Materials Australia Magazine | July 2025 | Volume 58 | No 2 by materialsaustralia

From the President - Professor Nikki Stanford

With the winter solstice now behind us, we find ourselves past the halfway mark of what has been a particularly cold and wet winter across much of Australia. While the chill may linger, there’s comfort in knowing the days are once again growing longer, and that the year’s major events in the world of materials science are beginning to gather momentum.

I’ve spent much of these winter months indoors, huddled in my office proofreading two PhD theses from my students, both nearing submission. While many of us in academia and research find ourselves increasingly caught in a whirlwind of administration, compliance, and an ever-growing list of approvals, I’ve found unexpected joy in returning to the core of our discipline—poring over diffractograms, scrutinising microstructures, and having in-depth discussions about materials behaviour.

It’s been a refreshing reminder of why we all started this journey in materials science in the first place. I hope that amid your own busy schedules, you too are able to reconnect with the scientific heart of our profession and find

moments of inspiration in your work. A highlight of the past few months has undoubtedly been the 2025 AsiaPacific International Conference on Additive Manufacturing (APICAM), held in late June and early July. I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Professor Ma Qian and Professor JianFeng Nie for once again delivering a world-class event. With 400 delegates, 12 conference themes, three full days of presentations, and an incredibly engaging poster session, APICAM continues to grow in reputation and impact.

On behalf of the Materials Australia Executive Committee, I’d like to express our sincere gratitude to the entire conference organising committee. Pulling together an event of this scale is no small feat, and your hard work and dedication are deeply appreciated by our members and the broader materials community.

I’d also like to acknowledge and thank RMIT University, our valued partner for APICAM. RMIT’s ongoing support of Materials Australia and our mission is instrumental to the success of events like these, and we are grateful for their continued collaboration.

Looking ahead, there’s more to get excited about. In August 2026,

Materials Australia National Office PO Box 19 Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia

T: +61 3 9326 7266

E: imea@materialsaustralia.com.au W: www.materialsaustralia.com.au

NATIONAL PRESIDENT Nikki Stanford

MANAGING EDITOR

Gloss Creative Media Pty Ltd

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Prof. Ma Qian

RMIT University

Dr. Jonathan Tran

RMIT University

Tanya Smith MATERIALS AUSTRALIA

ADVERTISING & DESIGN MANAGER

Gloss Creative Media Pty Ltd Rod Kelloway 0418 114 624

PUBLISHER

Materials Australia Technical articles are reviewed on the Editor’s behalf

PUBLISHED BY

Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia Ltd.

Trading as Materials Australia

ACN: 004 249 183

ABN: 40 004 249 183

B.Eng(Hons) Ph.D. CMatP

Australia will proudly host the 12th Pacific Rim International Conference on Advanced Materials and Processing (PRICM12) on the Gold Coast. PRICM is a globally recognised event, bringing together hundreds of materials science experts from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

The conference will cover the full spectrum of materials research and innovation, from functional and nuclear materials, to composites, battery technologies, computational materials science, and more. It will be an extraordinary opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from global leaders, and showcase the strength of Australian materials science on the international stage.

The PRICM12 website is now live, so I encourage you to explore the program themes, consider submitting an abstract, or register early to take advantage of early bird pricing. It promises to be one of the standout events on our professional calendar. Until next time, I wish you warmth, discovery, and continued inspiration in all that you do.

Best Regards

Nikki Stanford National President Materials Australia

This magazine is the official journal of Materials Australia and is distributed to members and interested parties throughout Australia and internationally.

Materials Australia welcomes editorial contributions from interested parties, however it does not accept responsibility for the content of those contributions, and the views contained therein are not necessarily those of Materials Australia.

Materials Australia does not accept responsibility for any claims made by advertisers.

All communication should be directed to Materials Australia.

Advertisers

- July 2025

APICAM 2025: Showcasing Global Leadership in Additive Manufacturing

Source: Sally Wood

The 2025 Asia-Pacific International Conference on Additive Manufacturing (APICAM)—the fourth of its kind to be held in the Asia Pacific region—was held in Melbourne from 30 June to 3 July.

APICAM was created to provide an opportunity for industry professionals and thought-leaders to come together, share knowledge and engage in the type of networking that is vital to furthering the additive manufacturing industry.

Attendees heard from some of the leading minds in the industry, who presented highly informative and engaging presentations on pressing issues, as well as the ways in which innovations can navigate challenges.

The Plenary Sessions included:

• Professor Dr.-Ing Christoph Leyens on Advanced materials and system technology developments for Additive Manufacturing

• Professor Huiping Tang on Progress in Metal Additive Manufacturing in China: from Powder Development to Industrial Applications

Just some of the keynote presentations included: Advances in Additive Manufacturing by Professor Paulo Jorge Da Silva Bartolo (Nanyang Technological University); Biomimetic and Adaptive Structures: Interface of Technology with Additive Manufacturing by Professor Laila Ladani (Arizona State University); Additive manufacturing process chain development of amorphous alloys for soft magnetic applications by Dr Isabella Gallino (Technische Universität Berlin); Design and Additive Manufacturing of a Lattice-Based, Ultra-Light Forearm Prosthesis by Associate Professor Matteo Benedetti (University of Trento); and Modelling of Implant Biocompatibility in Additive Manufacturing by Professor Lihai Zhang (University of Melbourne.

The keynote addresses were complemented by countless other presentations, across a variety of subject areas, including metal, polymer, ceramic and concrete additive manufacturing, bioprinting and biomaterials, digital manufacturing, modelling and simulations, and emerging additive manufacturing technologies.

Poster Session

The Poster Session gave attendees the chance to become better acquainted with the significant volume of technical and academic research being undertaken in Australia’s additive manufacturing industry.

Each technical poster was accompanied by the academic who created it, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss the research and have all their questions answered.

Our congratulations go to Patjaree Aukarasereenont (CSIRO) who won the award for best poster for Porous metallic structures: Alternative oxygen cathodes for Li-air batteries.

The Conference Dinner

Sponsored by the CSIRO, the Conference Dinner at ZINC was a highlight of APICAM. The Dinner was an opportunity for industry professionals to get together in a more relaxed setting and to forge friendships that might otherwise be impossible.

Speakers at the Dinner included Dr Kathie McGregor, Research Director for the Advanced Materials and Processing Program in CSIRO Manufacturing, and a member of the Manufacturing Business Unit Leadership Team.

The Dinner also saw the presentation of the Materials Australia Silver Medal to Professor Jian-Feng Nie; Professor Barry Muddle was awarded Honorary Membership of Materials Australia; and Dr Tingting Song was awarded the Ian Polmear Early Career Research Award. Our congratulations go to all the award winners for their valuable contributions to our industry.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Of course, none of this would have been possible without our conference sponsors. Materials Australia would like to extend our gratitude to Joel, our Gold Sponsor; the CSIRO, our Dinner Sponsor; Flow-3D AM, our Program Sponsor; American Elements, our Lanyard Sponsor; Amiga Engineering, our Student Bursary Awards Sponsor; and Metal AM and Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing, our Media Partners.

Materials Australia would also like to thank all our exhibitors, including the Additive Manufacturing CRC, ATA Scientific, AXT, Bruker, DKSH, Emlogic, Emona, Evident Scientific, InssTek, LECO, Malvern Panalytical, Objective3D, Zeiss.

Last, but by no means least, Materials Australia would like to thank everyone involved in organising APICAM, including: Conference Chairs, Distinguished Professor Ma Qian and Professor Jian-Feng Nie; the Organising Committee including our conference secretaries Dr Tingting Song and Dr Jordan Noronha; and Tanya Smith, Executive Officer of Materials Australia.

CONFERENCE HOST

VENUE HOST

PROGRAM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS

STUDENT BURSARY SPONSOR

LANYARD SPONSOR

DINNER SPONSOR

MEDIA PARTNERS

WA Branch Technical Meeting - 9 June 2025

A ‘Cold Case’ Analysis – Morris Marina Front Suspension Failure

Source: Dr Steve Algie – S H Algie & Associates Pty Ltd

Dr Steve Algie described the retrospective failure analysis he had conducted into the root cause of a near-fatal car crash in which he had been involved.

The single-vehicle rollover occurred in 1981 in the UK, while Steve was driving a rented Morris Marina. The analysis was made possible by his chance rediscovery of a roll of unprinted black and white film, with clear photographs of damaged components from the wrecked car.

Steve was hospitalised with a concussion and has no memory of the event, other than that the steering had suddenly failed. However, his wife had recorded in her diary that while travelling on the A19 at 70 mph (110 km/h), the car suddenly veered right, then left, spun 180 degrees to the right, struck the median strip, rolled 360 degrees, and landed upright on the opposite carriageway. It was sheer luck that no other vehicles were involved in the crash, as the consequences could have been fatal for multiple parties.

The root cause of the crash was never determined at the time, but more than four decades later, prompted by the availability of the photographs, Steve reopened the "cold case." He applied a range of mechanical and materials engineering principles to reconstruct the likely sequence of mechanical failures that led to the crash.

The photographs showed that the front lower suspension arm had fractured through tie rod mounting hole. This was the first point of failure, and physical modelling with plasticine showed how the subsequent complex deformations of the front suspension components observable in the photographs had occurred in sequence during of the various phases of the rollover. This sequence was confirmed by estimates of yield, work hardening and ultimate strength properties of the materials likely to have been used in the components.

Central to the analysis was the Morris Marina’s front suspension design, which

used torsion bars and elastomeric bearings based the 1948 Morris Minor. The vehicle’s lower front suspension arms are a critical component but were apparently minimally designed for the relatively low stresses to which they subject in normal circumstances. However, as the photographs clearly show, this was the point of initial failure and a weak point in the design

The analysis considered how fatigue failure could have originated at the hole for the tie rod pin. By considering materials properties and road forces, Steve demonstrated that stresses from pothole impacts, or heavy braking could lead to crack propagation by low-cycle fatigue, making the front arm vulnerable to failure under ordinary steering forces. This created a "hairtrigger" situation, as the suspension would have continued to function apparently normally until the moment of final fracture, with no external warning to the driver of impending catastrophic steering failure.

Information now accessible online confirms that tie rod issues are a known weak point in the Morris Marina, though at the time not widely acknowledged as a serious failure risk.

Reflecting on the context of the early 1980s, Dr Algie noted that failure analysis was not routinely conducted for consumer vehicle accidents at the time, and the UK regulations around vehicle design and safety were far more relaxed than today’s standards. Even seat belts in the back were not mandatory in new cars until 1987.

The Morris Marina had a reputation for poor structural integrity, and its design reflected cost-cutting measures and outdated engineering decisions. Indeed, the Morris Marina now makes regular appearances in online lists and videos of ‘the worst cars ever produced’!

In summary, in terms of Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis, the failure mode of the front suspension arm was not just theoretically possible, but demonstrably real and potentially catastrophic. Exacerbating the situation, hidden and progressive crack propagation would not necessarily have been revealed in regular servicing. Thus, the design would surely not be acceptable today due to its susceptibility to a single point of failure, lack of redundancy, and undetectability of impending failure under standard maintenance practices.

L to R: Steve Algie, Ehsan Karaji

WA Branch Technical Meeting - 14 July 2025 Engineering Polymers and Composites: Challenges in Service Life Prediction and Degradation Analysis

Source: Dr Ibukun Oluwoye, Curtin Corrosion Centre

Dr Ibukun Oluwoye’s presentation started with an outline of the diverse degradation mechanisms that affect polymers and composites. He concluded by reviewing some current industry standards used to evaluate the suitability, performance, and durability of engineering polymers and composites under various environmental and operational conditions.

After gaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, in Cyprus, Ibukun completed his PhD studies at Murdoch University. This took him into the world of polymers and composites, with a focus on their chemical and mechanical properties. He has continued this line of research at Curtin University, which he joined in 2019, with a particular interest in degradation and service life prediction of polymer components in subsea environments. His work also extends to sustainable solutions for offshore infrastructure decommissioning, including the development of recycling pathways, and innovations in chemical resources and process safety. During a Fellowship at the University of Kyoto, he explored the behaviour of plastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics across diverse environmental systems.

Dr Oluwoye began his presentation by pointing out that mechanical properties of polymers generally increase with increasing degree of polymerisation, drawing attention to the widely differing quantities of energy associated with various types of chemical and intermolecular bonding. He also the noted that the mechanical properties of composite materials depend on the combined actions their components, which is especially relevant when one or more of these is subject to degradation.

He then turned to degradation pathways in polymers. These are typically complex and inhomogeneous. This is the case even in nominally single-component polymers because these polymers typically contain several functional additives, such fillers, plasticisers, stabilisers, colorants and flame retardants. Ibukun’s focus in this talk was on chemical, rather than biological degradation. Mechanisms include heat, photochemical reactions, notably UV-A radiation, and hydrolysis (e.g., of urethane bonds). Diffusion of molecules from the environment into the polymer, between the polymer chains, can result in swelling and chemical degradation. Such diffusing molecules include oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and methane. In general, solvents that contain molecules similar to those in the polymer cause more degradation, but diffusion is faster for chemically inert molecules, than for molecules that are reactive with the polymer. Diffusion rates are higher for amorphous than for semi-crystalline polymers.

With multiple modes of degradation, more than one mechanism can operate at the same time, and different mechanisms may apply in differing environments.

Consequently, loss of polymeric materials in, for example, subsea flowlines is not always expressible simply, such as mm/year. Temperature and light intensity decrease with depth below the surface, while currents control the concentration of suspended abrasive sand, which can remove degraded material from the surface, thus increasing environmental exposure. The resultant combination of bulk and surface degradation makes it difficult to predict expected life from limited trials. Nevertheless, standards, notably ISO 23936, have been developed for selection, qualification and assessment of polymeric materials for use in the oil & gas industry.

