ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. This Centre aims to manipulate the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. The research programme spans high-throughput computational screening, single molecule photochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy and embraces innovative outreach and commercial translation activities. The Centre plans to capture the knowledge generated as new intellectual property, materials processing know-how, and through the ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. This Centre aims to manipulate the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. The research programme spans high-throughput computational screening, single molecule photochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy and embraces innovative outreach and commercial translation activities. The Centre plans to capture the knowledge generated as new intellectual property, materials processing know-how, and through the creation of new employment opportunities. The expected outcomes and benefits include new Australian technologies in solar energy conversion, energy-efficient lighting and displays, security labelling and optical sensor platforms for defence.Read moreRead less
Non-equilibrium material phases. This project aims to synthesise and characterise exotic materials produced in the laboratory under conditions that replicate those inside planets and stars. Highly non-equilibrium processing methods are needed to find entirely new material forms of elements and compounds created under extreme pressure and temperature. The project will use its laser-based synthesis method to explore and understand the non-equilibrium pathways and develop new materials. Understandi ....Non-equilibrium material phases. This project aims to synthesise and characterise exotic materials produced in the laboratory under conditions that replicate those inside planets and stars. Highly non-equilibrium processing methods are needed to find entirely new material forms of elements and compounds created under extreme pressure and temperature. The project will use its laser-based synthesis method to explore and understand the non-equilibrium pathways and develop new materials. Understanding how these materials form could lead to the next materials revolution. This research will lead to materials that industry sectors can exploit for commercial benefits.Read moreRead less
Improving nanostructured supercapacitors through computational insight. This project aims to understand the mechanism of charge and discharge in nanostructured supercapacitors to guide in the development of better energy storage systems. This will be achieved using molecular computations of the structure and diffusion coefficients in supercapacitors with various electrodes of different nanostructure and chemical composition. A statistical mechanical definition of the local diffusion coefficien ....Improving nanostructured supercapacitors through computational insight. This project aims to understand the mechanism of charge and discharge in nanostructured supercapacitors to guide in the development of better energy storage systems. This will be achieved using molecular computations of the structure and diffusion coefficients in supercapacitors with various electrodes of different nanostructure and chemical composition. A statistical mechanical definition of the local diffusion coefficient will provide important information on the mobility of ions in different regions near the electrodes. Knowledge on how nanostructured electrodes affect supercapacitor function will allow advances in energy storage systems that are of great significance for our future energy needs.Read moreRead less
Controlling light-harvesting with complex perylene arrays. This project aims to artificially mimic photosynthesis. A new class of dye coloured plastics will create a platform technology that could have many applications including enhanced biodiesel production from algae and 'smart' building materials enhancing electricity production from solar cells.
Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. ....Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. The significance lies in the ability to optimise reaction outcomes without the need for solvent screening. The innovation lies in the measurement of microscopic interactions between solvent and reagents, and the use of these interactions to affect a given process.Read moreRead less
Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Energy Transfer Across Organic-Inorganic Interfaces. This project seeks to advance our basic understanding of the energy transfer processes which are crucial to the operation of organic optoelectronic devices. Controlling energy transfer is central to the operation of electronic devices. As devices become smaller and more complex, the transfer of energy across interfaces between different materials begins to dominate their operation and characteristics. This project plans to use a range of compl ....Energy Transfer Across Organic-Inorganic Interfaces. This project seeks to advance our basic understanding of the energy transfer processes which are crucial to the operation of organic optoelectronic devices. Controlling energy transfer is central to the operation of electronic devices. As devices become smaller and more complex, the transfer of energy across interfaces between different materials begins to dominate their operation and characteristics. This project plans to use a range of complementary experimental approaches to study energy generation, transfer and diffusion across the nanoscale interface between organic and inorganic materials. Knowledge gained would provide a roadmap for bottom-up improvements to the efficiency of energy transfer across hybrid organic–inorganic interfaces, with a range of applications in optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,476.00
Summary
Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device modul ....Preconcentrators for vapour detection of explosive material. This Project’s aim is to develop a preconcentrator technology for the in-field detection of explosive vapours that have low concentrations in air. Low explosive vapour concentration limits the efficacy of portable detectors. Current preconcentrator technologies sorb vapours but require heat to release the concentrated material limiting their use to non-portable detectors. This project is expected to deliver materials and a device module for a preconcentrator technology that will sorb explosive analytes, have low power requirements and be compatible with hand held explosives detectors. Security and law enforcement agencies should directly benefit from these findings, which would advance their safety and that of the community as a whole.Read moreRead less
Beyond the exciton: shaping molecular energy landscapes using polaritons. This project aims to deliver a fundamental understanding of polariton-mediated light and heat energy transfer in molecular systems, paving the way for their exploitation in solar cells and chemical catalysis. Controlling energy flow within and between molecules is one of the challenges of molecular science. Such control allows concentration of light energy for solar harvesting and direction of thermal energy for site-selec ....Beyond the exciton: shaping molecular energy landscapes using polaritons. This project aims to deliver a fundamental understanding of polariton-mediated light and heat energy transfer in molecular systems, paving the way for their exploitation in solar cells and chemical catalysis. Controlling energy flow within and between molecules is one of the challenges of molecular science. Such control allows concentration of light energy for solar harvesting and direction of thermal energy for site-selective chemistry. Recent work shows that molecular polaritons, admixtures of light and molecules, are a new and unique tool to assert this control. This project aims to deliver genuinely disruptive improvements in solar cell efficiency using polaritons.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101450
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,556.00
Summary
Tuning non-plasmonic metals to high performance photocatalysts. This project aims to develop non-plasmonic, transition metal-based, photocatalysts with enhanced light absorption, to achieve irradiation controllable product selectivity in organic synthesis. The project demonstrates how hollow-particle morphology alloy nano-structures can enhance photocatalytic activity. Alloy structures such as iridium-nickel (IrNi), iridium-cobalt (IrCo) and iridium-tin (IrSn) nanoparticles with a hollow morphol ....Tuning non-plasmonic metals to high performance photocatalysts. This project aims to develop non-plasmonic, transition metal-based, photocatalysts with enhanced light absorption, to achieve irradiation controllable product selectivity in organic synthesis. The project demonstrates how hollow-particle morphology alloy nano-structures can enhance photocatalytic activity. Alloy structures such as iridium-nickel (IrNi), iridium-cobalt (IrCo) and iridium-tin (IrSn) nanoparticles with a hollow morphology, exhibit dramatically increased photocatalytic activity over their individual components, Ir, Ni, Co and Sn respectively. The project is expected to expand the application of photocatalysis and generate knowledge that can be used to design efficient photocatalysts from non-plasmonic metals. Intended benefits are the generation of new knowledge and capabilities in synthetic catalysis and applications in fields such as the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy.Read moreRead less