Geelong & Melbourne | Victoria | Australia

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

2013-2018 strategic plan

institute for frontier materials

about us

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3/ IntroductionandContext

4/ Vision

5/ Values

6/ Mission

7/ StrategicGoals –Research

7/ Funding/Resources

8/ IndustryEngagementand Commercialisation

8/ Internationalisation

8/ People

9/ Culture

9/ Education

9/ Marketing,Communication andOutreach

9/ Infrastructure –Building/Equipment

10/ Research –Themes

11/ KeyResearchAreas

16/ MeasuringourSuccess

16/ StrategicPlanningProcess

IntroductIon And context

The formation of IFM underpins Deakin University’s commitment to materials and manufacturing related research that will make a difference to the communities that we serve. Our Strategic Plan builds upon the Deakin University Strategic Plan LIVE the Future.

IFMheadquartersislocatedwithintheGeelongTechnologyPrecinct(GTP)ontheWaurnPondscampus.Thisprecinctisalsothehometostart-upcompaniessuchasCarbonRevolutionandourmajorinitiativerelatedtocarbonfibreresearch,CarbonNexus.

Itisexpectedthatoverthetimeframeofthisstrategicplananumberofstart-upcompaniesandspin-offsfromourownresearchwillplayamajorroleinestablishingtheGTPasamodelforuniversity–industryengagementandthedevelopmentoffutureindustriesfortheGeelongregion.

IFMhasdevelopedfromaverysmallcentrewithintheSchoolofEngineeringmorethanadecadeagototoday,includingmorethan270researchersandpostgraduatestudentsfrom40countries.Amajorfocusoverthistimehasbeentocoverthefullspectrumofresearchfromfundamentaldiscoveryresearchthroughmarketdrivenapplications.ThroughthisIFMhasmaintainedasteadyportfolioofindustrypartnerswhilealsoachievingexceptionalratingsinourresearchareasinthepasttwoERAassessments.

OurfuturechallengeistocontinuetogrowwhilemaintainingourcommitmenttoexcellenceandrelevanceinthefaceofmajorchangestomanufacturingrelatedresearchinAustralia.

AnotheraspectofIFMhasbeenitsstrongfocusoninternationalization,withmajorinitiativesinbothIndiaandChina.Thesecountrieshavebeenasourceofbothhigh-qualityresearchstudentsandofopportunitiesforapplyingourresearchintheserapidlyexpandingeconomies.

Inthecomingfiveyears,throughtheplatformofthisStrategicPlan,IFMwillapproachexcitingnewfrontiersinthedevelopmentofmaterialstomeetkeysocietalchallenges.

Asaresponsetothis,IFMhasembracedanewstructuretoallowustotacklemorecomplexproblemsofnationalandinternationalimportanceintheareasofenergy,health,environment,aswellasmanufacturing.TheInstituteforFrontierMaterialsaimstodevelopnewmaterialsandstructuresthatarenotonlyaffordable,butalsohavealowsocietalcostofmanufacture,usageandrecycling.

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Welcome to the first Strategic Plan of the Institute for Frontier

Materials (IFM).

the Institute for Frontier Materials is

focused on developing new materials to

address key challenges in society with high-quality postgraduate

and postdoctoral training at the forefront

of our aspirations.

Above: IFM Director Professor Peter Hodgson and Deputy Director, Professor Xungai Wang outside the newly refurbished building at Geelong.

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ToleadandinspireinnovationsinMaterialsScienceandEngineeringthathaveatransformationalbenefittosociety.

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VALueS

InSPIrAtIonAL• Wewillinspireinnovationandfoster

creativityinourstaffandstudentsinthefieldofmaterialsresearchsuchthattheIFMexperienceisrecognisedworld-wideasthegoldstandard.

exceLLence• Throughthequality/excellenceofour

researchwewillachievebothnationalandinternationalrecognitionandharnessthebenefitsthataccompanythisrecognition.

GroWth oF knoWLedGe• Througheducation,trainingandresearch,

wewillsharetheknowledgethatwehavegeneratedthroughengagementacrossacademia,industryandthecommunitygenerally.Wewilluseourknowledgeandexpertisetodeveloprealworldapplicationsandhaveapositiveimpactforourcommunities.