A key factor in testing is determining if the degradation is diffusion-limited, which governs whether the degradation is at the surface or in the bulk of the material. Particular challenges arise in accelerated ageing testing, which Ibukun illustrated with the analogy of an egg. Heating at 100°C results in a boiled egg; 25°C for 30 days makes a rotten egg; 37.5°S for 21 days produces a chicken. This behaviour does not follow an Arrhenius relationship!

In practice, additional complications arise because of the typically limited detailed characterisation of the polymers used, the effects of imposed stresses, and how the materials are stored prior to being put into service.

Questions from the audience showed that this was clearly a topic of great concern, not only in the oil & gas industry, but also in biomedical engineering. One interesting point was that diffusion-limited degradation is a reason for the persistence of microplastics in the environment; the surface area available for continued degradation diminishes as they get smaller.

Photo: L to R: Ehsan Karaji, Dr Ibukun Oluwoye.

Join the Global Materials Community at PRICM12

The 12th Pacific Rim International Conference on Advance Materials and Processing will be held on the Gold Coast from 9 to 13 August 2026. PRICM is a series of triennial international academic conferences that focus on advanced materials and processing.

For more than 30 years, PRICM has served as an international stage for dissemination of current and emerging materials and processing, jointly organised by the Chinese Society for Metals (CSM), The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials (JIMM), The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials (KIMM), Materials Australia (MA), and The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS).

The first PRICM was held in 1992 in Hangzhou, China, and hosted by CSM. After the first conference, PRICM was hosted with great success in 1995 (Kyongju, Korea), 1998 (Hawaii, USA), 2004 (Beijing, China), 2007 (Jeju, Korea), 2010 (Cairns, Australia), 2013 (Hawaii, USA), 2016 (Kyoto, Japan).

PRICM has made a concentrated effort over the past 30 years to share the academic exchange of materials and processing to the worldwide arena, fast becoming one of leading academic forums for academics, researchers and engineers in the industry.

PRICM12 is set to take place at the cutting-edge Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. This dynamic venue will buzz with the exchange of ideas, industry insights, and provide an exciting opportunity for professionals to network and connect within the field.

Submit Your Abstract

PRICM12 aims to bring together leading scientists, technologists and engineers

from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world to discuss contemporary discoveries and innovations in the rapidly evolving field of materials and their processing. This event is also intended to foster stronger and closer interactions between materials practitioners and their international counterparts. This conference will cover most aspects of advanced materials and their manufacturing processes.

Symposium themes include:

• Advanced Steels and Properties

• Advanced Processing of Materials

• Structural Materials for High Temperature

• Light Metals and Alloys

• Additive Manufacturing

• Interfaces and Surface Engineering

• Materials for Energy Conversion, Generation and Storage

• Electronic and Magnetic Materials

• Biomaterials and their Applications

• Advanced Characterization and Evaluation of Materials

• High-Entropy Materials and Amorphous Materials

• Composites, Hetero-Materials, and Functionally Graded Materials

• Nano Materials and Nano Severe Plastic Deformation

• Modelling and Simulation of Materials and Processes and Artificial Intelligence

• Materials for Sustainability (Corrosion, Coating, Green Steel, Recycling)

Closing date for abstract submissions is 15 December 2025. Visit the website for more details.

Registrations for PRICM12 are now open. Take advantage of the early bird rates and book now via the website: https://www.pricm12.org

Joint Sponsors

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC)

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is Queensland's premier event venue, located in the heart of Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Renowned for its ultramodern facilities, the GCCEC offers over 10,000 square metres of flexible event space, making it the ideal destination for conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events.

The GCCEC is conveniently located only 500 metres from golden beaches and is surrounded by multiple accommodation,

dining and entertainment options, providing industry professionals with the perfect blend of business and leisure.

About the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations, welcoming over 12 million visitors each year. It offers a unique mix of culinary, cultural, and outdoor experiences, perfect for food lovers and adventure seekers.

Attendees are spoilt for choice with a selection of fine dining establishments and casual beachside cafes to dine from.

The region's diverse dining scene is complemented by nearby shopping and entertainment hubs such as Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and Broadbeach Mall.

Make the most of the pristine outdoor adventures like surfing at the nearby beaches or taking a hike through the breathtaking World Heritage Rainforest.

With over 300 days of sunshine each year, the Gold Coast’s favourable climate makes it an ideal destination for year round enjoyment, promising a unique and memorable experience for every visitor. www.pricm12.org

Conference Host Destination Host

Sponsorship Opportunities

Maximise your visibility for your target markets by becoming a conference partner. Our marketing will ensure that your support and profile is raised with the over 1400 attendees coming to the PRICM12 Conference.

You can choose one of our partnership opportunities or talk to us about a tailored package to suit your needs. An early commitment will mean a greater exposure and a greater return on your investment.

For tailored packages contact: Organising Society

Organising Chair

PROFESSOR JIAN -FENG NIE MONASH UNIVERSITY

TANYA SMITH MATERIALS

AUSTRALIA

M +61 429 150 702

Email: tanya@materialsaustralia.com.au

Jian-Feng Nie is a professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Monash University. His research interests cover magnesium alloys, aluminium alloys, biodegradable metals, solidsolid phase transformations, applications of scanning transmission electron microscopy in materials characterization, and processingmicrostructure-property relationships in metallic materials. His publications include the 5th Edition of book “Light Alloys”, a chapter on light alloys in the 5th Edition of “Physical Metallurgy”, and over 200 papers in journals like Science, Nature, and Acta Materialia. He is editor of Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, member of the Board of Governors, Acta Materialia Inc, and TMS Fellow.

ROD KELLOWAY

MATERIALS AUSTRALIA

M +61 418 114 624

Email: rod@materialsaustralia.com.au

CMatP Profile: Vishnu Vijayan Pillai

Where do you work and describe your job?

I am Vishnu Vijayan Pillai, a material science and engineering researcher with a master’s degree in Nanotechnology. Previously, I worked as a Research Engineer at Khalifa University, where I gained valuable experience in the field of advanced materials and their applications. After receiving the prestigious Australian Global Talent Visa, I relocated to Australia, embarking on a new phase of my career where I was awarded a Ph.D. scholarship from the Australian Research Council. This scholarship enabled me to pursue research at Swinburne University of Technology under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Nishar Hameed, Dr. Nisa Salim, and Dr. Peter Kingshott.

My Ph.D. research focuses on developing advanced graphene formulations for sensing intelligence in real-time Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) applications. Graphene’s exceptional properties make it a promising material for SHM, particularly in aerospace, defense, automotive, infrastructure, and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, I received a top-up scholarship from the Australian Defence Science Institute's RHD Grant program.

Apart from my research work, I am also the co-founder of Manhat, a deep

technology startup based in the United Arab Emirates and Australia. Manhat focuses on developing and deploying its patented 'natural water distillation' technology to provide sustainable water solutions for irrigation in inland and floating farms. Along with my former research supervisor, Dr. Saeed Alhassan, we aim to address water scarcity challenges by offering a solution that ensures clean water production without brine rejection. Our technology has attracted international recognition and accolades, making Manhat a promising player in the water sustainability sector.

What inspired you to choose a career in materials science and engineering?

My journey into the field of materials science and engineering was not entirely driven by inspiration at first. Rather, it was a conscious choice made during my early academic years. After completing my grade 12, a friend’s father introduced me to the field of nanotechnology. Intrigued by the possibilities it offered, I pursued an integrated master’s degree in Nanotechnology from Amity University, India.

It was during my research internships that my interest in materials engineering truly developed. The internships I undertook at Cochin University of Science and Technology (India), the Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre at Ulster University (UK), and my master’s thesis at the University of Montpellier (France) broadened my understanding of materials science and engineering. These experiences allowed me to explore the fascinating world of materials at the nanoscale and how innovative solutions could be developed to address practical challenges. It was this exposure to advanced research environments and diverse applications that ignited my passion for the field.

Who or what has influenced you most professionally?

Throughout my research journey, which spans over a decade, I have encountered numerous exceptional professionals who have left a lasting

impact on my career. I cannot attribute my growth and progress to a single individual but rather to a collective of inspiring mentors, colleagues, and seniors who have guided me along the way. The transition from academia to the startup ecosystem has been transformative. Seeing how technology can directly impact society has inspired me to drive research toward innovation. Co-founding Manhat has broadened my perspective on how research and technology can be translated into practical solutions to address pressing global issues like water scarcity.

What does being a CMatP mean to you?

It holds significant meaning for me as it represents both recognition and opportunity within the field of materials science and engineering. Achieving CMatP status is not only a testament to my qualifications and expertise but also a mark of credibility that signifies my commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and innovation in this dynamic field. CMatP offers an incredible platform to deepen my understanding of the materials ecosystem in Australia and beyond. It provides access to a vibrant network of professionals who are at the forefront of materials application and technology. This endorsement adds weight to my credentials, enhancing my visibility within the broader scientific and industrial community.

What gives you the most satisfaction at work?

The sense of accomplishment I feel when I successfully achieve or even exceed my goals is incredibly rewarding. It validates the time, energy, and dedication I've invested. Moreover, the journey of overcoming challenges along the way and finding innovative solutions to push the boundaries of what's possible adds even more meaning to the achievement.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

The best piece of advice I've ever received came from my father: "Follow your passion. Never underestimate yourself." These words echo in my

mind whenever I'm feeling stressed, and they always fuel me with energy. My father has an incredible calmness about him. Even during his battle with cancer, when I was by his side throughout his treatment, he remained calm and took everything in stride. His resilience and unwavering positivity continue to inspire me.

What are you optimistic about?

I am optimistic about the potential of deep technology to address some of the most pressing global challenges. I believe that breakthroughs in materials science and engineering can significantly improve the quality of life for millions of people. I am confident that our continued research and development efforts will lead to impactful innovations that promote sustainability and resilience.

What have been your greatest professional and personal achievements?

With over eight years of research experience, I have had the privilege of working across leading institutions in India, the UK, France, the UAE, and Australia. My specialization in advanced materials has resulted in the publication of numerous journal articles and presentations at prominent international conferences, including ACS Boston.

Some of my most notable accomplishments include receiving the Australian Global Talent Visa and the UAE Golden Visa, which recognize my contributions to the field. As the co-founder of Manhat, I played a key role in securing international recognition and exposure through events such as Expo Dubai (2020), the World Future Energy Summit (2022), and the United Nations COP28 (2024). Manhat has been awarded the European Union Water Europe Innovation Award (2022), the Future 100 Award (2023 & 2024), and the Best Practices Award at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Additionally, I was awarded the Halcyon Climate Fellowship in 2024, which reinforced my commitment to sustainability.

My PhD research was selected to present at the prestigious European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) Spring Meeting, held in Strasbourg, France in May 2025.

This opportunity allowed me to share my research on smart coatings for sensing intelligence with an international audience of researchers and experts in the field

On a personal level, I consider my greatest achievement to be my role as a parent to two amazing boys, Dhruv and Daksh, alongside my supportive wife, Remya, who has been a constant pillar of strength throughout my journey.

Which has been the most challenging job/project you’ve worked on to date and why?

Every project I have undertaken presents its own set of challenges. However, there are a few specific experiences that stand out due to their complexity and the learning curve involved. Firstly, transitioning from a research background to the startup ecosystem was a significant challenge. When I co-founded Manhat, I had little to no business background and was initially unsure of how to navigate the

entrepreneurial landscape. However, through persistence, guidance from mentors, and continuous learning, I gradually adapted and succeeded in meeting our objectives. Leading a deep technology startup requires balancing research and commercialization, which remains a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Secondly, returning to academia to pursue a Ph.D. after working in the industry for several years presented challenges on both personal and professional levels. Adjusting to the rigorous demands of academic research, while reorienting my mindset from industry-driven objectives to long-term scientific exploration, was no small feat. On a personal level, balancing family responsibilities and maintaining a healthy work-life equilibrium added another layer of complexity. Despite these difficulties, my passion for research and the pursuit of knowledge has continued to propel me forward.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

As someone who enjoys traveling, my bucket list includes experiences that are meaningful and personal. The first and most cherished item on my list is visiting Japan to witness the breathtaking beauty of Mount Fuji. This has been a longstanding dream of mine, and I look forward to embracing a peaceful moment surrounded by its serene landscape. Secondly, I wish to travel to New Delhi with my mother to visit Amity University, where I completed my Master’s in Nanotechnology. Due to various reasons, my mother was unable to visit my university during my academic years. Taking her to see the place where I spent a significant part of my academic journey would be a moment of pride and fulfillment. Lastly, there is a third goal that I wish to keep close to my heart for now. It is a goal that holds profound personal and professional significance for me—something that resonates deeply with my aspirations and values. While I prefer to keep it under wraps for the time being, it is a vision I am passionately working toward, and I hope to see it come to fruition in the near future.

MATERIALS AUSTRALIA

Our Certified Materials Professionals (CMatPs)

The following members of Materials Australia have been certified by the Certification Panel of Materials Australia as Certified Materials Professionals.

They can now use the post nominal ‘CMatP‘ after their name. These individuals have demonstrated the required level of qualification and experience to obtain this status. They are also required to regularly maintain their professional standing through ongoing education and commitment to the materials community.

We now have nearly 200 Certified Materials Professionals, who are being called upon to lead activities within Materials Australia. These activities include heading special interest group networks, representation on Standards Australia Committees, and representing Materials Australia at international conferences and society meetings.

