Monash University Prof SR Batten is developing advanced materials constructed from 'nanoballs' and variable length ligands in a three year $330,000 project. Monash University’s novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, molecular sensing, catalysis, and information storage.
Monash University Prof SR Batten and Prof GB Deacon are leading a 3 year $300,000 project that will produce new building blocks for a range of new advanced materials. These anions are produced easily through efficient and cost effective syntheses. From these building blocks new magnetic materials will be produced. Porous materials capable of absorbing gases such as carbon dioxide (pollution control), or hydrogen or methane (energy storage) will be targeted. New single molecule magnets will be synthesized which have potential for use in information storage. New liquids with novel magnetic, neutron capture or luminescent properties will be produced. The project involves small cyano anions as a gateway to new materials
Monash University Dr JS Forsythe, Prof CC Bernard and Prof S Ramakrishna are investigating Nerve regeneration using light responsive hydrogels and stem cells in a 3-year $340,000 project. Diseases of the brain and mind are already the single largest burden of disease in the western world, being greater than cardiac or malignant disease. With Australia's ageing demographic, diseases of the brain and mind will continue to outstrip all other medical causes of loss of productive working life and quality of life. This proposal will confront this serious issue using nanostructured intelligent materials, moving towards the realization of effective stem cell therapies.
Monash University Dr WP Gates, Dr W Daoud, Dr A Bouazza, Dr AF Patti, Prof TW Turney, Prof JD Cashion and Prof RK Rowe are developing Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate in a three year $535,000 project. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimize groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Protection Agency due to significantly reduced barrier failure and groundwater contaminations. Australian businesses involved in manufacture, design and construction of environmental barrier systems will have access to new materials and improved technology.
Monash University Dr X Gou is researching Hierarchically Structured Graphene-Based Nanoassemblies in a three year $300,000 project to develop high-efficiency, low-cost and environmentally friendly electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices is essential to many consumer electronics. The development of high-performance graphene-based electrode materials in this project will have significant impacts on the Australian economy. This project is expected to help place Australia at the forefront of advanced energy materials and nanotechnology, and enhance the international competitiveness and export power of Australian industry in the high-technology areas. It will also help address the rapidly growing environmental concerns and the increasing global demand for energy.
Monash University Dr KP Helmerson is conducting a three year $330,000 project for Optical manipulation of single molecules in nanocontainers and nanotubes. Modern medicine has benefited greatly from technological advances in instrumentation. The ability to probe and manipulate new aspects of biological function often provides unique information that can be used as the basis of new medical treatments. Recent advances in optical instrumentation and biochemical labelling has enabled the study of biological function at the single molecule level. This project proposes to develop new techniques in single molecule manipulation, to perform studies not easily addressable using current techniques. The proposed research will form the basis of an enabling technology for Australian researchers to make breakthroughs in biomedical research, potentially leading to improvements in healthcare.
Monash University Dr EI Izgorodina, Prof DR MacFarlane and Prof MS Gordon are conducitng a three year $340,000 project to develop fully ab initio, large-scale calculations of thermodynamic and transport properties of ionic materials. Monash University Advanced batteries, fuel cells, and photonic device technologies are beginning to use ionic materials as electrolytes due to their superb stability and technologically valuable properties. As a broad class these materials have only been known for just over a decade and there is still more unknown than known about their structure and properties. The project will develop new advanced computational methods as a basis for understanding their properties and thereby allowing us to design-in desired features. Ultimately these advances will have support the development of energy efficient CO2 replacement technologies.
Monash University Prof SJ Langford, Prof PA Gale and Prof B Kersting are exploring aspects of supramolecular chemistry as a paradigm for advanced functional in a $390,000 three year project to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the development of these industries within Australia. Such developments may also lead to breakthroughs in areas such as optoelectronics and cleaner energy production.
Monash University Prof MJ Morgan, Prof DM Paganin and Dr M Weyland are involved in a three year $330,000 project to develop Electron Tomography of Electromagnetic Fields. The proliferation of technologies incorporating magnetic materials with exquisitely fine structure demands precise characterization methods, which are able to keep pace with magnetic miniaturization. However, existing techniques are unable to directly image magnetic materials at high resolution in three dimensions. We will overcome this deficiency, by combining an exciting new methodology for the three-dimensional visualization of electromagnetic fields, with the latest cutting-edge electron-microscopes, thereby facilitating advances in magnetic nano-manufacturing. The anticipated applications are vast, from patterned nanomagnets and magnetic proteins, through to semiconductors and superconductors.
Monash University Prof JG Sanjayan, Dr GP Ranjith and Dr GA Narsilio are developing Leakage Resistant Well-Cements for Geo-Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide Application using Alkali Activated Slag and Geopolymer Cements in a four year $530,000 project. The biggest threat facing life now is climate change due to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Extreme weathers are increasing in frequency and intensity, as evidenced by recent bushfires, and it is predicted to get worse unless carbon mitigation strategies are quickly implemented. Geo-sequestration is the technology of capturing and storing of the CO2 deep below ground for long time (>1000 years). It offers the best hope for large reductions of CO2 emissions. However, CO2-brine stored under pressure is acidic and has the risk of leaking in the long term by dissolving the cement used to seal the pipe wells. This project will develop alternative novel cements which are acid resistant and will not allow CO2 to leak through the sealed wells.