FAIrneSS And equALIty• Throughallofouractivities,IFMwill

endeavourto:

- Promoteacademicfreedom

- Rewardandrecognisetheindividual

- Provideprofessionaldevelopmentat alllevels

- Fosteracultureofinclusionandopen-mindednessinbothourinternalandexternalactivities.

InteGrIty• Wewilltreatourstaff,studentsand

externalpersonnelinanhonest,transparentandethicalmannerandourexpectationisthatthisbehaviourwillbereciprocatedinallofourdealings.

coLLeGIALIty• Wewillencouragecollegialityacrossthe

institutethroughopencommunicationandbypromotingformalandinformalcollaborationandnetworking.

our values are consistent with those of deakin university,

articulated in LIVE the Future.

nonetheless, it is important to address

Values here in a specifically IFM

context, as these Values define and

underpin the way we work, behave and

make decisions.

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Top: Deakin’s LIVE the future strategy

Right: Dr Ben Allardyce and Dr Rangam Rajkhowa examine a solution of processed silk fibres.

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6 InSTITUTe FOr FrOnTIer MaTerIalS - 2013-2018 STraTegIc Plan

Ourmissionistofosterinnovationandexcellenceinmaterialsscienceandengineeringresearchwiththeaimofaddressingthecriticalsocietalobjectives:

• Innovativemanufacturingtechnologies

• Energyefficiency,resourceandinfrastructuresustainability.

Weaspiretoprovidethehighestqualityresearchtrainingandeducationtosustaintheadvancementofsociety.

deLIVerInG the IFM MISSIon And VISIon

ThefuturedevelopmentofIFManditsabilitytodeliveragainsttheVisionandMissiondependsuponsuccessinanumberofkeyareas.Wehaveidentifiedeightbroadareasunderwhichthereare14goalsandassociatedstrategies.

Theseareasfocusonimprovedexcellenceinresearchandindustryengagement,andalsoondevelopingourpeopleandthecultureofIFMaswellastheinfrastructurerequiredtoundertakeleadingedgeresearch.

Akeyelementistosupportourmissionofprovidingthehighestqualityresearchtrainingforstudents,researchfellowsandstaff.

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StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Appointthemeleaderstoco-ordinateand

drivetheresearchactivitieswithintheInnovativeManufacturing&EnergyEfficiency,ResourceandInfrastructureSustainabilityThemes

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Increaseourindustry,businessand

governmentresearchincomebyidentifyingpotentialpartnersthatwillleadtolong-termeffectivepartnerships

• Createinternal“flagships/centres”thatutiliseexistingandemergingresearchstrengths:energy/manufacturing/corrosion/composites

• IdentifytargetsforIFMtoleadinlargecollaborativeresearchprograms (e.g.CRC,CoE,Transformationhubs)andcommitcoreteamstodevelopanddrivethesebids

• DevelopatleastoneMARQuEpartnershipby2016

• Explorealternativefundsources (e.g.philanthropic,foundations, alumnietc.).

StrAteGIc GoAL 1

DevelopstrategicresearchareasthatarealignedwithIFM’smission

StrAteGIc GoAL 2

Diversifyfundingsourcestocreatefundingstabilityoverthelongerterm

FundInG/reSourceS

reSeArch

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InduStry enGAGeMent And coMMercIALISAtIon

InternAtIonALISAtIon

PeoPLe

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Createanindustryengagementstrategy

incollaborationwithDeakinResearchCommercial

• Investigate,developandcommunicatetranslationpathways

• Developarewardandrecognitionsystemfortranslationofideas

• Developatleastonetechnologydemonstrator.

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• StrengthenexistingcollaborationsinIndia

• StrengthenexistingcollaborationsinChina

• IdentifyanddevelopstronglinksinEurope.

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Developclearercareerpathwaysforstaff

• Developasuccessionplanwithinresearchgroups

• Maintainawatchingbriefforhigh-qualitystaffwhoadd toIFMcapacityandcapability

• Developaprofessionaldevelopmentstrategyforstaff.