Dr Ivan Cole ACT

Dr Syed Islam ACT

Prof Yun Liu ACT

Dr Avik Sarker ACT

Dr Olga Zinovieva ACT

Prof Mohammad Asaduzzaman Chowdhury Bangladesh

Dr Rajib Nandee Bangladesh

Mr Debdutta Mallik EGYPT

Prof. Jamie Quinton NEW ZEALAND

Dr Amir Abdolazizi NSW

Dr Edohamen Awannegbe NSW

Prof Julie Cairney NSW

Prof John Canning NSW

Dr Phillip Carter NSW

A/Prof Igor Chaves NSW

Mr Peter Crick NSW

Mr Seigmund Jacob Dollolasa NSW

Prof Madeleine Du Toit NSW

Dr Ehsan Farabi NSW

Prof Michael Ferry NSW

Dr Yixiang Gan NSW

Mr Michele Gimona NSW

Dr Bernd Gludovatz NSW

Dr Andrew Gregory NSW

Mr Buluc Guner NSW

Dr Ali Hadigheh NSW

Dr David Harrison

NSW

Dr Alan Hellier NSW

Mr Simon Krismer NSW

Prof Jamie Kruzic NSW

Prof Huijun Li NSW

Dr Yanan Li

A/Prof Xiaopeng Li

NSW

Prof Xiaozhou Liao NSW

Dr Hong Lu NSW

Dr Tim Lucey NSW

Mr Rodney Mackay-Sim NSW

Dr Warren McKenzie NSW

Mr Edgar Mendez

NSW

Dr Ranming Niu NSW

Dr Anna Paradowska NSW

Prof Elena Pereloma NSW

A/Prof Sophie Primig

Dr Gwenaelle Proust

Miss Zhijun Qiu

Dr Blake Regan

Mr Ehsan Rahafrouz

Dr Mark Reid

Prof Simon Ringer

Dr Richard Roest

Dr Bernd Schulz

Dr Luming Shen

Mr Sasanka Sinha

Mr Robert Small

Mr Frank Soto

Mr Michael Stefulj

Mr Carl Strautins

Mr Alan Todhunter

Ms Judy Turnbull

Mr Jeremy Unsworth

Dr Philip Walls

Dr Alan Whittle

Dr Richard Wuhrer

Dr Vladislav Yakubov

Mr Deniz Yalniz

Prof Richard Yang

Mr Andre Van Zyl

NSW

Dr Michael Bermingham QLD

Mr Michael Chan QLD

Prof Richard Clegg QLD

Mr Oscar Duyvestyn QLD

Mr John Edgley QLD

Dr Jayantha Epaarachchi QLD

Dr Jeff Gates QLD

Mr Payam Ghafoori QLD

Mr Mo Golbahar QLD

Mr David Haynes QLD

Mr Nikolas Hildebrand QLD

A/Prof Mainul Islam QLD

Dr Janitha Jeewantha QLD

Dr Damon Kent QLD

Mr Jeezreel Malacad QLD

Mr Michael Mansfield QLD

Mr Sadiq Nawaz QLD

Mr Bhavin Panchal QLD

Mr Bob Samuels QLD

Mr Ashley Bell SA

Ms Ingrid Brundin SA

Mr Neville Cornish SA

Prof Colin Hall SA

Mr Brendan Dunstall SA

Mr Mikael Johansson SA

Mr Rahim Kurji SA

Mr Andrew Sales SA

Dr Thomas Schläfer SA

Dr Christiane Schulz SA

Prof Nikki Stanford SA

Prof Youhong Tang SA

Mr Kok Toong Leong SINGAPORE

Prof Klaus-Dieter Liss USA

Dr Muhammad Awais Javed VIC

Mr Michael Bourchier VIC

Dr Christian Brandl VIC

Dr John Cookson VIC

Dr Minh Nhat Dang VIC

Miss Ana Celine Del Rosario VIC

Dr Yvonne Durandet VIC

Dr Mark Easton VIC

Dr Reza Emdad VIC

Dr Peter Ford VIC

Mr Bruce Ham VIC

Dr Shervin Eslami Harandi VIC

Dr Shu Huang VIC

Mr Long Huynh VIC

Dr Jithin Joseph VIC

Mr. Akesh Babu Kakarla VIC

Mr Russell Kennedy VIC

Dr Poom Kettalard VIC

Mr Daniel Lim VIC

Dr Amita Iyer VIC

Mr Robert Le Hunt VIC

Dr Thomas Ludwig VIC

Dr Roger Lumley VIC

Dr Gary Martin VIC

Dr Srikanth Mateti VIC

Dr Siao Ming (Andrew) Ang VIC

Mr Glen Morrissey VIC

Dr Khurram Munir VIC

Prof Jian-Feng Nie VIC

Dr Mostafa Nikzad VIC

Dr Chrysoula Pandelidi VIC

Dr Eustathios Petinakis VIC

Mr Vishnu Vijayan Pillai VIC

Dr Leon Prentice VIC

Prof Muhammad Mehran Qadir VIC

Dr Dong Qiu VIC

Mr John Rea VIC

Miss Reyhaneh Sahraeian VIC

Dr Christine Scala VIC

Mr Khan Sharp VIC

Mr Mark Stephens VIC

Dr Graham Sussex VIC

Mr Pranay Wadyalkar VIC

Dr Wei Xu VIC

Dr Ramdayal Yadav VIC

Dr Matthew Young VIC

Mr Angelo Zaccari VIC

Dr Yuman Zhu VIC

Mr Mohsen Sabbagh Alvani WA

Dr Murugesan Annasamy WA

Mr Graeme Brown WA

Mr John Carroll WA

Mr Sridharan Chandran WA

Mr Conrad Classen WA

Mr Chris Cobain WA

Mr Stuart Folkard WA

Mr Toby Garrod WA

Prof Vladimir Golovanevskiy WA

Mr Mark Hamilton WA

Mr Paul Howard WA

Dr Paul Huggett WA

Mr Ivo Kalcic WA

Mr Srikanth Kambhampati WA

Mr Ehsan Karaji WA

Mr Ka-Seng Leung WA

Mr Mathieu Lancien WA

Dr Evelyn Ng WA

Mr Deny Nugraha WA

Mrs Mary Louise Petrick WA

Mr Johann Petrick WA

Mr Biju Kurian Pottayil WA

Prof Andrew Ruys WA

Dr Mobin Salasi WA

Mr Daniel Swanepoel WA

Dr Kishore Venkatesan WA

Why You Should Become a Certified Materials Professional

Source: Materials Australia

Accreditation as a Certified Materials Professional (CMatP) gives you recognition, not only amongst your peers, but within the materials engineering industry at large. You will be recognised as a materials scientist who maintains professional integrity, keeps up to date with developments in technology, and strives for continued personal development.

The CMatP, like a Certified Practicing Accountant or CPA, is promoted globally as the recognised standard for professionals working in the field of materials science.

There are now well over one hundred CMatPs who lead activities within Materials Australia. These activities include heading special interest group networks, representation on Standards Australia Committees, and representing Materials Australia at international conferences and society meetings.

Benefits of Becoming a CMatP

• A Certificate of Membership, often presented by the State Chapter, together with a unique Materials Australia badge.

• Access to exclusive CMatP resources and website content.

• The opportunity to attend CMatP only networking meetings.

• Promotion through Materials Australia magazine, website, social media and other public channels.

• A Certified Materials Professional can use the post nominal CMatP.

• Materials Australia will actively promote the CMatP status to the community and employers and internationally, through our partner organisations.

• A CMatP may be requested to represent Materials Australia throughout Australia and overseas, with Government, media and other important activities.

• A CMatP may be offered an opportunity as a mentor for student members.

• Networking directly with other CMatPs who have recognised levels of qualifications and experience.

• The opportunity to assume leadership roles in Special Interest Networks, to assist in the facilitation of new knowledge amongst peers and members.

What is a Certified Materials Professional?

A Certified Materials Professional is a person to whom Materials Australia has issued a certificate declaring they have attained all required professional standards. They are recognised as demonstrating excellence, and

possessing special knowledge in the practice of materials science and engineering, through their profession or workplace. A CMatP is prepared to share their knowledge and skills in the interest of others, and promote excellence and innovation in all their professional endeavours.

The Criteria

The criteria for recognition as a CMatP are structured around the applicant demonstrating substantial and sustained practice in a field of materials science and engineering. The criteria are measured by qualifications, years of employment and relevant experience, as evidenced by the applicant’s CV or submitted documentation.

Certification will be retained as long as there is evidence of continuing professional development and adherence to the Code of Ethics and Professional behaviour.

Further Information

Contact Materials Australia today: on +61 3 9326 7266 or imea@materialsaustralia.com.au or visit our website: www.materialsaustralia.com.au

CMatP Profile: Mark Hamilton

With over 23 years of expertise, Mark Hamilton is a seasoned Project Quality Assurance Engineer/Inspector and Manager specializing in onshore and offshore infrastructure and resource projects. His portfolio includes major LNG ventures such as Gorgon, Wheatstone, and Ichthys, working with global leaders like Rio Tinto, CPB, John Holland, woodside and Chevron, he has also spent significant amounts of time in a variety of Infrastructure and tunnelling projects, including Melbourne metro tunnel, LXRP and the Westgate project. Mark excels in commissioning, completions, and optimizing Quality and Project Management Systems, integrating sustainability and ESG principles. Passionate about innovation and R&D-driven product enhancements which aim to delivering sustainable construction Outcomes for the End user. A strategic thinker with highlevel commercial acumen, Mark is committed to reshaping Australia's construction sector through lean methodologies, critical thought leadership, and cutting-edge technological and material adoption. He has also published works within a variety of construction fields.

Where do you work and describe your job?

Recently I was involved with Rio Tinto’s Sustaining Capital Team, where my

work spanned across the Greater Tom Price, Marandoo, and Western Turner Region. Initially, I joined as a Quality Assurance Engineer, primarily focusing on the QC component of QAQC within project delivery. My career trajectory has been shaped by years of experience as a Welding and Coatings Inspector, as well as roles in consulting and business development.

Over time, my role evolved significantly with a primary focus moving to QA aspect of systems and product. I began integrating sustainable solutions into our processes, focusing on systems innovation and product advancements. Sustainability has become the core pillar of my work, ensuring that projects align with operational excellence principles, particularly through Kaizen methodologies and digital transformation.

Currently, I am spearheading several projects that have the potential to optimize the green energy landscape, not just within Australia but on a global scale. The pursuit of sustainable innovation in engineering is an ongoing journey—one that I am eager to see unfold.

What inspired you to choose a career in materials science and engineering?

In Middle school my focus was to become a Marine Biologist as I loved the Water and Environment and had

the most amazing teacher Jim Blakslee (Shoutout Jim). I pursued many different options post schooling including the armed forces, although eventually decided on a career in Engineering and welding. I Have always been drawn towards materials makeup and the quality systems and processes that are required to deliver a product that is both versatile and design compliant, without compromising the pragmatic needs of the end user.

Who or what has influenced you most professionally

My philosophy for the past 20 + years of my career has been if you are the smartest person in the room, you are potentially in the wrong room. Something which I still actively pursue. this has aided my knowledge and skillset immensely. It’s so vitally important to have a mentor or coach. I started my career in the agriculture sector and slowly progressed, welding initially then Material inspection and testing. In many ways I have been extremely fortunate to of worked with the skills of yesteryear and have been able to bring portions of that knowledge into the current digital age.

I remember the first engineering draftsman I worked with—he drafted designs by hand. It was for an engineering company of about 120 people. His name was Brian White from Danum Engineering. We worked on

Inpex Offshore Gas platform. Hookup and commissioning Scope 2016-2018 Mcdermott construction barge in the background

various defence contracts, including those with the former Tenix Defence, and served as the principal contractor for Shell for several years. It was a fantastic place to work. The opportunity to learn from experts whose skillsets have all but gone from construction (excluding Special class welding). Is something I will always remember. These were the craftsmen of a bygone era—blacksmiths, machinists, fitters, welders, and those who built steam engines by hand—masters of their trade whose knowledge and craftsmanship had to be seen.

I’ve had the privilege of working with outstanding managers and engineering teams across a range of disciplines, from infrastructure, oil and gas, and mining to academia. More recently, I’ve been involved in exploring alternative materials for waterway management and estuary habitats—an initiative that is shaping Australia’s coastal and waterway management plan.

The coatings industry is also seeing incredible advancements, with EonCoat emerging as a game-changer. Its unique self-healing Vivianite layer, combined with a ceramic shield, makes it the sustainable choice for cost efficiency and environmental safety. I’m also currently working with some outstanding Sustainability led development projects. It’s too early to discuss in Granular detail although once they evolve, will be great to share amongst the community.

I was especially fortunate to have a Quality Manager on the West Gate Tunnel project who expanded my knowledge in ways I never imagined, introducing me to new perspectives and management approaches.

May he rest in peace.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with the people I have and becoming a part of the Materials Australia community seems a fantastic way to contribute the knowledge and attitudes they shared with me.

Which has been the most challenging job/ project you’ve worked on to date and why?

That’s a great question. It’s difficult to single out just one project as the most challenging, as each comes with its own complexities and opportunities. The Melbourne infrastructure

Above: Post Metrology spooling for Woodside GWF 2. King bay Karratha

Below: Stick built Ship loader for Utah Point common user facility 2009 Australian marine complex fabrication and erection the commissioned at Utah Point in Port Hedland.

projects—including the Metro Tunnel, LXRP, and West Gate Tunnel—stand out as some of the most demanding I’ve worked on. These large-scale initiatives involved multiple vested interests, competing priorities, making navigation particularly challenging. At the same time, they offered unparalleled opportunities. That project had some advanced civil additives and accelerants which Fred Andrewsphaedonos was instrumental in developing many decades ago. Helping teams understand welding processes and material requirements also allowed us to share knowledge of the craft in meaningful ways.