Monash University Prof GP Simon and Dr DR Nisbet are developing New Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings for Hip Implants in a three year $510,000 project. Over 30,000 hip implants operations take place in Australia each year, due largely to a significant and growing proportion of the population suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. The coating on the implants, required to cause good bone ingrowth and adhesion between bone and implant, is far from perfect. We propose to spray coatings which mimic the structure of bone, and thus offer improved mechanical properties such as appropriate rigidity and toughness, and stimulate better bone growth at the interface. In this way the implant should be much longer lasting and the need for undesirable revision surgery reduced. The processing technique proposed could also be a useful platform coating technology in a number of other industries.
Monash University Dr LD Turner is conducting a three year $330,000 project to investigate Quantum magnetometry on the microscale. This proposal will create a microscope for magnetic fields by measuring the quantum spin of a Bose-Einstein condensate at temperatures near absolute zero. Classical measurements of spin have underpinned transforming technologies, from magnetic resonance imaging to terabyte-scale hard-disc storage. We will make a truly quantum measurement of spin which will create a magnetic field microscope one million times more sensitive than the current state-of-the-art. The magnetic field microscope will be sensitive enough to measure fields from single biological cells and from superconducting nanosurfaces, giving critical new perspectives in biomedical research and next-generation electronics.
Monash University Dr H Wang and Prof M Tsapatsis are developing Zeolitic Nanoflake-Polymer Composite Membranes for Low Energy Desalination in a three year $460,000 project. The desalination of seawater is becoming an important source of drinking water for Australia. The current desalination process using polymer membranes is energy-intensive. The proposed project will contribute to the development of low energy desalination technology by advancing membrane design and fabrication techniques. The use of zeolitic nanoflake-polymer composite membranes developed in this project is expected to substantially reduce energy consumption in the desalination process. This research will produce important economic and environmental benefits by developing a green technology for fresh water production and water treatment for powergeneration, irrigation and other industrial uses.
Monash University Dr B Winther-Jensen is developing Novel Fuel-Cell Structures based on Electroactive Polymers in a five year $785,000 project. The Discovery Project will tackle some of the challenging issues regarding the conversion of our society into a post-petroleum era through: Development and understanding of a new class of organic catalysts for efficient low temperature fuel-cells, Developing cheap and effective, ultra-thin, ion-conducting membranes for fuel-cells based on new plasma-polymers, and Integrating the components into fuel-cells suitable for stationary, portable and automotive applications. These outcomes will contribute to national research priorities: Frontier Technologies for building and transforming Australian Industries, and An Environmentally Sustainable Australia.
Monash University Dr O Winther-Jensen in a three year $240,000 p0roject is developing Photo-enhanced water oxidation using novel structures and conjugated polymers. This project will lead to a more sustainable environment in Australia as it will help reduce greenhouse gas emission from energy consumption. The proposed solar water splitting cell will facilitate an efficient, low-cost and renewable production of hydrogen. Hydrogen is considered to be the ultimate fuel since only water is produced as a product of combustion. Already hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles are being produced by a number of the major car manufacturers. The solar water splitting technology based on sustainable materials and the novel cell configuration to be developed in this project will provide the needed stability and efficiency of the cell as well as reduce the manufacturing cost.
Monash University Dr LY Yeo, Dr PR Stoddart and Prof HC Chang are developing a Opto-Microfluidics: for a rapid and Sensitive Platform for Biological Diagnostics in a three year $290,000 project. One in four people above 25 years suffer from diabetes-related diseases in Australia, with an associated economic cost exceeding $3 billion a year. A microdevice for continuous glucose monitoring would help patients to manage the disease, leading to huge individual, clinical and societal benefits. Life expectancy is expected to increase along with quality of life. Integration of the microdevice with insulin delivery would realise an 'artificial pancreas', revolutionising the management and treatment of the disease. The technology will also provide a platform for other point-of-care medical diagnostic devices, which will allow early participation in this emerging market and cement Australia's position in bionanotechnology.
Monash University Prof X Zhao, Prof R Al-Mahaidi, Dr W Duan, and Prof J Teng are developing retrofit of Steel Connections subject to Fatigue Load by Utilizing carbon fiber reinforced polymeric (CFRP) and Modified Epoxy Structural Adhesives in a three year $270,000 project. The proposed research project will challenge conventional methods of repairing or strengthening steel structures by using an advanced material (CFRP) together with modified epoxy structural adhesives. It will not only provide reliable retrofitting of existing structures but will also build safe, more economic and smarter steel structures. It will contribute to the socio-economic wellbeing of Australia, including road and railway infrastructure, offshore, mining and recreation industries, increasing the international competitiveness of the Australian steel industry and infrastructure maintenance capability. Australia will be better positioned in the region for potential technology transfer to Asian and surrounding countries.
These projects and others are detailed in Summary of Discovery Projects Proposals for Funding to Commence in 2010
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