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Computational Technology Molding a Grand Future in Architecture
A recent report has found solutions in the fight against discarded ‘ghost’ nets and other fishing marine debris in northern Australia.
The research was conducted by the environmental not-forprofit organisation TierraMar and the UNSW SMaRT Centre, who uncovered sustainable methods to detect, collect, transport and responsibly dispose of ghost nets. “Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost at sea, abandoned or discarded when they have become damaged,” said Professor Veena Sahajwalla from the UNSW SMaRT Centre.
“Discarded fishing equipment can cause pollution such as microplastics and entangle marine wildlife and damage reefs, silently killing,” she added. Marine debris accumulates in the Gulf of Carpentaria off northern Australia, which is recognised as a global marine debris ‘hot spot.’ “Four of the six marine turtle species found in Australian waters are listed as threatened under Australian environmental legislation and they are regularly found entangled in derelict fishing nets,” Professor Sahajwalla said. Self-sustaining solutions are critical for ghost nets and marine debris in northern Australia.
Meanwhile, reducing the reliance on government support to clean-up and dispose of the debris depends on the ability to create high quality products made from waste. “There is an opportunity to develop a range of high-quality homeware and building products made directly from ghost nets and marine debris coming out of northern Australia,” Professor Sahajwalla said. “The products, such as ceramic tiles, could creatively reflect the unique cultures, artistic values and connections to country by local communities,” she concluded.
The 3D pattern works to deflect water away from the windows. Image courtesy of RMIT University. The final product. Image courtesy of RMIT University.
Students to Work Together to Explore Solutions to the Scourge of Microplastics
Tiny specks of plastic, known as microplastics, are found across the length and breadth of the food chain. In fact, they are in the air, soil, ocean, and in the food that is served on the dinner table each night. Over 70 students from the University of Wollongong (UOW) recently took part in a science, medicine, and healthfocussed education day to develop transferable skills that seek to uncover solutions to the microplastics problem. Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson said she was thrilled to see students coming together to brainstorm solutions to an issue that has urgent impacts for the planet and humans.
“For more than two years, we haven’t been able to hold many of these sorts of events, where students can work collaboratively in person, rather than via a screen.” “This is such an important and urgent issue, and demands interdisciplinary perspectives,” she said. Students worked in teams to answer one overarching question: how do we determine the effects of microplastics and reduce the impact of plastics on the environment and human health?
Undergraduate students were invited to attend the event, where they garnered important lessons covering multiple perspectives: legal, scientific, economic, cultural, social, and political—as well as to think creatively and critically. UOW researchers and industry partners, with expertise in the areas of ocean and food security, climate change, policy, and textile production, also contributed to the day. The event was held on 19 July where prizes were awarded to participants with groundbreaking ideas.
World First Self-Calibrated Photonic Chip: An Interchange for Optical Data Superhighways
Research from Monash and RMIT Universities has found a way to create an advanced photonic integrated circuit. Whether it is turning on a television or keeping a satellite on course, photonics is transforming the way Australians live. This research builds crucial links between data superhighways and revolutionises the connectivity of current optical chips. Together, it replaces bulky 3D-optics with a wafer-thin slice of silicon. The photonic chips can transform the processing capability of bulky bench sized utilities onto fingernail sized chips. This recent development, published in the prestigious journal Nature Photonics, can warp-speed the global advancement of artificial intelligence and offers significant real-world applications. For example, it can lead to safer driverless cars that are capable of instantly interpreting their surroundings; allowing artificial intelligence to diagnose medical conditions more rapidly; and make natural language processing even faster for apps such as Google Homes, Alexa and Siri.
The project’s lead investigator, Professor Arthur Lowery said this breakthrough complements the previous discovery of an optical microcomb chip that can squeeze three times the traffic of the entire National Broadband Network through a single optical fibre. “We have demonstrated a self-calibrating programmable photonic filter chip, featuring a signal processing core and an integrated reference path for self-calibration.” “Self-calibration is significant because it makes tunable photonic integrated circuits useful in the real world; applications include optical communications systems that switch signals to destinations based on their colour, very fast computations of similarity (correlators), scientific instrumentation for chemical or biological analysis, and even astronomy,” Professor Lowery explained.
UNSW will join the Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau to boost NSW's capability in building semiconductors. Image courtesy of UNSW Sydney.