Beyond infrastructure, I found my time with Civmec and BAE Systems equally demanding. Working with Clough on offshore hookup and commissioning projects for Chevron and Inpex was another major challenge. Being handed a set of process and instrumentation drawings for an offshore platform and asked, ‘Tell us what’s missing,’ was an intense but rewarding experience.

More recently, I’ve observed a growing trend toward over-engineering, which I find concerning. While precision and safety are crucial, this approach is driving construction costs to unsustainable levels. Thoughtful design is essential—there’s no one-size-fitsall solution. Our building industry is a prime example of this issue, further compounded by rising material costs.

What does being a CMatP mean to you?

It’s an honour, love this community!! We are on the cusp of amazing technological developments from coatings and steelmaking to 3D printing and development environmentally friendlier products and circular economies of scale! The development and manufacturing of them locally is a big focus of mine. There is some outstanding development occurring right here in Perth, alongside our mind-boggling talent. Support from Academia Australia wide including UWA, ECU, Curtin, AOU, UON and Melbourne University and no doubt many more is helping develop the materials space at a rapid rate.

Also, internally from all the major organisations. Neo Smelt is a great example of this. As are the scholarships from the Curtain corrosion centre.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

My job has been very intense at many stages throughout my career, be open to what the universe has in store for you. Once you have climbed one mountain, you are at the bottom of the next. Overall trust your intuition and do what makes you happy.

What are you optimistic about?

That we will provide and deliver on generational leadership, unlocking downstream resource value to create wealth and ownership for our communities. By adopting community ownership models and leveraging generational wealth, we can drive research and develop cuttingedge manufacturing facilities. This progress will rely on support from local and international partners. As we embrace the digital age, I believe our advancements will accelerate rapidly. A company I’m involved with has developed systems and processes to facilitate and guide this type of work. Lets see.

What have been your greatest professional and personal achievements?

Having the conviction to pursue what I love. I have been involved in many world firsts regarding construction achievements from Oil and Gas heavy

lifts to deepest deployment on ocean floors, the largest tunnelling systems in the southern hemisphere and some unique additive manufacturing approaches.

Being able to tie my initial career options into the sustainable construction and Environmental approaches provides a great sense of achievement. Without doubt the support I have received from my family and amazing support network, none of

this would have occurred. Experience is life’s greatest teacher.

What are the top three things on your “bucket list”?

1. To see a Hydro power project In Westen Australia’s Pilbara, encompassing a true circular economy approach. Supporting the business that are already there. And developing some new ones to support our future. I believe we need to place far greater emphasis on materials and R & D across all facets of our community Including agriculture.

2. Material sustainability and assurance processes should remain a key consideration in investment decisions shaping our economic future. This extends to job creation and manufacturing for Australian prosperity. With advancements in robotics and automation set to transform sustainability, there is a valuable opportunity to explore and embrace.

3. To be remembered as a good father to my children, amazing husband and to be driver for Sustainable construction processes and Materials manufacturing.

Westgate Tunnel Project Outbound Southern Portal Post Road and smoke deck install 2022.

Lizzi Dunbar and my friend, Mentor and Quality and completions manager Anthony De Lorenzo.

Rio Tinto Western Turner trying not to swallow to much of the Pilbara's greatest export. Looking forward to the additive developments and alternate Manufactuing methods within this space.

Melbourne Metro tunnel project Franklin street shaft Installation of Yongnam Modular, struts waler and prestressed propping systems. Yongnam was a High strength and high yield structural steel to deal with the Massive Lateral loads occurring at 35 + meters in the middle of Melbourne's CBD.

H2Secure: Safe Material Characterization in Hydrogen Atmospheres

The new H2Secure concept from NETZSCH is an innovative solution for safely and precisely characterising materials in hydrogen-rich environments. Traditional thermal analysis systems are not fail-safe when using flammable gases like hydrogen above the LFL (low flammability limit). As hydrogen becomes central to sustainable energy and industrial processes, understanding how materials behave when exposed is vital.

H2Secure ensures utmost safety without compromising measurement precision. It's designed to facilitate complex oxidation-reduction cycles within a single measurement, providing deep insights into material behaviour. For example, in the direct reduction of iron ore (a key step in decarbonizing steel production), H2Secure facilitates safe experiments in up to 100% hydrogen. As shown in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) plot in Figure 1, increasing the concentration of hydrogen significantly reduces the reduction time compared with lower H2 concentrations. In the context of the blast furnace process, this finding underscores the potential advantages of utilising higher hydrogen concentrations to enhance the reduction efficiency of iron oxides. Traditional blast furnace operations primarily rely on carbon-based reductants, which lead to significant CO₂ emissions. By integrating hydrogen, especially at higher concentrations, the reduction process can be accelerated, potentially lowering energy

Safe Hydrogen Research

consumption and reducing carbon emissions.

Safety is paramount with H2Secure, featuring precise hydrogen regulation, continuous monitoring of H2 and O2 concentrations, and automatic inert gas purging. The central H2Secure box processes safety information and controls gas flows, with fail-safe mechanisms including automatic inert gas purging in case of power failure or vacuum leak. NETZSCH’s commitment to safety is underscored by H2Secure’s TÜV certification.

H2Secure is now available for the STA 509 Jupiter ®, STA 449 Jupiter ® and TMA 512 Hyperion® series. For more information, please visit http://netzs.ch/h2secure

Figure 1: Thermogravimetric Analysis of 30mg Iron Oxide at 1000ºC with different H2 concentrations (10, 50, 100vol%).

Unlocking the Power of Biosolids, Food Scraps and Garden Clippings For Batteries

It's no secret that food and garden waste make great compost, but now researchers at Deakin University, Barwon Water and RMIT are working together to explore how it can be used for agriculture and battery production.

The project will transform biosolids from wastewater treatment and household wastes into a biochar product for commercial use.

With many of Australia’s landfills nearing capacity, and organic waste being the second biggest contributor, there’s lots of ways that we can ‘waste not, want not’.

A recent study by Deakin University’s Faculty of Science, Engineering, Building and Environment (SEBE) is demonstrating benefits to soil health that could live on for hundreds of years and help to reduce greenhouse gases.

“This Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH) trailblazing project will build on Deakin’s international research exploring what the optimal formulations for biochar are for the Geelong region’s soil conditions to produce high-value cereal and legume crops,” said Deputy Dean, Deakin’s Faculty of SEBE, Professor Lambert Brau.

The REACH research project is an important step in Barwon Water’s plans to develop Regional Renewable Organics Network facilities at its Black Rock (Connewarre) and Colac Water Reclamation Plants to produce biochar, a carbon-rich charcoal-like material made from controlled heating of organic matter.

“The many superpowers of biochar can be demonstrated by monitoring increased nutrients and moisture available to boost plant growth and also the microorganisms that live in the soil surrounding plant roots,” said Professor of Environmental Engineering, Wendy Timms.

Using a combination of lab, greenhouse and farm trials at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus, different biochar formulations will be developed to support soil fertility and crop yields. Detailed assessments of the costs, benefits and potential impacts of its use in agriculture will also be explored.

“We’re accelerating our research to unlock high-value commercial applications for biochar, at our Black Rock water reclamation plant in Connewarre,” Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming said.

“Through our Regional Renewable Organics Network project, we’re supporting building a circular economy in the Geelong region, revolutionising waste management to turn organic waste into sustainable products like biochar, which enrich soils and capture carbon, benefiting local farmers and households,” he said.

The root of biochar’s superpowers doesn’t just end in the soil. Barwon Water’s REACH project will also explore how biochar could be introduced as a new sustainable source for Australia’s battery supply chain through Deakin’s

and Crops

(L to R): Deakin Associate Professor Nolene Byrne, Professor Wendy Timms, Research Fellow Aydin Enez and Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming.

Institute for Frontier Materials.

“We’re exploring if biochar can be used as the anode active material within sodium-ion batteries,” Associate Professor Nolene Byrne said.

“If we are successful, sodium-ion batteries could become a safer, cheaper alternative for the lithium-ion batteries we use to store solar energy in our grid storage and home batteries,” she said.

“Biochar is looking promising as a next generation battery material, and through this project we’ll continue to explore what biochar composition will enhance battery performance.”

Barwon Water’s Regional Renewable Organics Network project aims to process approximately 60,000 tonnes of biosolids from Barwon Water’s Water Reclamation Plants, 40,000 tonnes of organic food and garden waste, 14,000 tonnes of municipal green waste and commercial and industrial organic waste annually.

Professor Kalpit Shah from RMIT University, said: “We are delighted to be working with Barwon Water and Deakin to transform biosolid waste into biochar suitable for use in the energy and agriculture sectors and contribute to the development of Australia’s circular economy.”

Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming said it is exciting to have leading thinkers from the water industry, Deakin and RMIT working together to explore how waste can be used to make our communities more sustainable.

“We’re delighted that through this collaboration we’ll be leading the charge to establish Victoria as a hub for the development of sustainable technologies, underscoring the vital role that the water sector can play in recycling resources for the circular and new energy economy.”

Backed by a $50 million grant from the Australian Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, with industry and university support, REACH is facilitating the development of greener supply chains and the move to a circular economy.

FACE Consulting: Engineering Clarity. Preventing Failure. Delivering Value.

FACE Consulting is a specialist asset integrity and materials engineering consultancy, purpose-built to address the emerging needs of assetintensive industries. Headquartered in Queensland, FACE works closely with clients to solve complex problems, enhance understanding, and eliminate risk, with a focus on flexibility, efficiency, and timely results.

FACE Consulting is a specialist in asset integrity and materials engineering consultancy, built to meet the evolving needs of assetintensive industries. Headquartered

We also provide Residual Life Assessments for critical components such as boiler tubes and high-energy piping, using techniques like Field Metallographic Replication (FMR) to assess material degradation onsite. The result? Better maintenance planning, reduced downtime, and longer equipment life.

Our Reverse Engineering services deliver deep insights into performance, materials, and design intent, while our Expert Witness services offer clear, impartial, evidence-based opinions that can help resolve disputes before costly

Eliminating Guesswork from Predicting Powder Flowability

Source: ATA Scientific

Powder flowability is a critical parameter in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceutics, food, mining and additive manufacturing. Yet, predicting powder flowability remains a challenge as it is not governed by a single property but a result of multiple interacting factors, including particle size and shape, density, moisture content, electrostatics, and surface chemistry [1].

Why Powder Flowability Matters

From consistent dosing of APIs in pharmaceutical tablets to even spreading of powders in 3D printing, predictable powder flow is crucial. Poor flowability causes processing inefficiencies, blockages, segregation or poor compaction. Flow behaviour heavily influences production scalability: processes optimised for small-scale R&D may only seamlessly transition to large-scale manufacturing by addressing flow variability. Traditionally, industries rely on measuring static bulk properties such as angle of repose and Hausner ratio, which is insufficient to predict flow under dynamic conditions. In addition, these manual measurements are dependent on operator handling and present challenges particularly with cohesive powders due to factors such as irregular surfaces and sample presentation inconsistencies. [2].

In contrast, the FT4 powder rheometer directly measures powder flowability in accordance with ASTM standard D7891. With the ability to also measure powder compressibility, permeability and density of powders, the FT4 enables you to accurately predict how a powder will behave in real processing environments. Most importantly, the measured results can be fed to the accompanying hopper designer software to accurately predict optimal hopper profile and dimensions, thus rending the FT4 a complete tool for troubleshooting powder flow issues.

Case Study: Sticky Gypsum powder

To help demystify the complexity of factors that influence the flowability of powders, ATA Scientific together with their partners MalvernPanalytical recently held a series of workshops across Australia, bringing together researchers, engineers, and quality managers to explore how cutting-edge instrumentation can be used to characterise and control powder flow. Participants had the opportunity to perform measurements first-hand on Morphologi 4, Mastersizer 3000+, and FT4.

One of the attendees tested three gypsum samples with the hope of understanding observed differences in flow behaviour between different batches of product. Measurements on the Mastersizer 3000+ Ultra showed minimal differences between the particle size distribution of the three samples.

Stucco sample A (blue) was a reference sample with known behaviour. Stucco samples B and C were processed in a different mill under varying conditions and were observed to have different flow properties. Despite similar PSD’s Sample B (green) was observed to adhere to the hopper post-processing. Stucco sample C (red) had less problems with adhering to processing equipment, but still displayed different behaviour to the reference sample (A)

The powders were then tested on the Morphologi 4 to obtain quantitative data in terms of 15 different morphological parameters.

Figure 1: Mastersizer 3000+ Ultra showed the particle size distribution of 3 Stucco samples was very similar.

2: Malvern Morphologi 4 adds a vital layer of understanding through automated, high-resolution image analysis of particle shape and size. Stucco A sample imaged.

Comparison of the various morphological aspects like particle circularity, elongation, and roughness showed no significant differences between the three powders (below). However it was noted that Stucco C was closer to Stucco A than Stucco B based on size and shape parameters.

The true differences in flow behaviour between the three samples were revealed after measurements were performed on the FT4 powder rheometer.

Figure 3: Morphological parameters on the left measured are very similar for the 3 stucco samples. Software identified the width as the most differentiating factor but the frequency plot overlay on the right shows little difference.