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StrAteGIc GoAL 3

Continuetodeliverinnovativesolutionstothemarketplace

StrAteGIc GoAL 4

Developamajortechnologyby2018

StrAteGIc GoAL 5

Developkeylong-term,high-impactcollaborationswithstrategicallyalignedqualityorganisationsandpartners

StrAteGIc GoAL 6

Sustainanenvironmentthatattractsandretainshigh-qualitystaffandstudents

StrAteGIc GoAL 7

Buildthecapabilityofstafftosupportanddeliverworldclassresearchandinnovation

Visiting WISCO researchers Dr Deng Zhaojun, Chun Lei Bai, Zhu Wanjun and Lin Chengjiang.

educAtIon

MArketInG, coMMunIcAtIon & outreAch

InFrAStructure – BuILdInG/equIPMent

cuLture

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Enhancethepostdoc/HDRexperienceto

developfutureleaders

• Harmonisestandardsforsupervisiontraining (bestpractice)

• PromoteopportunitiesforearlycareerresearcherstocontributetoDeakin’steachingactivities

• ContinuetoparticipateinCurriculumdiscussionswithDeakinExecutiveinplanningforIFMinvolvementinpotentialnewunits,courses.

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Developcommunicationand

marketingplans

• DevelopanAluMNIprogram

StrAteGIc PrIorItIeS• Involvestaffintheimplementationofthe

guidingprinciplesandgoals

• Enhancecollaborativeandco-operativerelationshipsacrossallresearchgroups

• Provideeducationandtrainingforprofessionalstafftoremaincurrentwithapplicablenewlawsandtechnologies

• Buildasustainablesafetyculturethroughthedeliveryofsafetyeducationtoallstaffandstudents.

• Promoteacultureofinclusionandopen-mindednessbyprovidingqualitysocialinteractions/events.

StrAteGIc GoAL 10

Deliverauniquetrainingexperiencewhichproduces world-classresearchers

StrAteGIc GoAL 11

Providedistinctiveeducationandtrainingforundergraduatestudentsintheareaofmaterialsscienceandengineering

StrAteGIc GoAL 12

Tobegloballyrecognisedasaleaderinmaterialsresearch andinnovation

StrAteGIc GoAL 13

ToberecognisedwithinDeakinandthecommunitiesthat weserve

StrAteGIc GoAL 14

Developaninfrastructureplanforthenextfiveyears

StrAteGIc GoAL 8

Fosteracultureofinnovation,collaborationandexcellence byensuringstaffarealignedtothegoalsofIFMandDeakin

StrAteGIc GoAL 9

Continuetoimproveandpromoteasafeworking environmentwithinIFM

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Ourkeyresearchareasfallundertwomainthemes:

• Innovativemanufacturingtechnologies

• Energyefficiency,resourceandinfrastructuresustainability

theMeS

energy efficiency, resource and infrastructure sustainability

innovative manufacturingtechnologies

Biomaterials

Polymers

composites

Surfaceengineering

nanotechnology

Plasma

Metals

Molecular Modelling

Fibres

corrosion

energy &electromaterials

Micro & nano Systems

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key reSeArch AreAS

The scope of work in each of our key research areas is described below.

BIoMAterIALSIntheareaofpolymeric(soft)biomaterials,ourresearchactivitiesfocusontwokeyareas:haematopoieticstemcells(HSC)andshortnanofibres.

HSCarethekeytoclinicaltreatmentssuchasstemcelltransplantstotreatleukaemia. IFMresearchersareaddressingthemajorchallengeinthefieldofHSCbiology:developingsystemsthatsupportHSCself-renewalandcontrolleddifferentiationinvitro.AchievingHSCexpansioninvitro,whileretainingthecells’multipotency,isthekeytoattaininghigherstemcelltransplantclinicalsuccess.

IFMisattheforefrontofthedevelopmentofanewclassofnanomaterials,knownasshortnanofibres.Nanofibretechnologiesworld-wideneedtoincreaseproductionasavailableproductionmethodscannotkeeppacewithincreasingdemand.IFMistacklingthischallengebydevelopinganewmethodforlarge-scale,low-costproductionofshortnanofibres.Novelapplicationsforshortnanofibresincludehigh-levelfiltrationofsmallparticulates,tissueengineeringandenzymes.