UNSW Sydney to Help Drive Semiconductor Capability in NSW
UNSW Sydney recently joined a consortium to drive sovereign semiconductor capabilities. The Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau brings together leading experts to support critical local industries, including health, defence, and telecommunications.
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said the semiconductor sector had been identified as a local strength. “From computers and smartphones to military communications and medical devices, semiconductors, also known as ‘chips’, drive the technological devices we use every day and are indispensable to many global supply chains,” he said. The initiative will expand the state’s semiconductor industry and grow its potential as a future export market. “The semiconductor industry has been an engine for economic growth over the last 60 years and the S3B represents an enormous opportunity to secure a brighter future for NSW by accelerating our participation in the global semiconductor market,” Henskens said. Associate Professor Torsten Lehmann from UNSW’s School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications will lead the university’s involvement in the program. He said he was excited to have the opportunity to help expand the semiconductor sector in NSW.
“Compared with other parts of the world like Europe, Australia’s semiconductor sector is comparatively small. This is a fantastic opportunity to grow the sector here and given our talent and education levels, we should be a much bigger, global player in this space.” The program is funded by the NSW government and will be located at Cicada Innovations, in the heart of Sydney’s Tech Central Precinct.
Low Temperature Nanoparticle Ink
A simple and versatile nanoparticle ink could help the next generation of perovskite solar cells to be printed at scale and become the dominant force in commercial photovoltaics. The ink is made from tin oxide and can be used to help selectively transport electrons in solar cells—a crucial step in generating electricity. Other prototype devices built with this method have recorded power-conversion efficiencies of 18%, which is among some of the best for a planar-structured perovskite solar cell processed at low temperatures. CSIRO principal research scientist Dr Doojin Vak said perovskite solar cells can be manufactured by industrial printing. “While the process is inherently low-cost, the cost of every component still counts. This work demonstrates a great way to contribute to ultra-low-cost manufacturing of perovskite solar cells in the future.” Perovskite solar cells already rival the efficiency of their established silicon counterparts. They are more flexible and require less energy to make. Other synthetic approaches for tin oxide require high pressure, high boiling points and may also need multiple processing steps. This rules them out of contention for cost-effective manufacturing at industrial and commercial scale.
The nanoparticle ink can be made through microwaves, which limits the commercial potential of printable perovskite solar cells. Monash University’s Professor Jacek Jasieniak is a senior author on the paper, who said the microwaves synthesise suitable nanoparticle inks in an efficient manner. “[It] provides a major step forward towards achieving high efficiency perovskite solar cells that can be reproducibly printed while also minimising fabrication costs."
This new technology could allow people to use the camera on their smartphone to diagnose diseases. Image courtesy of TMOS.
New Nanotech Imaging Tool May Allow Smartphone Disease Diagnosis
Scientists have developed a low-cost microscopic imaging device, which is small enough to fit on a smartphone camera lens. This breakthrough has the potential to make mobile medical diagnoses of diseases affordable and accessible. The detection of diseases often relies on optical microscope technology to investigate changes in biological cells. However, these investigation methods usually involve staining the cells with chemicals in a laboratory. Researchers at the University of Melbourne and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems are seeking to miniaturise phase-imaging technology using metasurfaces, which are a few hundred nanometres thick.
“We manufactured our metasurface with an array of tiny rods – nanorods – on a flat surface, arranged in such a way as to turn an invisible property of light, called its ‘phase’, into a normal image visible to the human eye, or conventional cameras,” said lead researcher, Dr Lukas Wesemann.
This innovative technology could one day lead to at-home disease detection, where images are sent to a laboratory anywhere in the world. “These phase-imaging metasurfaces create high contrast, pseudo-3D images without the need for computer postprocessing. Making medical diagnostic devices smaller, cheaper and more portable will help disadvantaged regions gain access to healthcare that is currently only available to first world countries,” Dr Wesemann said. Professor Ann Roberts from the University of Melbourne also co-authored the report. She said it was an exciting breakthrough in the field of phase-imaging. “It’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how metasurfaces will completely reimagine conventional optics and lead to a new generation of miniaturised devices,” said Professor Roberts.