Figure 4: Shear stress data from Micromeritics FT4 Powder Rheometer

Figure

Results from shear stress test in Figure 4 showed that Stucco A exhibited significantly less shear stress to yield in response to increasing compressive stress. This indicates samples B and C have a higher internal friction (ie. are more cohesive) than sample A under load.

Results from Compressibility testing in Figure 5 show that samples B and C have higher compressibility, meaning that Sample A has a higher bulk density. This is also reflected in results from Permeability testing in Figure 6. Sample A has a higher pressure drop (lower permeability) when passing air through the powder bed with increasing normal loads than B and C.

Aeration test data in Figure 7 shows that sample A is easier to fluidise and transport pneumatically. Sample B will be the most difficult to fluidise and transport pneumatically and Sample C is in the middle.

Conclusion: A Toolkit for Optimising Powder behaviour

Flowability cannot be understood in isolation. By combining particle size (Mastersizer 3000+), shape and morphology (Morphologi 4), and functional performance testing (FT4 Powder Rheometer), researchers and manufacturers can diagnose problems and predict outcomes.

As materials become more complex and processing demands increase, tools that provide deep, reliable insights into powder behaviour will be essential. ATA Scientific’s commitment to providing access to the most advanced analytical technologies and ongoing support offers a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, training, and collaborative problem-solving.

These technologies are available for demonstrationLimited time only - To book contact ATA Scientific or visit www.atascientific.com.au.

ATA Scientific Pty Ltd

Ph: +61 2 9541 3500

enquiries@atascientific.com.au www.atascientific.com.au

Reference:

1. Malvern Panalytical. Correlating powder flow properties to improve process understanding. [online] Available at: https:// www.malvernpanalytical.com/en/learn/knowledge-center/articles/ ar120601correlatingpowderflowproperties [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025].

2. Malvern Panalytical. FT4 Powder Rheometer – Freeman Technology. [online] Available at: https://www.malvernpanalytical.com/en/products/ product-range/freeman-ft4 [Accessed 18 Jul. 2025].

Figure 5: Compressibility data from Micromeritics FT4 Powder Rheometer

Figure 7: Aeration data from Micromeritics FT4 Powder Rheometer

Figure 6: Permeability data from Micromeritics FT4 Powder Rheometer

LATEST TECHNOLOGIES FOR

Particle/Powder Flow Properties and Powder Behaviour

Easy, fast powder flow and rheology characterisation with automated analysis to ensure precise powder performance, consistency and quality in 3D -printed components. FT4 is a universal powder flow tester offering four categories of methodologies: Bulk, Dynamic Flow, Shear (in accordance with ASTM D7981) and Process.

Particle Size, Shape and Chemical Analysis

Fully automated imaging system measures particle size, particle shape and chemical identity, all in one platform. Size and sphericity of powders and contaminant identification with Raman Spectroscopy.

Particle Size and Particle Size Distribution Analysis

Market-leading particle size analyser (10nm to 3.5mm) for wet and dry samples. Built-in expertise (SOP Architect/Size Sure) informs critical decision making throughout R&D and manufacturing processes.

High Resolution Imaging & Elemental Mapping

Desktop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with fast, easy -to-use interface. Ideal for large samples up to 100mm x 100mm. Live element identification using integrated X-Ray (EDS) detector.

To enter, simply visit our website https://www.atascientific.com.au/awards-events-training/current-award/

PHENOM

FT4 POWDER RHEOMETER

PHENOM XL DESKTOP SEM

FT4 POWDER RHEOMETER

UNSW Engineers Help Crack Key Challenge in Scaling Quantum Computers

Source: Sally Wood

Quantum computing engineers have brought the world a step closer to building practical, largescale quantum computers.

UNSW Sydney quantum engineers, in collaboration with University of Sydney scientists, have developed new technology that effectively reduces the size of the circuits required to run a silicon-based quantum computer.

The move paves the way for more quantum information to be packed into a smaller footprint.

The work is part of a partnership between two startups – UNSW spinout Diraq, and University of Sydney startup Emergence Quantum. The milestone is a crucial step towards integrating Diraq’s silicon ‘quantum dot’ technology with the mature processes of the semiconductor industry to achieve utility-scale quantum computers that can tackle problems with true societal and commercial value.

Quantum bits (or ‘qubits’) must be held at cryogenic temperatures, very close to absolute zero (–273.15 °C), to preserve their information. But they also need to be controlled and measured by complex electronics built from circuits found in laptops and smart phones known as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS).

Unlike qubits, these circuits are usually designed to work at room temperature, not at cryogenic temperatures. And if they are placed close to the qubits, they can heat them, degrading their performance. The control system can be separated from the qubits by long cables, but the millions of qubits required for practical quantum computing render this solution impossible.

Emergence Quantum has solved this challenge by designing ‘cryoCMOS’ technology that functions at millikelvin temperatures, and together, Diraq and Emergence

have now shown that this cryoCMOS control circuitry does not compromise the performance of Diraq’s qubits.

Qubit Control

UNSW Engineering Professor Andrew Dzurak, also Diraq’s founder and CEO, said the advance offers Diraq a means of precise control without degrading qubit quality.

“It’s a key piece of the quantumcomputing puzzle, and one that will accelerate our progress towards a machine that can solve the kinds of problems that are unthinkable with today’s computers,” he said.

The research began as an academic endeavour between the University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney, in collaboration with Diraq. Publication of the paper in Nature comes shortly after the formation of Emergence Quantum, a new venture founded by Professor David Reilly and Dr Thomas Ohki at the University of Sydney, formerly part of Microsoft.

The partnership between Diraq and Emergence Quantum has been cemented by Diraq’s recruitment of Dr Samuel Bartee, Reilly’s former student.

“It’s extremely exciting to be part of this work, to be involved in the development of such powerful technologies, and to sit in this hotspot of quantum computing research — Sydney really is a remarkable place for a quantum engineer to be at the moment,” Dr Bartee said.

Diraq’s qubit technology is the ideal testbed for Emergence Quantum’s cryo-CMOS system. Last year, Diraq published a paper in Nature showing that its qubits can operate with high fidelity at 1 degree above absolute zero. This deviation from zero might seem small, but it has a remarkable impact on the possibilities for control, because it relaxes the tight heating constraints imposed on other qubit materials.

With these ‘hot qubits’ in hand, and Emergence Quantum’s cryo-CMOS control solution to minimize additional heating, Diraq is positioning itself to scale up to the millions of qubits required for practical quantum computing.

Prof. Reilly said the Emergence Quantum team wanted to catalyse the scaling of quantum technologies.

“Our team has long realized the need to more tightly integrate qubits with control systems, and now with Emergence Quantum, we are positioned to deliver real hardware solutions to researchers and companies across the quantum landscape,” he said.

The fact that Diraq’s technology is inherently compatible with the CMOS industry makes it easier to integrate innovations like Emergence Quantum’s circuitry. It also minimizes the investment required to realise quantum computing’s extraordinary potential by leveraging the decades of research and trillions of dollars already spent on CMOS R&D.

The ultimate goal is a computer like no other — one capable of accelerating progress in crucial areas such as drug discovery to enhance global health, and the design of innovative materials that can combat climate change.

(L to R): Emergence Quantum's Dr Thomas Ohki, Professor David Reilly with Diraq's Dr Samuel Bartee and Professor Andrew Dzurak. Image credit: University of NSW.

Quantum Battery Device Lasts Much Longer Than Previous Demonstrations

Source: Sally Wood

Researchers from RMIT University and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have unveiled a method to significantly extend the lifetime of quantum batteries – 1,000 times longer than previous demonstrations.

A quantum battery is a theoretical concept that emerged from research in quantum science and technology. Unlike traditional batteries, which rely on chemical reactions, quantum batteries use quantum superposition and interactions between electrons and light to achieve faster charging times and potentially enhanced storage capacity.

In a new study, researchers have successfully tested a new way to extend the life of a quantum battery.

Study co-author and RMIT PhD candidate Daniel Tibben said they were inching closer to a working quantum battery.

“While we’ve addressed a tiny ingredient of the overall piece, our device is already much better at storing energy than its predecessor,” he said.

Developing quantum batteries in the lab remains challenging.

Previous devices demonstrated impressive charging speeds but struggled with rapid discharge rates, losing stored energy almost as quickly as they charged.

For this study published in PRX Energy, the team built and studied five devices, which worked best when two specific energy levels aligned perfectly, allowing energy to be stored more efficiently.

The best performing device was able to store energy for 1,000 times longer than the previous demonstration, improving the energy storage from nanoseconds to microseconds.

The team says while this might not sound like a long time, the breakthrough proves the concept

and builds a strong foundation for future research.

Study co-author and RMIT chemical physicist Professor Daniel Gómez said their study marks a significant advancement for quantum batteries and paves the way for improved designs.

“While a working quantum battery could still be some time away, this experimental study has allowed us to design the next iteration of devices,” Gómez said.

“It’s hoped one day quantum batteries could be used to improve the efficiency of solar cells and power small electronic devices.”

CSIRO’s Science Leader Dr James Quach, who led the previous experiment, also co-authored this paper.

“Australia is leading the way in experimental quantum battery research and this work is a significant advancement,” Quach said.

Gomez and his team at RMIT have engaged industry partners to

collaborate on designing the next iteration of prototypes.

The team conducted the research in RMIT’s world-class Micro Nano Research Facility, a hub uniting diverse, high quality micro and nano technology research across multiple disciplines.

Funding was provided by the Australian Research Council, the European Union and an RMIT University Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellowship.

The team created an experimental device to test their method. Image credit: RMIT.

Study co-author Daniel Tibben, RMIT University. Image credit: RMIT.

TESCAN Launch New High-Throughput UHR-SEM

By Dr. Cameron Chai and Dr. Kamran Khajehpour

TESCAN have recently launched the MIRA XR, their latest ultrahigh-resolution SEM-EDS solution designed for fast, precise materials analysis across industry and research. The MIRA XR bridges the gap between conventional FEG SEMs and UHR systems.

Key features of the new MIRA XR include:

• BrightBeam™ source for subnanometer imaging at low keV

• Dual Essence™ EDS for up to 50% faster elemental analysis

• Wide Field Optics™ for 40% faster navigation

• In-Flight™ Automation for simplified operation at all user levels

• MultiVac™ mode for beam-sensitive samples

This combination of features ensures you can generate ultra-highresolution SEM data at least 30%

faster than conventional systems. This includes real-time elemental mapping with no shadowing artifacts thanks to the Dual Essence EDS system.

Furthermore, high levels of automation eliminate the need for tedious manual operations and optimise time to data. Meanwhile MultiVac allows you to achieve highvacuum-like imaging, even at low accelerating voltages on charging, outgassing and beam sensitive materials, making it a genuine allrounder suited to multi-user facilities dealing with far-reaching sample types.

To demonstrate the ability of the TESCAN MIRA XR, mesoporous silica (MS) SBA 15 particles were imaged. Due to its due to its large and modifiable surface area and controllable pore size. SBA 15 is commonly used in catalysis with other potential applications including

Drug research, CO2 capture, etc.

Samples were imaged as-produced with no sample preparation or conductive coating. Owing to SBA 15’s non-conductivity and beam sensitively, the accelerating voltage was limited to 800 eV and beam current to only 10 pA, while fast scans (<1 min) were used to avoid charging.

The system successfully generated high-resolution images at low beam energies and currents using BrightBeam technology and a powerful in-column detection system without inducing any artefacts such as beam damage or charging.

The necessary high-resolution performance at such low beam energies and currents was achieved using the BrightBeam technology and a powerful in-column detection system.

For more details, please visit https://www2.axt.com.au/miraxr

Delong Instruments Benchtop and Compact Low Voltage TEMs Now Available through AXT

By Dr. Cameron Chai and Dr. Kamran Khajehpour

AXT are pleased to be able to offer Delong Instruments range of benchtop and compact Low Voltage Electron Microscopes (LVEM). These devices are first and foremost Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM) operating at lower energies, well suited for imaging a wide array of sample types, with particular advantages for the imaging of organic materials. These highly accessible and easy-to-use devices make transmission electron microscopy a reality for any lab, even for operators with limited experience. Delong Instruments was founded in 1992, but their history can be traced back to 1955. They are based in Brno, Czech Republic, the epicentre of electron microscopy development. In a market that has several players, Delong Instrument’s low voltage design remains unique. This aspect allows a simplified architecture, based on a permanent magnet lens systems which requires no cooling, resulting in smaller overall size, reduced running costs, less maintenance as well as lower purchase prices. Delong Instruments is also proud to offer the world’s only benchtop TEM.

The LVEM’s low-kV design offers imaging performance that is comparable or superior to other much larger high-kV (e.g. 120kV) systems for many applications. It uniquely provides high contrast imaging for low Z materials and is ideal for imaging cells and other organic materials.

The LVEM systems provide the option to incorporate alongside the TEM mode Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Diffraction (ED), as well as Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) making for a highly versatile, yet compact device.

Richard Trett, Managing Director at AXT commented, “TEMs are a vital research tool, and while there are well established players in the market, Delong offer a unique proposition with their compact design that is simple

to install, maintain and operate which provides opportunities for decentralised installations.”

Jared Lapkovsky from Delong Instruments replied, “We pride ourselves in our ability to make TEMs more practical and accessible. We have

installations all around the world and we look forward breaking into Australia soon with our friends at AXT.”

For more information, or to discuss how a Delong Instruments LVEM can benefit your research, please visit www.axt.com.au/delong

Figure 2. Delong Instruments LVEM5 benchtop low-kV TEM.

Figure 1. Delong Instruments LVEM25E compact low-kV TEM.