Inthefieldofmetallicbiomaterialsourresearchfocusesonthedevelopmentofnovelmaterialsandbiocompatiblemodifiedsurfacetechnologytosolvesomeofthechallengesfacingbiomaterialsandaddresshealthandmedicalissues.

Metallicbiomaterialsarecommonlyusedtomakemedicalimplantssuchasartificialhipjoints,boneplatesandheartpacemakers,duetotheirreliablemechanicalandbiologicalperformance.Thechallengeistoreducecostsandimprovelongevitybydevelopingfunctionalimplantswithexcellentbiocompatibilityandbioactivity.

Currentresearchincludesprojectsontitaniumanditsalloyscaffolds;biodegradablemagnesiumalloys;andbiocompatibleandbioactivesurfaces.

coMPoSIteS Carbonfibrecompositesarebeingincreasinglyusedacrossawiderangeofindustries,suchasaerospace,automotive,oilandgas,cleanenergyandsportinggoods,wheretheyarereplacingtraditionalmaterialssuchassteelandaluminium.Globalcarbonfibredemandisforecasttoincreaseatanannualrateof13-17%andwillexceed200,000metrictonnesby2020.Australia’scompositesindustryiscurrentlyinasignificantgrowthphase,withanumberofestablishedaerospacecompaniesrampingupproductionofcarbonfibrecomposites,andthegrowthofnewcompaniesproducinginnovativematerialsforautomotiveandindustrialapplications.

Themainchallengesforindustryintheareaofcarbonfibrearetodevelopnewlow-costautomotivegradesofcarbonfibre,newhighperformancecarbonfibreforaerospaceapplicationsandnewcarbonfibrecoatingstoimprovehandlingandfibrematrixadhesion.Thesenewfibresandtreatmentsmustbedesignedwithafocusontheevaluationofthefinalcompositecomponent.Whileadvancesinautomatedfibreplacementhaveresultedinfastercompositelay-up,theremainingchallengeforcarbonfibrecompositesistoreducethecurecycletimetounder10minutesinordertokeepupwithautomotiveproductionrates.

TheCompositesgroupaimstocreatenewgradesoflow-costcarbonfibre,newhighperformancefibres,newsurfacetreatmentsandsizingforfibresandbetterunderstandingofstructurepropertyrelationshipsincarbonfibre.

IFM researchers bring

together engineering,

chemistry, materials

science, physics,

biology, mathematics

and other disciplines to

develop new materials

and engineering

solutions.

Above: Biomaterials

Below right: Researchers in ACES electrochemical laboratory examining ionic liquids.

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key reSeArch AreAS contInuEd ...

corroSIonCorrosion,particularlylocalisedcorrosion,isacriticalissuewhichaffectsthereliability,durabilityandsustainabilityofmajorcivilindustrialinfrastructure.Suchinfrastructureisvitalfortheprovisionofthenation’sessentialservicesandthemaintenanceofitseconomicactivities,suchasoilandgaspipelines,miningandoffshoreinfrastructures,wateranddesalinationfacilities,chemicalandpetrochemicalplants.TheCSIROestimatesthatcorrosioncostsAustralia$13billionperyear.Thegroup’sresearchaimsaretodevelopsaferenergypipelineswithlongerservicelifeandthusresultinreducedmaintenancecostsfortheoilandgasanddesalinationindustries.Currentandfutureresearchworkwillinclude:

• leadingEnergyPipelineCRConenergypipelinecorrosion,coating,cathodicprotectionandlifepredictionresearch(currentfocusisonexternaloilandgassteelpipeline).

• Substantialresearchontheperformanceandbehaviourofstainlesssteelsinseawaterconditions(asapartofaNationalCentreofExcellenceinDesalinationresearch).

• Bothfundamentalandindustryresearchprojectsoncorrosioninhibition,suchasresearchonCO2corrosioninoilandgasenvironments,onpittingcorrosioninoilpipelines,andonweldingzonecorrosionofstainlesssteels.

