Materials research
Materials
research at ANU ranges from understanding the fundamental atomic and
molecular building blocks of matter to the design, synthesis and characterisation
of materials for technological application. The materials being studied
are as diverse as silicate films grown from solution on surfactant templates,
polymers and tough ceramics, electronic and novel non-linear optical
materials, geo- and bio-materials and composites.
Together, these research activities represent a very distinctive brand
of materials science and engineering, which is much broader than the
expertise usually assembled in materials engineering or materials science
departments. The outcomes are equally distinctive: ranging from mineral
derivatives as environmentally friendly detergents, to improved and
cheaper solar cells for photovoltaic energy conversion, and quantum
devices for use in optical telecommunications.
ANU materials scientists and engineers are at the forefront of materials
research in a wide range of areas. Below are just a small selection
of examples of the work being done at ANU.
-For progress on current projects check out our newsletter Materials
Monthly.
-For a easily printed two page summary of a small selection of exciting
projects, see our fact sheet: A
Materials World.
Biomaterials
and Synthetic Composites
Genetically modifying the synthesis and properties of plant cell wall
materials.
Developing advanced composite materials for applications in aerospace
engineering.
Colloids
and Polymers
Exploring the self-assembly of molecules into membranes and liquid crystals.
Using neutron and X-ray scattering to study the dynamics of adsorption
of polymers.
Geomaterials
Determining the behaviour of geological materials at the microstructural
level, under controlled lab conditions, and then applying such insights
to the evolution of the Earth.
Crystalline
Materials
Synthesising inorganic solids such as solid ionic conductors and tough
ceramics.
Developing new silicate materials with novel ion exchange and nano-porous
properties.
Optical,
Electronic and Photovoltaic Materials
Designing, fabricating and characterising optical materials for use
in telecommunications.
Advancing solar cell physics and studying ionic transport through biological
membranes.