Orientation Mapping: Unlocking Crystallographic Insights via 4D STEM

Source: By Arnab Chakraborty, Sales and Applications Specialist, Coherent Scientific

Orientation mapping is a cornerstone technique in materials characterisation, enabling precise determination of local crystallographic orientation across micro- and nanoscale structures.

While Electron Backscatter

Diffraction (EBSD) is widely used for orientation analysis in scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), modern transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has advanced this capability significantly with 4D STEM-based orientation mapping. Leveraging fast, pixelated detectors and advanced algorithms, this method offers unprecedented spatial resolution and phase sensitivity, particularly in beamsensitive or nanostructured materials.

What is Orientation Mapping in 4D STEM?

In 4D STEM orientation mapping, a focused electron probe is rastered across the sample while a diffraction pattern is collected at each point,

creating a 4D dataset: two spatial dimensions (x, y) and two diffraction dimensions (kₓ, kᵧ). These patterns are then computationally compared against simulated patterns to extract crystallographic orientation with high fidelity.

Gatan’s orientation mapping capability, available through DigitalMicrograph software and STEMx, integrates seamlessly with Gatan cameras. In this application note, the ClearView camera was employed to collect the 4D STEM data which can acquire up to 1600 frames per second, the fastest of any scintillator-based camera. This makes it possible to perform real-time data acquisition and processing for dynamic materials systems.

Advantages of Orientation Mapping via 4D STEM

1. High Spatial Resolution

Unlike EBSD, which is typically limited by interaction volume in SEMs, 4D STEM orientation mapping can achieve spatial resolutions down to a

few nanometers. This is particularly advantageous when analysing ultrafine grains, nanoprecipitates, or interfaces in advanced materials.

2. Improved Sensitivity in BeamSensitive Materials

The use of direct detection and doseefficient cameras, such as Gatan’s K3 IS, Metro allows low-dose orientation mapping — essential for soft matter, biological materials, and lithiumcontaining battery compounds that are prone to beam damage.

3. Pattern Matching for Accurate Orientation Analysis

The collected diffraction patterns are compared against a simulated pattern matching algorithm. These methods are robust against noise and partial pattern degradation, delivering highly reliable orientation maps even in the presence of local strain or defects.

Materials and Methods

Nanocrystalline gold (Au) films were

Figure 1: Examples of Kikuchi diffraction pattern indexing (left) used in EBSD, and diffraction spot indexing (right) used in TEM diffraction and 4D STEM applications.

deposited onto a patterned silicon (Si) wafer and subsequently transferred onto a TEM grid [2]. To investigate the influence of thermal treatment on grain size distribution, one of the samples was annealed at 350 °C for 1 hour.

4D STEM data were collected from both the as-deposited and annealed samples using the ClearView camera at 200 kV, with a diffraction resolution of 256 × 256 pixels. The scan area for both datasets covered 256 × 256 pixels with a 5 nm step size. The data, saved in *.dm4 format, were analysed immediately after acquisition—without requiring format conversion or transfer to an external computer. Diffraction pattern indexing and orientation mapping were performed using STEMx OIM at a 1° angular resolution. Subsequently, STEMx OIM was used to generate similarity maps, which visualise the grain structure through

pixel contrast based on similarity to neighboring pixels.

Results

The new STEMx OIM package brings orientation mapping analysis to the STEMx integrated software tools. This is done by comparing the diffraction pattern at each pixel position to a set of simulated patterns for all phases and orientations in your specimen.

The orientation mapping revealed distinct {111} texture for both asdeposited and annealed samples. Several twinning interfaces are clearly resolved (blue and pink interfaces) as shown in Figure 2.

The similarity maps reveal an increase in average grain size with annealing as evident in Figure 3.

This fundamental characterization indicates relationships between grain size, grain boundary migration kinetics, and any radiational damage

mechanisms. Upon leveraging eaSI technology, OIM data can be combined with virtual DF imaging to enable dislocation characterisation.

Orientation data can even be exported to the EDAX OIM Analysis software for further processing.

Future Outlook

With ongoing developments in detector technology and GPUaccelerated computation, 4D STEM orientation mapping is poised to become a mainstream technique in TEM analysis. Gatan’s continuous integration of high-speed, highsensitivity cameras with advanced software tools opens new frontiers in in-situ and time-resolved crystallography.

Orientation mapping via 4D STEM is especially beneficial in characterising complex nanostructures such as:

• Semiconductor heterostructures – for strain and defect mapping across interfaces.

• Additively manufactured metals – to reveal grain orientation gradients and solidification textures.

• Thin films and coatings – to analyze orientation relationships with substrates and grain boundary character.

Conclusion

Orientation mapping via 4D STEM represents a transformative leap in materials characterisation. By combining high-resolution diffraction imaging with powerful analysis pipelines, researchers can gain deeper crystallographic insights at the nanoscale. Gatan’s ecosystem of hardware and software makes this capability accessible, efficient, and adaptable across diverse research domains — from semiconductors and structural materials to energy storage and biomaterials.

References

1. Gatan Application Note – Orientation Mapping: https://www.gatan.com/ orientation-mapping

2. Hosseinian & Pierron, Nanoscale, 2013,5, 12532- 12541 [2] Stangebye et al., Nano Lett., 2023, Apr 26;23(8):3282-3290

Figure 2: Orientation map generated with STEMx OIM showing {111} texture of annealed Au thin film.

Figure 3: As-deposited and annealed Au film similarity maps.

Researchers Unlock a New Era in Low-Energy Electronics with Remarkable Breakthrough

Source: Sally Wood

Discovery places University of Wollongong (UOW) at forefront of quantum materials, lays foundation for faster, cooler, more energy efficient computers and electronics. A research team from the UOW Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM) has addressed a 40-year-old quantum puzzle, unlocking a new pathway to creating next-generation electronic devices that operate without losing energy or wasting electricity.

Published in Advanced Materials, the study is the work of UOW researchers led by Distinguished Professor Xiaolin Wang and Dr M Nadeem, with PhD candidate Syeda Amina Shabbir and Dr Frank Fei Yun.

It introduces a new design concept to realise the elusive and highly soughtafter quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect.

The discovery places UOW at the forefront of quantum materials, a field that could cut global energy consumption and transform everyday life for people around the world.

Using a technique called entropy engineering, the team tailored the quantum behaviour of a oneatom-thick magnetic material by mixing four types of metal atoms. This random atomic arrangement reshaped the material’s electronic structure, opening a topological bandgap that allows electricity to flow perfectly along its edges, without interference or energy loss.

This is a kind of “superhighway” for electricity, and it’s a building block for future quantum computers and ultraefficient electronics.

The method the UOW team use—changing the “entropy” or randomness inside the material— gives scientists a new tool to design even better quantum materials in the future.

“This is a significant step toward practical quantum devices that are energy-efficient, scalable and

resilient,” said Professor Wang. “Our method opens a new avenue to design 2D quantum materials with robust topological properties.”

The breakthrough has broad potential applications, from phones and computers that don’t overheat, to quantum computers, faster medical imaging, and energy systems that retain power for weeks. It also advances a class of materials first conceptualised and pioneered by Professor Wang known as spingapless semiconductors.

Dr Nadeem, who led the theoretical modelling, said: “The entropydriven design not only reshaped the electronic bands, but also opened a stable gap that ensures edge-state conduction, which is essential for realworld quantum applications.”

Professor Wang emphasised the significance of the discovery from UOW’s world-leading researchers.

“This represents a significant theoretical advancement toward the development of emerging quantum devices that are energy-efficient, scalable, and resilient,” he said.

“We are expanding that legacy by creating a new class of quantum materials that open fresh horizons for

novel quantum physics and devices.”

The study reinforces ISEM’s standing as a globally leading research institute in quantum materials and condensed matter physics, with cutting-edge contributions spanning superconductivity, spintronics, and topological phases of matter.

“This breakthrough strengthens the University of Wollongong’s international reputation in condensed matter physics,” said Professor Wang. “It places UOW at the forefront of a field that lies at the heart of quantum technology innovation.”

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor GQ Max Lu congratulated the team, noting the impact of the work in a field central to global innovation.

“This is a landmark contribution in a complex area of science with farreaching implications. It reinforces UOW’s leadership in quantum materials and shows what’s possible when brilliant minds work with purpose and vision,” he said.

As the world marks the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics in 2025, UOW’s latest breakthrough signals an exciting future for quantum research and technology.

(L to R): UOW researchers Distinguished Professor Xiaolin Wang and Dr M Nadeem. Image credit: University of Wollongong.

AX

Heating and Electrical Characterisation System

Automatic sample stabilisation

TEM, camera, in situ metadata embedment

Offline data processing software included

Friction-free tilting for zone axis at high temperature

Ceramic heater for maximum uniformity

FIB-optimised E-chips and workflows

ANU at a Glance: A Legacy of Excellence in Research and Education

Source: Sally Wood

The Australian National University (ANU) is unlike any other university in Australia. Founded in 1946, in a spirit of post-war optimism, its role was to help realise Australia's potential as the world recovered from a global crisis. That vision, to support the development of national unity and identity, improve Australia’s understanding of itself and its neighbours, and provide the nation with research capacity amongst the best in the world, and education in areas vital for the future, has been ANU’s mission ever since.

ANU has grown into the nation’s top-ranked university, and one of its most research-intensive institutions—home to a distinguished array of Nobel laureates, cutting-edge facilities, and a reputation for small- class, high-impact teaching and discovery.

Nestled in Canberra, ANU’s founding structure included the Research School of Physics in 1947, directed by the visionary Sir Mark Oliphant. Later evolving into the Research School of Physics and Engineering, this school has fuelled decades of groundbreaking work, spanning from nuclear physics and materials science to nanotechnology and surface science. Today, ANU also comprises the School of Engineering within the College of Systems and Society, alongside Computing, Cybernetics, Mathematical Sciences, and environment-focused schools. The university consistently earns top ranks for graduate employability and staff-to -student engagement, ensuring students are nurtured by leading minds and prepared for global challenges.

Capabilities That Drive Innovation

Interdisciplinary Infrastructure and Programs

Materials research at ANU is embedded across its faculties— from Physics and Chemistry to Engineering—creating a uniquely collaborative academic environment.

The Research School of Physics conducts advanced work in ion-beam modification, semiconductor engineering, laser-written photonic devices, mechanochemistry, and ultrafast laser ablation, backed by powerful tools like a 1.7 MeV tandem accelerator and ultrahigh-resolution tomography.

The Department of Materials Physics marries fundamental and applied research, exploring areas like porous and disordered materials, surface science, ion-beam and plasma processing, diamond-anvil high-pressure studies, biosensors, and synchrotron- enabled techniques.

Through the Research School of Chemistry, ANU drives advancements in battery materials via its Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, with state - of-the -art instrumentation (AFM, X-ray diffraction, femtosecond laser spectroscopy, magneto - optical tools), and access to facilities

like the Centre for Advanced Microscopy, Ion Beam labs, and the National X-ray Micro CT Lab. Additionally, ANU serves as the ACT node for the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), providing national-scale fabrication capabilities.

ANU is home to national facilities and centres including the Gadi supercomputer at NCI, multi-scale 3D imaging and manufacturing training centres, and accelerators vital for both fundamental physics and materials engineering.

ANU Today and Tomorrow: Forging the Materials of the Future

ANU’s materials science and engineering ecosystem is purpose-built for transformative impact:

• Interdisciplinary breadth: Researchers address the toughest global challenges, from energy storage and clean technologies to biomedical materials and environmental resilience.

• State - of-the -art capabilities: Unmatched infrastructure and fabrication access ensure both fundamental discovery and technology translation.

• Distinguished scholarship: Leading academics drive innovation, from quantum materials to polymer chemistry and nanoinformatics.

• Educational excellence: With national #1 rankings in graduate employability and rich research-led programs, ANU prepares high-impact professionals.

As ANU continues shaping the next wave of materials innovation, it stands firmly at the intersection of rigorous research, dynamic education, and societal relevance, ready to meet the future with ingenuity, collaboration, and integrity.

Dr Karthika Prasad is Building Smarter Materials For Space

In a world facing complex challenges, engineers like ANU researcher Karthika Prasad play an important role in creating out-of-this-world solutions.

Dr Karthika Prasad’s fascination with nanotechnology began with a YouTube video.

“It was about two concept phones by Nokia: the Morph and the 888. These futuristic, flexible devices could change shape and stretch,” she recalls.

Though the phones never made it to market, Prasad remembers that watching the video felt like “stepping into a science fiction film”.

“What captivated me was learning that behind this ‘magic’ was real science,” she says.

That initial spark of wonder has since evolved into a career spanning smart materials, aerospace engineering, plasma technologies and sustainable engineering.

Today, Prasad – a senior research fellow at the ANU School of Engineering – develops advanced coatings to protect spacecraft from the harsh conditions of space.

“Space is far from empty; it presents a range of harsh challenges,” she says. “On the moon, ultra-fine electrostatically charged dust clings to everything. It causes abrasion and interferes with mechanical and electronic systems. My work uses smart nanomaterials to design coatings that can repel lunar dust, resist erosion and even self-heal.”

Prasad’s goal is to make spacecraft more durable, resilient and intelligent in unforgiving environments. This will help to extend the vehicles’ operational life and reduce mission risks – a crucial factor for long-term missions to the moon or Mars.

ANU Start-Up Offers Green Solutions for Extraction of V aluable Materials

A simple and cost-effective method developed by scientists at ANU could make the process of extracting valuable resources from brine deposits more environmentally friendly.

Brine mining is important for lithium extraction – a critical component for battery manufacturing – with a significant portion of global lithium production coming from continental brine deposits.