• Expandcorrosionresearchtoincludeoffshoreoilandgasstructures,mininginfrastructures,anddefenceequipment.

enerGy And eLectroMAterIALSThegroup’sresearchaimsaretodevelopnewenergytechnologiesthroughthecreationofnewelectroactivematerials(electromaterials).Energygenerationandenergystoragearekeyissuesfacingsocietyduetotheneedtoreplacefiniteandpollutingfossilfuelsasanenergysource.Theproblemstobeovercomemainlyrelatetosafety(highenergybatteriescanleadtofiresorexplosions,e.g.BoeingDreamliners),energydensity(i.e.allowingelectricvehiclestotravelovergreaterdistancesonasinglecharge)andcost (i.e.currenttechnologiesareprohibitivelyexpensiveforlarge-scaleapplicationinelectricvehicles,orforindustrialordomesticapplications).

Currentresearchintonewmaterialsseekstoenablenewdevicechemistries–e.g.metal-airorsodiumbasedbatteries–ortoimprovetheperformance,safetyanddurabilityofexistingtechnologiessuchaslithium-ionbatteries.

Thefollowingareessentialinordertoprogressthegroup’sresearch:

• Developmentofcharacterisationtechniquestoprobethefundamentalchemicalandelectrochemicalmechanismsinavarietyofnovelbatterytechnologies.

• understandandcontrolreactivemetalsurface/electrolyteinteractionsofrelevancetoelectrochemicaldevicesandcorrosionprocesses.

• Fundamentalunderstandingofionicstructureandtransportmechanismsiniontransportmaterialsusingadvancedmodellingandcharacterisationtechniques.

• Developmentofredoxactiveelectrolytesandelectrocatalyticelectrodesforthermalenergyharvesting.

LIGht MetALSlightmetalsareessentialforefficienttransport.Theyprovidestructuralstrengthatlowweight,therebyloweringenergyconsumption.Toobtaintheemissionssavingsthatareincreasinglybeingrequiredinthissector,magnesiumandtitaniumare(andwillcontinuetobe)re-examinedasdesirablecandidatesformanycomponents.Advancesintheseapplicationsalsopromisetoopenupnewmanufacturingopportunities.

Toincreasetheuseoflightmetalsinenergysavingapplications,thelightMetalsgroupisdevelopingwaystoreducematerialcosts,creatingnewalloyswithimprovedperformanceandderivingmoreaccuratemodelsofmaterialbehaviour.Currentandfutureresearchactivitiesinclude

• lightalloycostreductionthroughimprovedformability

• NewMgandTibasedlightalloyswithimprovedperformance–includingfunctionalcapability,suchasthermoelectricpowergenerationfromwasteheat

• Developingnew,moreaccuratemodelsofmaterialbehaviourforusein‘virtual’engineeringandalloydesign.

Top: Researchers using the Scanning Electrochemical Microscope to probe the electrochemical response of new corrosion inhibitors for magnesium alloys.

Above: Electromaterials & energy research is to develop new materials and understanding to support the development and integration of new energy technologies with improved safety, efficiency and durability

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Top: Molecular modelling

Above: Researchers at IFM are exploring novel, unique functions and applications of nanofibres and developing new nanofibre production and assembly technologies.

MIcro And nAnoSySteMSTheMicroandNanosystemsgroupresearchfocusesonthedevelopmentofnovel,porous,environmentallyfriendlymaterialsandalsothedevelopmentofmoleculardiagnostictechnologyforahealthiercommunity.

Oneofthegroup’skeystrengthsisthedesign,fabricationandcharacterisationofporousnanoparticlesatroomtemperature.Theporousnanoparticles(20nm~200nmindiameter)containanetworkofinterconnectedpores(~2nmindiameter).Thismakesthematerialssuitablefortransportingchemicalsintoplantcells,animalsandhumans.

Thegroup’sknowledgeandexpertisehasfacilitatedamajorbreakthroughinthefabricationandfunctionalisationofporousmaterialswithporesatsub-nanometrelevelanduniquesurfacepropertiesforwatertreatmentanddesalination.

