF/SP family of transcription factors work in part via dynamic interactions with methylated cytosine nucleotides in DNA. This is fundamental to their function as pioneer factors in reprograming and their ability to co-ordinate differentiation and organogenesis. Conversely, dynamic changes in methylation status engage or disengage new regulatory elements in the genome via recruitment of KLF/SP family proteins as specific effectors. This project will address a new paradigm in genetics that is likely to underpin development.Read moreRead less
Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to r ....Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to rapidly, at high resolution, elucidate how mechanotransductive cues determine the fate choice of mesenchymal stem cells, and furthermore, how to manipulate them with smart biomaterial design to achieve desired outcomes for tissue engineering. Read moreRead less
Crossing quantum-classical boundaries in a single particle. This project is aimed at constructing and observing an individual quantum system that can exhibit chaotic behaviour under controllable conditions. It is a long-sought goal of modern physics that can become reality for the first time in the world, thanks to the unique availability in Australia of the most quantum-coherent single spin ever made and a long history of theoretical advances in the field. Turning a spin into a chaotic system w ....Crossing quantum-classical boundaries in a single particle. This project is aimed at constructing and observing an individual quantum system that can exhibit chaotic behaviour under controllable conditions. It is a long-sought goal of modern physics that can become reality for the first time in the world, thanks to the unique availability in Australia of the most quantum-coherent single spin ever made and a long history of theoretical advances in the field. Turning a spin into a chaotic system will uncover the true nature of the quantum-classical boundary, and verify whether an underlying classical chaotic dynamics ultimately influences the behaviour of quantum systems. It is expected that the discoveries made will illuminate the path towards the technological exploitation of increasingly complex quantum devices.Read moreRead less
Neuromorphic Sensing and Diagnostics with Carbon: Towards a Biomimetic Nose. Neuromorphic electronics emulates cognitive processes of the brain and like the brain, is capable of extracting features and recognising patterns within data with extremely low energy requirements. Carbon materials are naturally adapted to neuromorphic electronics and uniquely form a compatible interface for sensing molecules in liquid and gaseous media. This project aims to develop a carbon-based neuromorphic electroni ....Neuromorphic Sensing and Diagnostics with Carbon: Towards a Biomimetic Nose. Neuromorphic electronics emulates cognitive processes of the brain and like the brain, is capable of extracting features and recognising patterns within data with extremely low energy requirements. Carbon materials are naturally adapted to neuromorphic electronics and uniquely form a compatible interface for sensing molecules in liquid and gaseous media. This project aims to develop a carbon-based neuromorphic electronic sensing device and couple it with carbon based neuromorphic pattern recognition technology to build an ‘artificial nose’ for improved health and environmental monitoring. Intended outcomes will include a technology for low-cost and rapid diagnostic services.
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Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the deple ....Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the depletion of background spins in natural silicon and now aim to push the enrichment to greater extremes. We will integrate the extreme material into functional devices that use electrically detected electron spin resonance to probe exceptionally durable quantum states and open a near-term pathway to large-scale devices.Read moreRead less
Superconducting silicon nanodevices. This project will investigate superconductivity in silicon nanowire devices exhibiting both p-type and n-type conductivity. It builds on the recent demonstration at the University of Melbourne of superconductivity in nanowire devices at length-scales suitable for realisation of a broad range of superconducting device structures and utilises standard semiconductor-industry processes. This project will create a new platform for superconducting device developmen ....Superconducting silicon nanodevices. This project will investigate superconductivity in silicon nanowire devices exhibiting both p-type and n-type conductivity. It builds on the recent demonstration at the University of Melbourne of superconductivity in nanowire devices at length-scales suitable for realisation of a broad range of superconducting device structures and utilises standard semiconductor-industry processes. This project will create a new platform for superconducting device development in silicon with potential for building devices with new functionality and improved performance for applications in quantum information technologies, enhancing Australia’s global reputation in quantum information science and assisting emerging industries in this high-valued added area.Read moreRead less
Spin manipulation in oxide magnetic semiconductors towards spintronics applications. The project is to develop high quality diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) with magnetic element dopant for practical spintronics applications. The properties for the qualified DMS include intrinsic ferromagnetism, effective spin manipulation, high spin polarisation and long distance of spin transport, which have not been well addressed so far. This project will investigate these issues using advance tools, in ....Spin manipulation in oxide magnetic semiconductors towards spintronics applications. The project is to develop high quality diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) with magnetic element dopant for practical spintronics applications. The properties for the qualified DMS include intrinsic ferromagnetism, effective spin manipulation, high spin polarisation and long distance of spin transport, which have not been well addressed so far. This project will investigate these issues using advance tools, including muon spin relaxation and neutron reflectometry. This project expects to establish criteria for evaluating DMS, understanding spin dynamics and mechanisms of spin manipulation and achieve qualified DMSs.Read moreRead less