In 2024, ANU researchers developed the world’s first thermal desalination method, where water remains in the liquid phase throughout the entire process. They have now successfully applied this method to brine concentration.

The power-saving method is triggered not by electricity, but by moderate heat generated directly from sunlight, or waste heat from machines such as air conditioners or industrial processes.

Lead Chief Investigator, Associate Professor Juan Felipe Torres, a world-leading mechanical and environmental engineer who first proposed the concept of thermodiffusion desalination, said the new research shows the potential of thermodiffusion for concentrating brine with higher salinity.

“Existing technologies for desalination and brine concentration are well-established, but our thermodiffusion technology offers a promising alternative,” he said.

“Current desalination technologies – where salt is filtered through a membrane – require large amounts of electric power and expensive materials that need to be serviced and maintained. Our thermodiffusive method has been successfully used for water desalination, while reducing energy costs and corrosion issues.”

Dr Karthika Prasad. Image credit: Priyanka Prakash and ANU.

ANU Associate Professor Juan Felipe Torres (L) says conventional reverse osmosis desalination technology is a costly, energyintensive process. Image credit: Jamie Kidston and ANU.

BREAKING NEWS

Using lightning to make ammonia out of thin air

University of Sydney researchers have harnessed humanmade lightning to develop a more efficient method of generating ammonia – one of the world’s most important chemicals. Ammonia is also the main ingredient of fertilisers that account for almost half of all global food production.

The team have successfully developed a more straightforward method to produce ammonia (NH3) in gas form. Previous efforts by other laboratories produced ammonia in a solution (ammonium, NH4+), which requires more energy and processes to transform it into the final gas product.

The current method to generate ammonia, the Haber-Bosch process, comes at great climate cost, leaving a huge carbon footprint. It also needs to happen on a large scale and close to sources of cheap natural gas to make it cost-effective.

The chemical process that fed the world, and the Sydney team looking to revolutionise it

Naturally occurring ammonia (mostly in the form of bird droppings), was once so high in demand it fuelled wars.

The invention of the Haber-Bosch process in the 19th century made human-made ammonia possible and revolutionised modern agriculture and industry. Currently 90 percent of global ammonia production relies on the Haber-Bosch process.

“Industry’s appetite for ammonia is only growing. For the past decade, the global scientific community, including our lab, wants to uncover a more sustainable way to produce ammonia that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels.

“Currently, generating ammonia requires centralised production and long-distance transportation of the product. We need a low-cost, decentralised and scalable ‘green ammonia’,” said lead researcher Professor PJ Cullen from the University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Net Zero Institute. His team has been working on ‘green ammonia’ production for six years.

The membrane-based electrolyser, key to where the conversion to gaseous ammonia happens.

Image credit: PJ Cullen and University of Sydney.

Emerging University of WA Researcher Awarded National Funding

Researchers have received Federal Government funding to improve wellbeing in daily life, advance Australia’s position in time keeping, and explore traditional ecological practices and the creation of cultural landscapes.

Three mid-career researchers from the University of Western Australia have been awarded $3,393,116 in total from the Australian Research Council’s Future Fellowships scheme.

Dr Maxim Goryachev, from UWA’s School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, received funding for a project that aims to investigate and develop materials and techniques required for construction of a solid-state nuclear isomer transition clock together.

“Leveraging international collaborations, we will provide a foundation for both a practical device and fundamental knowledge of an engineered nuclear quantum system,” Dr Goryachev said.

“This project will advance Australia’s position in time keeping, the backbone of modern communication, commerce, defence systems, metrology and fundamental science providing nation resilience to interactions in access to stable time scales.”

Associate Professor Kristin Gainey, from the School of Psychological Science and director of the Emotional Wellbeing Lab, received funding to research experiences of wellbeing. Dr Emilie Dotte, from the School of Social Sciences, will used the funds to lead an archaeo-botany project that explores the deep history of relationships between people and trees through anthracology.

The Future Fellowships scheme supports mid-career researchers with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research, leadership, research training and mentoring to create research with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia.

Dr Maxim Goryachev is an established physicist at the University of Western Australia. Image credit: the University of Western Australia.

$12 Million Grant Backs Global Team to Create

First Synthetic Plant Chromosome

A world-first effort to build an artificial chromosome entirely from scratch in plants has received more than $12 million in funding from the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) through its Synthetic Plants program.

An international team of researchers, including Professor Ryan Lister and Dr James Lloyd from The University of Western Australia and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, will join collaborators from the University of Cambridge, biotech company Phytoform Labs and the Australian Genome Foundry at Macquarie University, to pioneer technologies to design, build and install synthetic chromosomes in plants.

The project will use the moss Physcomitrium patens – a unique, highly engineerable plant – as a development platform to build and test a bottom-up synthetic chromosome, before transferring it into potato plants.

Professor Lister said the synthetic chromosome would contain key genetic elements including synthetic centromeres and telomeres, and was designed to function as an independent, inheritable unit within the plant’s cells.

Biomaterials That Go Beyond

“This project is pushing the frontier of synthetic biology in plants,” Professor Lister said.

“For the first time, we’re not just editing DNA, we’re attempting to write entire chromosomes from the ground up.”

“If successful, it will unlock powerful new ways to give crops complex new traits such as improved resilience, productivity, or the ability to produce useful materials.”

From biocompatible metals and ceramics to biodegradable polymers, we provide the solution for smarter, safer implantable devices.

• Biomedical polymers

• PEGs with end-functionalities

• Bifunctional cross-linkers & agents

• Polymerisation tools for diverse applications

• Biodegradable materials for tissue engineering

Safer Houses and Better Health: UOW Researchers Partnering with Industry

Two trailblazing researchers from the University of Wollongong, Dr Alan Green and Associate Professor Shane Ellis, have been honoured for their innovative contributions to their respective fields, securing a combined $1.7 million in funding through the prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Early and Mid-Career Industry Fellowships.

These highly competitive fellowships are designed to foster strong partnerships between researchers and industry, driving solutions to real-world challenges that are at the forefront of the nation’s future.

Dr Green, in partnership with BlueScope Steel, will tackle a major challenge facing the construction industry: how to design buildings that are both climate-resilient and energy efficient.

Dr Green’s project will investigate how air moves within the layers of building materials, a factor that current calculation methods struggle to predict accurately. By providing new evidence and developing better design tools, the project aims to improve the way buildings are constructed, leading to safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly homes and workplaces across Australia.

Associate Professor Ellis, working with Bruker Pty Ltd, will develop cutting-edge technology for imaging tissues and cells at incredibly high resolution, without the need for chemical labels. This project will advance mass spectrometry imaging, enabling scientists to see where specific molecules are located within cells and tissues. The outcomes will strengthen Australia’s research capabilities in health and life sciences, support the development of new scientific instruments, and provide valuable industry training opportunities for the next generation of researchers.

Deakin REACH and Samsara Eco Unite to Transform Textile Recycling with WorldLeading Enzyme Technology

Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH) has joined forces with Samsara Eco to fast-track world-first technology that could recycle plastics and textiles, previously considered unrecyclable, that would take centuries to eliminate from the environment.

Textile waste is one of the world’s most persistent environmental issues, driven by fast fashion, high consumption and poor disposal practices. Samsara Eco’s AI-designed enzymes break down fossil-fuel derived materials like synthetic fibres, including nylon 6,6 and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), into their original building blocks or monomers, allowing them to be rebuilt into new products with virgin-quality performance.

The collaboration will see Samsara Eco lean into Deakin’s advanced chemical analysis and polymer processing expertise to better understand and find recycling solutions for specific additives like dyes, finishes and coatings present in textile waste.

“We are laser-focused on creating true circularity and that means finding a solve for all plastics,” said Founder and CEO at Samsara Eco Paul Riley. “This research supports our efforts to make this a reality. We’ve already come a long way with our enzymatic recycling technology, which can infinitely recycle PET and nylon 6,6 plastics used for clothing and other textiles, including mixed fibres and plastics. Our research collaboration with Deakin will support our efforts to recycle more waste at speed, scale and with precision.”

Unlike mechanical recycling, which degrades the quality of materials and limits recyclability, Samsara Eco’s enzymatic depolymerisation technology is making it possible to rebuild worn or contaminated textiles into virginequivalent materials.

(L to R): Associate Professor Shane Ellis and Dr Alan Green. Image credit: University of Wollongong.

(L to R): Deakin's Associate Professor Chris Hurren and Dylan Hegh with Samsara Eco's Nirupama Jayasinghe, Keats Nelms and Jeremy Nugent. Image credit: Deakin University.

From Waste to Energy: University of Queensland Uses Weeds as a Source of Biofuel

Several species of invasive weeds could become a source of renewable bioenergy, according to University of Queensland research. Researchers assessed the potential to convert 15 weed species found west of Brisbane into biomass pellets to be used as a solid biomass fuel.

Lead author Dr Bruno de Almeida Moreira from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation said two vines, Brazilian Nightshade and Climbing Asparagus, were found to be suitable.

“Historically, the international pellet market has focused on forest biomass,” Dr Moreira said. “But with regulations in Australia ruling wood pellets are not classified as renewable, we are trying to find alternative sources of biomass to produce pellets of the same quality.

“Wood has a lot of lignin, one of the most important components, and these weeds have a lignin content of about 25 per cent, which is competitive. The other key finding is we can make market-grade pellets, which means there are some weed-to-pellet conversion pathways that can provide market-grade biofuels we could sell.”

Th research was completed in collaboration with Ipswich startup, WorkEco, thanks to a seed grant from the Australian Government’s Strategic University Reform Fund (SURF).

Study co-author and AgriSustain lab leader Associate Professor Sudhir Yadav said the work aimed to reduce the environmental footprint and improve the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

“Agencies like the Australian Renewable Energy Agency have predicted bioenergy will supply 20 per cent of energy demand by 2050,” Dr Yadav said. “It’s an optimistic but achievable target and a lot of research is required to bridge that gap.”

Berries Just the Beginning for Bioplastic Breakthrough at the University of Queensland

University of Queensland researchers have developed a biodegradable plastic that promises to set a new sustainability standard for mass-produced food packaging such as fruit punnets.

Fermented from bacteria and strengthened with Australian wood fibres, the novel biocomposite was produced by PhD candidate Vincent Mathel and Dr Luigi Vandi at UQ’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering as a commercial alternative to petrol-based plastics.

Mr Mathel said the biocomposite has been successfully tested as a strawberry punnet that biodegrades completely in soil, fresh water, the ocean and in compost.

"This is a new material that carries all the sustainability benefits of a bio-sourced product while having the same properties as mass-produced plastic packaging and containers,” Mr Mathel said. “It was also important to us to make a biocomposite that maximises Australian resources to have the added, environmental benefit that it does not need to be imported from overseas.”

Mr Mathel and Dr Vandi spent three years perfecting their biocomposite within UQ’s Centre for Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing (AMPAM), backed by an assortment of industry collaborators and an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship.

The team created the material by blending bacteriaproduced biodegradable polyesters known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with wood fibres taken from Radiata Pine sawdust.

The team selected wood as the ‘biofiller’ to flesh out the plastic because it was abundant, low in cost and could enhance the end of life standard for biodegradable and compostable products.

Aquatic invasive weed. Image credit: University of Queensland.

Dr Vandi and Mr Mathel have successfully tested their biocomposite as a strawberry punnet that biodegrades completely in soil, fresh water, the ocean and in compost. Image credit: University of Queensland.

Recruitment drive to lift gender equity in engineering

One of the largest recruitment campaigns to support women in engineering is now underway at the University of Sydney, encouraging more academics into the field.

The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney has for the first time launched a recruitment drive to offer academic roles reserved for women, in a bid to address systemic gender inequities in the industry. The positions are open to international and Australian candidates.

The roles are in the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, School of Computer Science, and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where currently 12 to 17 percent of continuing academic staff are female.

According to a 2024 Diversity Council Australia report, only 11 percent of engineering students who identify as female qualify and go on to work in an engineering role. The percentage who progresses to senior roles is even lower.

Professor Renae Ryan, Associate Dean of Culture and Community in the Faculty of Engineering, says women have historically been an underrepresented group in Australia’s engineering sector, and this recruitment campaign is one part of a larger commitment to foster the next generation of engineers, from high school through to the workforce.

“To drive change, we need to create it. We’ve identified areas of the faculty where there’s gender imbalance and now we’re determined to shift that,” Professor Ryan said.

“The Faculty of Engineering is committed in the long term to building an environment that fosters the next generation of engineers.”

“But increasing diversity is not just about representation –it is also about institutions actively creating opportunities for talent to flourish, develop and grow.”

QUT Researchers Shine Light on New Principle in Photochemistry

An international team led by QUT researchers continues to challenge a long-held assumption in photochemistry with potential applications in fields ranging from medicine to manufacturing.

The research introduces a theory explaining that the effectiveness of light in triggering chemical reactions is not solely determined by how strongly a molecule absorbs it.

The research team led by principle investigator Distinguished Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik and lead authors Dr Joshua Carroll and Fred Pashely-Johnson, from the QUT Soft Matter Materials Group, has identified a new mechanism involving molecular microenvironments that can dramatically influence how molecules respond to light.

“Since light consists of a spectrum of colours, it has been expected for many years that the colour that is absorbed the most by a molecule will be the most efficient at triggering any photoreactions,” Dr Carroll said.

“Our experiments confirmed that the microenvironment around each individual absorbing molecule can lead to vastly different properties.”

The QUT team found that these effects can lead to longer excited-state lifetimes, making certain molecules more reactive under lower-energy, red-shifted light.