Thepropertiesdisplayedbythesematerialsarebeingexploredforthedevelopmentofnewmicroandnano-deviceswhichmaybeutilisedindiagnostictechnologies.

MoLecuLAr ModeLLInG And SIMuLAtIonThegroup’sresearchinvolvesthedevelopmentandapplicationofadvancedcomputermodellingatthemolecularlevel,basedonfundamentalprinciplesofchemistry,physicsandmathematics,topredictpropertiesandbehavioursofanysubstancecomposedofatomsandmolecules.

Thekeyconceptistheabilitytolinkstructureatthemolecularlevelwiththemacroscopicpropertiesofthesystem–suchasbindingaffinitiesandotherthermodynamicquantities,transportproperties,catalyticproperties,etc.Inpartnershipwithexperimentalfindings,predictionscanhelpframehypothesestoaccountforobservedexperimentalbehavioursandindicateclearpathwaysfortestingthesehypotheses.

Aswellaspartneringwithhypothesis-drivenexperimentalresearchthathascleargoals,predictionscanalsoprovidestrongguidanceforindustrially-focusedprojectswherequestionsofformulationandtypes/numbersofadditivescanbeaddressedquicklyandeconomically.

Providedthereisawaytodescribethesystem/materialatanatomisticormolecularlevel,thereisnobarinprincipletothetypeofmaterialorsystemthatcanbemodelled.

Thegroup’smodellingabilitiesformaplatformcapabilitythatcan,inprinciple,spanIFM’sentirerangeofactivitiesandinterests.

Thegroup’scurrentandfutureworkincludes:

• Structure-propertyrelationshipsofinterfacesbetweenbiologicalmatterforapplicationsinawiderangeofareasfrommedicaldiagnostics,tometa-materialsgenerationstrategies;frommedicalimplanttechnologies,throughtofundamentalresearchonbiomineralization.

• Predictionofformulation–propertyandstructure–propertyrelationshipsassociatedwithhigh-performancecarbon-fibrecompositematerials.

• Developmentofstrategiestopredictstructures,properties(e.g.mechanicalorcatalytic)andbehavioursofchallengingproteinsystemsofhighinteresttoboththepersonalcareandpharmaceuticalindustries.

• Methodologicaldevelopmentandforce-fielddevelopmentinthefieldofmolecularsimulationingeneral.

nAnoFIBreS/FunctIonAL FIBreSFunctionalfibresandfabricshavespecialpropertiestomakethem,forexample,resistanttoheat,verystrong,waterprooforresistanttoabrasion.IFMresearchersareexploringnovelpropertiesandapplicationsoffunctionalisedfibresandfabrics,suchasacoatingtechnologyforproducingdurablefunctionalfibresandfabrics.Applicationsofthisworkincludefunctionalfibresandfabricsforpersonalprotection,energyharvesting,biomedicaltissuescaffoldinganddesalinationofwater.

Nanofibre-relatedresearchatIFMaimstoaddresskeychallengeswhichhinderthepracticalapplicationsofnanofibres.Thisincludesexploringnovel,uniquefunctionsandapplicationsofnanofibres,anddevelopingnewnanofibreproductionandassemblytechnologies.Althoughnanofibresarealreadybeingusedcommercially,theirpotentialhasnotyetbeenfullyexplored.Thegroupisdevelopingadvancedelectrospinningtechnologiesforlarge-scalenanofibreproduction.

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nAnotechnoLoGyTheNanotechnologyGroupfocusesontwomainareas:nanotechnologyandenergystorage.Thegroup’saimistodevelopnovelnanomaterialsandutilizenanotechnologytosolvesomeofthecurrentchallengesinenergystorage(batteryandsupercapacitors),environmentalprotectionandhealthandmedicalissues.

Thegroup’scurrentandfutureresearchincludes:

• Developmentofnewnanomaterialswith2Dand3Dstructure,highporosity,andlargesurfaceareawithsuperbpropertiesandfunctionalities.