New Capability Supports Advanced Laser Additive Manufacturing
ANSTO’s capabilities to support additive manufacturing recently improved with the installation of the first-in-theworld custom-built powder laser metal deposition system. This technology can be used for in-situ experiments at the Australia Centre for Neutron Scattering. It grants researchers with the tools to undertake neutron measurements during powder-fed laser additive manufacturing. It is expected to provide real-time information about the deposition process to enable further optimisation. “We have a great technical and design team that pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved for this important area of research. For the first time, we can characterise and manufacture in-house,” said Professor Anna Paradowska from the University of Sydney. Although some refinements are needed to facilitate ease of operation and potential use on the other neutron instruments, the research team’s development of the sample environment system is a technical achievement. “This new sample environment capability greatly enhances to measure the evolution of stresses in a 3D printed material, and will assist us in optimising solidification whilst minimising defects, which is crucial in advanced manufacturing. The first experiment on Kowari has been completed and we are extremely pleased with the initial results,” said Chris Baldwin, a sample environment professional officer. LMD is an additive manufacturing process in which a laser beam is used to form a melt pool on the surface of a metal object. It can be used to produce 3D parts or repair existing components, such as high-strength steel aircraft or civil structure components.
Some of the team members who supported the design and build of the new system for the Kowari instrument. Image courtesy of ANSTO. PETRONAS Research and Curtin University recently entered into a research partnership to address corrosion in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Image courtesy of Curtin University.
PETRONAS Research and Curtin University recently entered into a research partnership to address corrosion in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. In line with both parties’ sustainability goals, the collaboration strives to discover innovative solutions for corrosion mitigation to reduce carbon footprints and operational expenditures. Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is among the costliest forms of corrosion in the industry. Studies have shown that the petrochemical industry spends about 10% of its total maintenance and repair budget on piping systems and pressure vessels for insulation-related corrosion. The project’s technical advisor and PETRONAS Principal Scientist Dr Azmi Mohammed Nor said collaborative partnerships like this, are the key to future success. “[It] is key to accelerating innovation and progress in technology, such that both sides benefit from opportunities to work on relevant technologies and apply solutions in the real world.” “CUI is one of the industry’s major material challenges. The research and development of advanced coating materials is believed to be the best approach to address the issue, while reducing operations and maintenance costs, as well as unscheduled shutdowns in the long run,” he added. The research has direct environmental benefits by eliminating the need to replace steels, reducing energy loss, and preventing the leakage of harmful and toxic chemicals into the environment. Lead researcher Dr Kod Pojtanabuntoeng, from the Curtin Corrosion Centre, said both parties would develop new and innovative materials under the scheme. “This coating with insulation properties offers potentially significant benefits such as detecting corrosion easier and quicker, while reducing manpower and improving efficiencies for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.”
Liquid Platinum at Room Temperature: The ‘Cool’ Catalyst for a Sustainable Revolution in Industrial Chemistry
Researchers have recently used trace amounts of liquid platinum to create cheap and highly efficient chemical reactions at low temperatures, which opens a pathway to dramatic emissions reductions in crucial industries.
This FLEET study focuses on platinum, which is combined with liquid gallium to extend the earth’s reserves of this valuable metal, and potentially offer more sustainable solutions for CO2 reduction. Platinum is very effective as a catalyst but is not widely used at industrial scale because it is expensive. Most catalysis systems involving platinum also have high ongoing energy costs to operate. Dr Jianbo Tang from UNSW likened it to a blacksmith using a hot forge to make equipment that will last for years. “If you’re working with iron and steel, you have to heat it up to make a tool, but you have the tool and you never have to heat it up again.” “Other people have tried this approach but they have to run their catalysis systems at very high temperatures all the time,” Dr Tang said. Until now, there has not been an affordable ratio when trying to manufacture platinum components and products for commercial sale.
Dr Md. Arifur Rahim, is the lead author from UNSW Sydney, who said scientists have been able to miniaturise catalyst systems down to the atomic level of the active metals for over a decade.
“To keep the single atoms separated from each other, the conventional systems require solid matrices (such as graphene or metal oxide) to stabilise them. I thought, why not using a liquid matrix instead and see what happens,” said Dr Rahim.
An atomic view of the catalytic system in which silver spheres represent gallium atoms and red spheres represent platinum atoms. The small green spheres are reactants and the blue ones are products – highlighting the catalytic reactions. Image courtesy of Dr Md. Arifur Rahim, UNSW Sydney.
