2006

Coinciding with the official opening of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, ACES hosted a series of training workshops from 13 to 15 February 2006 followed by the first international symposium on electromaterials science at the University of Wollongong; held between 15 to 17 February 2006.

ACES & IPRI Training Workshop : 13-15 February 2006

ACES hosted a series of training workshops from 13 to 15 February 2006 followed by the first international symposium on electromaterials science at the University of Wollongong; held between 15 to 17 February 2006. The workshops covered topics on mechanical properties of polymers, modelling of polymer systems, and electrochemical methods. These topics provided: (i) an introduction to the mechanical behaviour of polymers and approaches to modelling materials properties and systems, with a particular focus on the nanoscale; and (ii) introduced/reinforced electrochemistry basics and advanced use of equipment to achieve characterisation of nanostructured electromaterials and optimisation of nanomaterial properties.

Presentations on the mechanical properties of polymers were made by Professor Hugh Brown (Steel Institute UoW), Dr Tan Troung (DSTO), Professor Geoff Spinks (School of Mechanical, Materials & Mechatronic Engineering UoW) and Dr Philip Whitten (IPRI, UoW). The second part moved onto mathematical and mechanical modelling of polymers and nanotubes and the software packages available to undertake these tasks. These presentations were given by Professor Jim Hill (Theoretical Mechanics, UoW), Dr Alici Guersil (School of Mechanical, Materials & Mechatronic Engineering , UoW), Dr Weihua Li (School of Mechanical, Materials & Mechatronic Engineering , UoW).

Techniques discussed for characterisation and optimisation were ESR/E-chem Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Techniques and Electrochemical Mapping and Impedence Spectroscopy. Participants were also given the opportunity to hear about electrochemical surface engineering for production & characterisation of novel coatings, preparation and properties of nanoparticle composite coatings, photoelectrochemical cells and thermoelectrochemical cells.

These presentations were given by Professor Frank C. Walsh, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton UK, Professor Dennis Tallman, Corrosion/Coating Research Center, North Dakota State University USA, Professor Alan Bond (Monash University), Professor Doug MacFarlane (Chemistry Monash), Ass. Prof. Chee Too (IPRI, UoW), Dr Peter Innis (IPRI, UoW) and Dr Jun Chen (IPRI, UoW).

The workshops were attended by 30 - 40 centre students and staff (approximately 23 UoW, 10 Monash and 5 international visiting students). After the workshop a briefing of centre members was held, with short updates given on new and current projects in the centre, as way of introducing newer centre staff members. This was followed by a poster session where centre staff and students were joined by collaborators attending the symposium.

ACES & IPRI International Symposium : February 16-17, 2006

The Electromaterials Science Symposium, with a theme of the role and impact of nanostructure, attracted world class researchers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the USA. The 17 invited speakers and their presentation titles were:

• Prof Graeme Clark (Bionic Ear Institute, Melbourne, Australia), “Taking the bionic ear from bench to bedside: Interfacing sound to the human consciousness”.
• Prof Ray Baughman (NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, USA), “Multifunctional carbon nanotube yarns and textiles for fun and profit”.
• Prof Max Lu (Nanomaterials Centre, University of Queensland, Australia), “Composite membranes of polymer and inorganic colloidal particles with high proton conductivity and low methanol permeability”.
• Prof Siegmar Roth (Synthetic Nanostructures Group, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany), “Experimental cross-checks on index-identified individual single-walled carbon nanotubes”.
• Prof Philippe Poulin (CNRS Bordeaux, France), “Phase behaviour of carbon nanotube suspensions”.
• Prof Geoffrey Spinks (ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Australia), “Carbon nanotube reinforcement of conducting polymers and hydrogels for high strength actuators”.
• Prof Frank Walsh (Electrochemical Engineering Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, UK), “Protonated titanate nanotubes: synthesis, microscopy and electrochemistry”.
• Prof Danilo de Rossi (University of Pisa, Italy), “Electroactive polymer-based devices for e-textiles in biomedicine”.
• Prof Dermot Diamond (Adaptive Sensors Group, National Centre for Sensors Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland), “Adaptive surfaces on spiropyran molecular switches – building tailored features at the nanoscale”.
• Assoc Prof John Madden (Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada), “Modeling transport in conducting polymer actuators and supercapacitors: the consequences and nanostructuring”.
• Prof David Officer (Nanomaterials Research Centre and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Massey University, New Zealand), “Functional nanomaterials for energy conversion”.
• Prof Richard Kaner (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, USA), “Processable polyaniline nanofibres for flash welding, sensors and actuators”.
• Prof Douglas MacFarlane (ARC Centre for Electromaterials Science, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Australia), “Biocompatible ionic liquids and electrolytes”.
• Prof Maria Forsyth (ARC Centre for Electromaterials Science, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Monash University, Australia), “Control of charge transport in solid materials: from electrochemical devices to corrosion mitigation”.
• Prof Simon de Leeuw (Department of Physical Chemistry and Molecular Thermodynamics, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands), “Computer simulation of electrolytes and electrode materials”.
• Assoc Prof Justin Cooper-White (Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory, Division of Chemical Engineering and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia), “Smart scaffolds for muscle tissue engineering”.
• Prof Andrew B. Holmes (Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia), “Organic electronic materials: next generation semiconductors”.

In addition there were 56 poster presentations that covered topics that include the synthesis of conducting polymers, carbon nanotubes, other nanomaterials, nanofibres, and ionic liquids; and their applications in areas as diverse as solar cells, batteries, thermoelectrochemical cells, biofuel cells, actuators, sensors, and bionics.

One feature of ACES that is unusual is its commitment to providing researchers and students involved in the centre with a basic awareness of the social and ethical issues that arise from developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology. At the Symposium, philosopher Assoc Prof Susan Dodds organised an ethics workshop to encourage discussion about these ethical implications.

Using the 2005 Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) 2005 Nanotechnology working group report as a starting point, the workshop took the form of a hypothetical meeting of the (fictitious) "National Nanotechnology Strategy Council Subcommittee on Ethical, Social & Legal Aspects of Nanotechnology in Electromaterials Science" (ESLANES).

Key figures in the Centre took on different roles of members of the subcommittee and provided comment, reflection (and some irreverence) on issues such as the appropriate regulatory and institutional framework for assessing human and environmental safety, access to intellectual property, responsibility, community education and oversight of the developing technologies. This workshop is the first step in a series of ethics-related activities involving researchers and postgraduates of ACES. The workshop highlighted the issues and tensions between the competing demands of nanotechnology developments and social as well as ethical considerations.

Director of ACES & IPRI, Professor Gordon Wallace with the Chief Executive Officer of the ARC, Professor Peter Hoj at the official opening of ACES.

Prof. Gordon Wallace, Executive Director of ACES and IPRI addressing the gathering at the official ACES opening.

Students were keen to present their research at the poster session concluding the workshop.

ACES was priviledged to host numerous international and national guest speakers.

Prof. Andrew Holmes from the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Prof Phillipe Poulin from CNRS Bordeaux, France.

Prof. Danilo DeRossi from the University of Pisa, Italy.

Further poster sessions were held at the symposium, giving students access to helpful discussions with our visitors.

Smiles and discussions with old and new acquaintances at the luncheon concluding the symposium.