• Developmentofnewlarge-scaleproductiontechniquesforporousnanomaterialsandtheirapplicationsforoilspillcleaningandwater/airpurificationaswellasenergystorage,e.g.newporousBoronnitrideandBoroncarbonnitridenanosheetswithsuperiorsorptionandcyclingstabilityperformanceforwatercleaningandstoringcleanenergy.

• Continuetoimprovebattery/supercapacitorswithnewelectrodematerialsandnewdesign.Productionofbatteriesforelectricvehiclesandlarge-scaleenergystorage.

• Developmentofadvancedmanufacturingprocessesforadvancedcompositematerialsandproducts.Boronnitridenanotubeshavebeenaddedtopolymerandmetalmatricestoproducenanocompositeswithincreasedstrengthandbetterthermalproperties.

• Contributionstodrugdeliveryandbioapplications.

nAturAL FIBreSNaturalfibreresearchatIFMiscloselyalignedwiththeresearchprioritiesofAustralia’s$4billionnaturalfibreindustry.Australianwoolandcottonexportisrankedworldnumber1andnumber3,respectively.Thereisalsogrowinguseofsomenaturalfibres(e.g.silk)forhigh-endapplications,suchasbiomedicine.Thekeyissuesfornaturalfibresarevalueaddingandlong-termsustainability.Thegroupistacklingthesechallengesbydevelopingmoreenvironmentallyfriendlywaysofprocessingnaturalfibres,usingnaturalfibresfornovelapplications,andidentifying,aswellas

bio-mimicking,theuniquefeaturesofnaturalfibresandfibrestructures.Thegroup’scurrentandfutureresearchincludes:

• Waterandenergysavingtechnologiesforprocessingnaturalfibres(e.g.wool,cotton,hemp)

• Biomedicalapplicationsofnaturalfibres(e.g.silkfibre,silkpowder,andsilknanofibres)

• Bio-mimickingofnaturalfibrestructures(e.g.wildsilkcocoon)todevelopfunctionalmaterialsandlight-weightstructures.

PLASMA PlasmaresearchatIFMaimstodevelopafundamentalunderstandingofaplatformtechnology,inordertogenerateimprovedprocessesandmaterials(downtothenanoscale).Applicationofthesetechnologiesmaybeusedtosolveenvironmental,healthandindustrialproblems.

Plasmamaybedescribedasaroomtemperaturephysicalprocessforproducingreactivespeciesthatallowssurfaces/interfacestobealtered,newstructurestobegrown,bacteriaandcancercellstobekilled,andthechemistryofbothliquidsandsolidstobealtered.Thus,plasmacanbeusedtomakebetterperformingmaterialsandprocessestoaddresschallengesinkeyresearchareas,suchasenergycaptureorenergystorage,biomedicine,lighterandstrongercompositesandtextileandfoodindustries.

Currentandfutureresearchincludes:

• Developmentofabetterunderstandingofplasmaprocessesanddevelopmentofnewplasmatechnologiesandmethodologies.

• Productionandtestingofnewmultifunctionalnanomaterialsforimprovedenergycaptureandstorage.

• Applicationofliquidplasmatechniquestomilk&foodsterilizationwhilemaintainingnutritionalqualityandallowinglongerstoragetime.

• Applicationofliquidplasmatechnologyinagricultureforplantgrowthanddiseasecontrol.

• Applicationofplasmatechnologyinfibrousandtextilematerials,compositesandforsolvingindustrialproblems.

Top: Nanotechnology focuses on two main areas: nanotechnology and energy storage.

Above: Carbon fibre line.

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PoLyMerS Polymersareanessentialelementofmodernlifewithmanyapplications,includingadhesives,coatings,paints,foams,composites,textiles,electronicandopticaldevices,andbiomaterials.Throughunderstandingfundamentalprinciplesinpolymerscienceandtechnology,thePolymersResearchgroupatIFMaimstodevelopnewpolymermaterialswhichwillmeetadiverserangeofapplications.Currentandfutureresearchareasinclude:

• Advancedthermosetsforhighperformancecoatings,adhesivesandcomposites

• Polymerblends,compositesandnanocomposites

• Biodegradablepolymersforbiomedicalapplications

• Greenprocessingofnaturalpolymers

• Rubberandplasticsrecycling

• Polymermaterialsforoil,gasand energyindustry.