Liquid gallium and three solid beads of platinum, demonstrating the dissolution process of platinum in gallium described in the research paper. Image courtesy of Dr Md. Arifur Rahim, UNSW Sydney. PhD student Madeleine Zurowski with lead researcher Professor Elisabetta Barberio in the Stawell Underground Physics Lab. Image: Olivia Gumienny and the University of Melbourne.
Global Hunt For Dark Matter Arrives In Australia
Located one kilometre underground in the Stawell Gold Mine, the first dark matter laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere is preparing to join the global quest to understand the nature of dark matter and unlock the secrets of our universe.
Officially unveiled in late August, the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) will be the new epicentre of dark matter research in Australia.
Lead researcher on the project University of Melbourne Professor Elisabetta Barberio said dark matter has been eluding scientists for decades. “We know there is much more matter in the universe than we can see,” Professor Barberio said.
“With the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory, we have the tools and location to detect this dark matter. Proving the existence of dark matter will help us understand its nature and forever change how we see the universe.” With Stage 1 now complete, the lab is ready to host the experiment known as SABRE South to be installed over the coming months, which aims to directly detect dark matter. SABRE South will run in conjunction with the complementary SABRE experiment taking place in Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. These experiments are designed to detect Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), one of the likely forms for dark matter particles. The Australian and Victorian governments each gave $5 million in funding for the building of SUPL, and this funding was boosted by the Australian Research Council awarding a $35 million grant for the development of a Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics.
Discovery Could Inspire New Way to Detect Brain Abnormalities
Scientists have taken a promising step towards a new generation of accurate, affordable and portable devices to detect concussion, epilepsy and dementia. An international research team has developed a laserbased diamond sensor that can measure magnetic fields up to 10 times more precisely than standard techniques. This innovation could pave the way for improving existing magnetic-field sensing techniques for mapping brain activity to identify disorders. Around 250,000 Australians live with epilepsy, while nearly 500,000 Australians have some form of dementia. The study was led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), who worked with RMIT University experts in diamond sensing technology. “Our breakthrough was to make a laser from the defects,” said Professor Andrew Greentree. “By collecting all the light—instead of just a small amount of it—we can detect the magnetic field 10 times more precisely with our sensor compared with current best practice.” Today’s magnetoencephalography, or MEG, technology is expensive to install and needs to operate at ultra-cold temperatures with liquid helium and patients must remain still.
“Current MEG machines are huge devices, with dedicated facilities, and they require magnetic shielding around them as well,” Professor Greentree said. MEG technology based on the new diamond-laser sensor would be smaller than contemporary devices, operate at room temperature and could be fitted to patients who can move around.
“We really want to have something that we can place on a patient's head and we want them to be able to move around—and there’d be no need for expensive liquid helium to operate such a device,” Professor Greentree concluded.
Dr Marco Capelli, one of the co-researchers, in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics laboratories at RMIT University. Image courtesy of RMIT University. Today's magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology is very sensitive, but also bulky, expensive to install and needs to operate at ultra-cold temperatures with liquid helium and patients must remain still. Image courtesy of RMIT University.
REACH to Drive Australia's Green Manufacturing Revolution
The nation's largest recycling and clean energy advanced manufacturing ecosystem at Deakin University will play a crucial role in rebooting Australia’s manufacturing sector. Deakin is working with industry, government and education partners to establish a multi-billion-dollar bioeconomy, which is creating scalable pathways for renewable energy and recycled materials, and technologies from the laboratory to commercialisation. This research undertaking will take place at the Recycling and Renewable Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently formalised Australia's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030. As such, REACH will facilitate greener supply chains and accelerate business success as international markets move from a throughput economy to a circular economy. The initiative capitalises on Deakin's strengths in battery technology, carbon fibre, hydrogen, recycling and biomanufacturing, as well as those of Australia's national science agency CSIRO, industry, university and TAFE partners. It will drive innovation and job creation in Victoria, with projections of more than $1.4 billion in revenue and 2,500 jobs in the next decade. Alfred Deakin Professor Julie Owens said this creates a stronger incentive for industry to invest in research and technologies to reduce landfill waste and reliance on fossil fuels.
“It will bolster onshore research, development and production opportunities to ensure the sector is more globally competitive,” Professor Owens said. The program is backed by a $50 million Australian Government Trailblazer Universities Program grant, and support from industry and university partners pushing the total value to $380 million.
