Materials

Materials science research aims to discover new materials and manufacturing processes to use in the next generation of medical devices, communication systems, energy production and more. At the most fundamental level, researchers are modelling the behaviours of individual atoms within complex molecules to understand their intricacies.

A grid of Aluminium atoms in pink surrounding a boron nitride nanotube viewed from its end.

14 Feb 2017

Nanomaterials designed for space travel

Researchers are using NCI's supercomputing facility to investigate the interaction of nanomaterials with metals that could be used in future space travel. Dr Christoph Rohmann from the University of

Artist's impression showing coloured molecules overlaid together on a purple and yellow ocean.

Research Highlights

14 Jul 2016

Solvents of the future

Chemistry

Materials

ARC Future Fellow Dr Katya Pas from Monash University is using Raijin to pioneer the potentially industry-revolutionising field of ionic liquids. Current industry processes, such as making paper from

Three stages of carbon capture, moving through adding CO2, capture and release.

Research Highlights

14 Jul 2016

Carbon capture's 'Goldilocks problem'

Materials

Researchers from UNSW are using NCI's supercomputer to pinpoint the 'sweet spot' of new carbon capture materials. Current materials for capturing carbon from power plant exhaust tend to bind CO2 too

Two images of tightly packed vertically arranged flat-top cone shaped structures.

Research Highlights

09 Jun 2016

New classes of optical devices being developed

Engineering

Materials

Physics

Nanopillars such as these can produce light using electrons bouncing around inside them. See this paper for more information. Discoveries in nanotechnology are leading to new classes of optical

An image of buildings behind a field, with half of it superimposed with an infrared view of the temperature of each object.

Research Highlights

02 Jun 2016

Optics breakthrough to revamp night vision

Materials

Wednesday 25 May 2016 A breakthrough by an Australian collaboration of researchers could make infra-red technology easy-to-use and cheap, potentially saving millions of dollars in defence and other

A ball-and-stick representation of a caffeine molecule.

Research Highlights

24 Mar 2016

Better materials for industry

Materials

Professor Debra Bernhardt from the University of Queensland has been using Raijin and its predecessors for more than 20 years. Her latest work is helping design better materials for industry. "We use

Solar panels on green grass in front of three wind turbines silhouetted by the sun behind them.

Research Highlights

19 Jan 2016

Making green energy greener

Materials

Physics

Australian researchers are using NCI's supercomputer Raijin to develop a way of improving the humidity tolerance of a new type of solar cell technology. The new solar cells, based on a compound with

The Whispering Gallery of St Paul's Cathedral, a round, intricately painted dome punctuated by many light-filled windows.

Research Highlights

08 Jan 2016

Shining new light on the body

Materials

Technology

Researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) are using Raijin to design ultrasensitive biosensors for use in research and medical diagnosis. Led by Professor Andrew

A scientific diagram showing the many layers of a potential solar cell nanostructure.

Research Highlights

04 Dec 2015

NCI's supercomputer-grade NeCTAR cloud node is helping researchers design more efficient solar cells. PhD candidate Bjӧrn Sturmberg from the University of Sydney has set up a custom environment on the

Atomistic model of the NbTiVZr high-entropy alloy showing many connected red, green, blue and dark green spheres.balls

Research Highlights

18 Nov 2015

Next big step in alloy discovery

Chemistry

Materials

Researchers from University of Technology Sydney and Australian Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) are using Raijin to predict the existence of new high temperature, strong and ductile alloys

Materials

Nanomaterials designed for space travel

Solvents of the future

Carbon capture's 'Goldilocks problem'

New classes of optical devices being developed

Optics breakthrough to revamp night vision

Better materials for industry

Making green energy greener

Shining new light on the body

Splitting light in the cloud

Next big step in alloy discovery

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