SteeLSteelrelatedresearchatIFMaimstoaddressanumberofkeyissuesandchallengesfortheindustry.

Steelisaheavymaterialforstructuresandisbeingchallengedbyanumberoflighterweightstructuralmaterials.Theresponseistodevelophigherstrengthsteelsorsteelswithimprovedperformancethatcanmeetthesechallengesthroughcontrolofthemicrostructureandprocessingroute.

Atthesametime,opportunitiesalsoexisttoproducesteelstripusingdirectthinstripcasting,whichisaradicalprocesschangewiththepotentialformassivereductionsinenergyandnewproductsbasedaroundtheuniqueprocessconditions.

Thegroup’sgoalistodevelopgreenerprocessesandproductsforamoresustainableandsociallyresponsiblesteelindustrythroughfundamentalunderstandingandcontroloveralllengthscales.Currentandfutureresearchactivitiesinthefieldinclude:

• Applicationofadvancedhighstrengthsteelforlightweightingintheautomotiveindustry

• Developmentofstripcastingtechnologies

• Applicationofadvancedcharacterizationtechniquestounderstandstrengtheningofsteels.

SurFAce enGIneerInG And SurFAce PerForMAnceThesurfaceofamaterialplaysacrucialroleinitsperformance.Itiscontinuallyexposedtoarangeofwearconditionsandcorrosiveenvironments,whichdeterminetheperformanceandlifecycleofmaterials.

Theperformanceofamaterialcanbedramaticallyimprovedbythechemicalorstructuralmodificationofitssurface(surfaceengineering)orbyalloy/thermaltreatmentdesign.

Improvingthesurfaceperformanceofmaterialscansignificantlycontributetowardthekeysocialchallengeofthesustainableuseofresourcesbyreducedenergyloss(friction/wear)orincreasedcomponent/infrastructuredurability.Thegroup’saimistounderstandtheroleofthesurfaceintargetedapplicationstodesignnovelalloys,thermaltreatmentsandsurfacemodifications,suchassurfacesforextremecorrosion(e.g.desalination)andprocessingforhighwearapplications(e.g.theminingsector).

Top: Research at IFM aims to develop new polymer materials which will meet a diverse range of applications

Above: PhD student Andreas Kupke uses the Instron mechanical tester to perform tensile tests.

Information gathered from the workshops was distributed to key groups set up to refine and articulate the outcomes from the workshops, before being presented to the executive of IFM.

On30August2013,aStaffPlanningDaywasheldtoinformallstaffoftheIFMgoalsandassociatedstrategiesandseektheirinvolvementinthedevelopmentofrealisticandfeasibleactionsfortheshort,mediumandlong-term.

ThePlanhasbeendevelopedwithinthecontextofDeakin’sStrategicPlan– LIVE.

Right: Vice-Director of Beijing Science and Technology

Commission Mr GH Zhang, Chief Scientist of China Iron

and Steel Research Institute, Prof S. Zhou, Deakin DVCR,

Prof Lee Astheimer, and Prof Y Chen launched the Beijing Key

Laboratory and the Deakin-CISRI Joint Research Centre for Energy

Materials in Beijing.

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• Newtechnologiesinthemarketplace

• Researchgrantsandindustryengagement

• Publicationsinhigh-qualityjournals

• Thenumberofcompletionsandqualityofresearchstudents

• Citations

• Awards

• Collaborations

• Researchreputation.

Atabroaderlevel,itisbelievedthatIFM’sresearchoutcomeswilladdsignificantlytoDeakinuniversity’soverallresearchperformanceandcreatenewopportunitiesfortheGeelongregion.

By focusing on the

goals and strategic

priorities over

the next five years,

the objective is to

achieve demonstrable

increases in:

this plan was

developed through a

consultative process

which involved a series

of half day workshops

with the professoriate

group and senior

staff of IFM.

MeASurInG our SucceSS

StrAteGIc PLAnnInG ProceSS