The behaviour was linked to a known phenomenon in fluorescence science called the ‘red-edge effect’ and its influence on photochemical reactivity was confirmed through advanced experimental techniques including fluorescence spectroscopy and photochemical action plots. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a technique used to study the fluorescent properties of substances – that is how they absorb light at one wavelength and then emit light at a longer wavelength. Photochemical action plots show how effective different wavelengths of light are at driving a specific photochemical reaction.

The potential impact of the observed and rationalised effect will enable researchers to develop more sophisticated photochemical technologies in fields such as photodynamic therapy, 3D printing, organic chemistry, solar energy and many more.

An international team led by QUT researchers continues to challenge a long-held assumption in photochemistry. Image credit: QUT.

Professor Renae Ryan, Associate Dean of Culture and Community in the Faculty of Engineering. Image credit: University of Sydney.

Melbourne Tram Stop Platforms Could Soon Be Made From Recycled Plastic Materials

An innovative partnership is aiming to see recycled plastics from kerbside and industrial waste used for modular tram stop platforms, making Melbourne’s tram network sustainable, more accessible for people with disabilities, and easier to maintain.

The Monash Institute of Railway Technology (Monash IRT) and Yarra Trams have partnered with industry (PACT group, GT Recycling, DKSH Australia, Integrated Recycling) to research, design and develop recycled plastic modular components which may be used to progressively replace tram stop platforms across Melbourne, the largest tram network in the world.

The project creates a circular economy framework covering the full lifecycle of recycled materials, from supply to end use.

Professor Ravi Ravitharan, Director of Monash IRT said Monash IRT plays a vital role in supporting improved sustainability in railways.

“Unlike traditional tram stop platforms, this new modular design offers a cost-effective, sustainable and accessible solution,” Professor Ravitharan said.

“The design of this product offers a more sustainable solution to build new platform stops and encourages local communities to improve segregation of materials for recycling, reducing waste to landfill and supporting local markets for recycled materials.”

The project was funded under the Circular Economy Research and Development Fund, delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.

Monash Researchers Develop GroundBreaking AI Program To Tackle Global Microplastics Challenge

Monash researchers have developed a ground-breaking AI program to assist scientists in the global fight against the scourge of environmental microplastics.

Despite making headlines in recent years, a lot of scientists and policymakers still don’t know about the scale of the issue, including exactly what kind of microplastics are out there and where they are ending up.

The program developed by Monash uses sophisticated machine learning algorithms to analyse thousands of samples in fractions of a second – a process that can take months for humans – to gain a crucial understanding of where and how we need to act.

It’s not as simple as putting the sample under a microscope, because appearance alone can be misleading.

For example, natural materials like tiny pieces of seashells can often look like microplastics.

The new algorithm instead uses the chemical components that make up those materials to identify characteristic ‘signatures’ (complex numerical figures, many thousands of characters long) that can accurately identify known microplastic types, using data from a process called fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Crucially, the program is the first in the world capable of analysing a library of microplastics ‘signatures’, something desperately needed by researchers grappling with the mammoth task of addressing the issue.

The breakthrough was pioneered by lead researcher Frithjof Herb, a Monash University PhD candidate, and supervisor Dr Khay Fong, Senior Lecturer in the Monash School of Chemistry.

A model of the recycled plastic modular tram stop platform. Image credit: Monash University.

Lead researcher Frithjof Herb, a Monash University PhD candidate. Image credit: Monash University.

Advances in Implantable Devices

Transforming Medicine and Australian Research Leadership

FEATURE – Advances in Implantable Devices

Implantable devices have emerged as a revolutionary force in modern medicine, fundamentally changing the approach to patient care, disease monitoring, and therapeutic intervention.

Once relegated to science fiction, today these intricate devices are saving lives, restoring lost senses, and promising new hope to millions. The integration of biomedical engineering, advanced materials, and digital health continues to shape the very edge of what’s possible, driving relentless innovation in the sector.

The Evolution of Implantable Medical Devices

The Beginnings: Electrifying the Heart

The field of implantable medical devices traces its clinical roots to the mid-20th century, with the cardiac pacemaker standing as a defining early innovation. While attempts to manipulate heart rhythms using electricity date back to the 1940s—when doctors like Wilfred Bigelow and John Callaghan experimented with hypothermia and electrical stimulation in animal hearts to enable openheart surgery—the first practical breakthrough came in the 1950s.

Canadian electrical engineer John Hopps, collaborating with cardiac surgeons, developed the earliest prototypes of electronic pacemakers, initially large and reliant on external power sources.

The

First Human Implants

The true milestone for implantable devices arrived on 8 October 1958, when Dr. Åke Senning and engineer Rune Elmqvist in Sweden implanted the world's first fully implantable pacemaker into Arne Larsson, a patient with life-threatening arrhythmia. Though the device failed within hours and required multiple replacements, these procedures marked the dawn of an era where electronics could be

safely introduced and maintained within the human body for lifesaving purposes.

Throughout the following decade, pacemaker technology rapidly evolved. New battery chemistries, such as the lithium-iodine cell commercialised in the early 1970s, enabled smaller, longer-lasting devices, moving pacemakers from bulky, short-lived curiosities to the reliable, programmable, and highly miniaturised systems that became routine in cardiology.

International cooperation and industrial investment became key. Companies in the US, UK, and Sweden established patterns for clinical trials, safety evaluation, and patient follow-up that would shape medical device innovation and regulation to the present day.

Expanding the Scope: Hearing, Movement, and Beyond

Parallel advancements were under way in sensory and neural implants. Early cochlear implant experiments, most notably by William House and John Doyle in the US (1961), and the French team of André Djourno and Charles Eyriès (1957), laid the conceptual groundwork for “bioelectronic ears”.

While these original devices could only deliver crude sound sensations, further work throughout the 1960s and 1970s (employing multichannel electrodes and advances in materials science) transformed the cochlear implant into a lifechanging device for those with profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Graeme Clark’s Melbourne-based team broke new ground in 1978 by developing and successfully implanting the first multichannel cochlear device in Australia, forever linking the country with this critical domain of research.

Orthopaedic innovation was also revolutionised in these decades. In 1968, the first total artificial knee replacement was completed, and osseointegration (the process in which titanium implants

permanently fuse with bone) was discovered by Per-Ingvar Brånemark in 1952, paving the way for contemporary dental and orthopaedic implants.

Regulatory Milestones and New Therapeutic Frontiers

The 1970s and 1980s saw rising numbers of implantable innovations (such as drug delivery pumps, joint replacements, and the first implantable cardioverter-defibrillators) present clinicians and engineers with daunting new safety and regulatory challenges.

In response, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began active regulation of medical devices in 1976, introducing the risk-based classifications and premarket review that would become models for other countries. This era also marked the rise of sustained drug-release implants, including silicone-based contraceptives and chemotherapy port systems, extending the reach of implantables beyond mechanically supportive or monitoring roles.

From the 1990s onwards, miniaturisation, integration with wireless technology, and materials

science breakthroughs, particularly in biocompatible metals, ceramics, and polymers, expanded the clinical repertoire. Devices became capable of continuous physiological monitoring, wireless data transfer, and personalised therapy with unprecedented precision.

Modern Era: Integration, Personalisation, and Bionics

Today, the scope of implantable medical devices is astonishing in its breadth: from artificial retinas (“bionic eyes”) to deep brain stimulators for movement disorders, to micrometre-scale sensors capable of real-time biosignal reporting.

Multinational collaborations, crossdisciplinary research, and a robust start-up ecosystem have allowed the field to address ever more complex clinical needs, ushering in a new age of personalised, digital medicine.

Notably, regulatory expectations and safety culture have evolved in parallel to technological sophistication, with contemporary devices now undergoing rigorous preclinical and clinical evaluation before they can enter clinical use.

Advances in Design, Materials, and Capabilities

Modern implantable devices range from cardiac pacemakers and neurostimulators to artificial joints, biosensors, and even bionic eyes. Several critical areas of innovation stand out:

Smart Materials and Coatings

Recent years have witnessed a surge in the use of smart materials and coatings, including nanotechnologydriven surfaces that enhance tissue integration and resist bacterial colonisation.

This not only improves the device’s functional lifespan but also patient outcomes, reducing complications such as infection or device rejection. These materials can be tailored to control the release of drugs, sense changes in the body, or even adjust their mechanical properties in response to patient needs.

Miniaturisation and Wireless Technology

Implantables have become increasingly compact, in some cases shrinking to a few millimetres in size. This is achieved through advances in microfabrication and 3D printing, which allow complex, multi-functional devices to be produced at the micro and nano-scale. Such devices can be implanted with minimally invasive procedures and cause less trauma to the patient.

Wireless technologies allow realtime communication between the device and healthcare provider, supporting remote monitoring and even reprogramming. This technology is a cornerstone of modern devices such as cardiac monitors and some neurostimulators.

Continuous Health Monitoring

Implantable biosensors are at the forefront of today’s medical devices, providing constant streams of physiological data, such as blood glucose, cardiac rhythm, neurotransmitter levels, or even markers of local infection or inflammation. These innovations have been pivotal in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy, and heart failure.

Advanced Manufacturing and Personalisation

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is transforming the production of patient-specific implants, especially in orthopaedics and reconstructive surgery. Special additive techniques allow for tailored solutions— prosthetics, bone plates, and even segments of the spine or skull can be produced based on precise scans of the recipient, minimising complications and improving integration.

Australian Leadership: Centres of Excellence in Implantable Device Research

Australia’s vibrant research ecosystem has been at the forefront of many global advances in implantable devices, with several world-leading institutes and projects.

The Bionics Institute

The Melbourne-based Bionics Institute is a global pioneer, renowned for groundbreaking work in cochlear implants—Australia’s first bionic ear— and the subsequent development of the bionic eye, deep brain stimulation for movement disorders, and novel bioelectronic devices. Their multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and clinicians have spawned both landmark commercial devices and innovative start-ups, supporting Australia’s reputation as a hotbed of bionics innovation.

Flinders University’s Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI)

Flinders University’s MDRI in South Australia brings together expertise in engineering, health care, and design, with a clear emphasis on commercialisation and real-world impact. MDRI’s contributions include advanced biomaterials, sophisticated biosensors, and digital health solutions for point-of-care diagnostics and monitoring. Their Medical Device Partnering Program supports earlystage innovation, guiding ideas from proof-of-concept to clinical application and commercialisation.

MDRI’s partnerships span sleep health, musculoskeletal disorders,

biomaterials, and assistive technologies, often in collaboration with surgeons and clinicians. Their strong links with the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) allow for rapid, practical translation of research to the clinic.

Just-In-Time Project – Stryker and the Herston Health Precinct

A standout in personalised orthopaedics is the Just-In-Time collaborative project, which brought together Stryker (a major global medtech company) and top Australian research institutions. The project combined 3D printing, robotics, and advanced manufacturing to create rapid, fully tailored implants for bone cancer patients, transforming how musculoskeletal tumours are treated. Stryker’s new lab in Brisbane’s Herston Health Precinct cements Australia as a leader in next-generation, bespoke implants for critical care.

University Collaborations and Emerging Projects

University of Melbourne and RMIT: Partnerships with medical device companies such as Signature Orthopaedics are driving advances in Medtech, with research spanning orthopaedics, biomaterials, and sensor integration.

University of Sydney: With deep collaborations with leaders like Cochlear, Sydney’s research teams are involved in developing next-generation auditory implants and skeletal technologies.

University of Wollongong: Focused on synthetic biosystems, nerve regeneration, bionic muscles, and custom-designed implantable devices.

Towards Smarter, Safer, and More Personalised Care

The next decade promises a cascade of further breakthroughs: Smart, responsive implants: Devices increasingly able to monitor, diagnose, and intervene in real time. This includes closed-loop drug delivery systems and neuroprosthetics with advanced artificial intelligence to

interpret signals and adjust therapy. Biodegradable and bioresorbable materials: Implants that dissolve harmlessly after serving their purpose, eliminating the risks associated with permanent foreign bodies.

Brain-computer interfaces: Integration between neurological activity and computational devices, restoring mobility, or even enhancing cognitive function for patients with brain or spinal injuries.

Energy harvesting and wireless power: Devices that draw energy from the body’s own movements, heat, or electromagnetic fields, drastically improving convenience and reducing the need for surgery to replace power sources.

Precision medicine: Implants tailored not only to the patient’s anatomy but to genetic and metabolic profiles, driving new standards in efficacy and safety. Predictive analytics will support earlier intervention, improved monitoring, and cost-effective delivery of care.

Secure data handling and AI: As implants become interconnected, data privacy and cybersecurity are pressing concerns. Legislative and engineering solutions will be vital to protecting sensitive patient data and ensuring device reliability.

Australia’s Place at the Forefront

Implantable devices are transforming medicine: shifting therapy from episodic care to continuous, personalised health management, and enabling interventions previously thought impossible. Australia’s legacy, from the cochlear implant to today’s breakthroughs in smart biomaterials, digital health, and tailored devices, cements its place as a global leader. The challenges—engineering, regulatory, ethical, and social—are substantial. But the promise is even greater: a future in which disease is detected earlier, managed more precisely, and patients enjoy a fuller, healthier life with the invisible assistance of the most advanced devices humankind has ever created.

The Bionic Eye That Could Help Blind People Navigate The World

Donor funded research aims to ease the burden for people with macular degeneration. For people with impaired eyesight or no sight at all, the world is an enormous obstacle course. Professor Gregg Suaning is pushing vision capture and nerve stimulation technologies beyond their limits to help clear a path.

As research goals go, it is bold with perhaps a touch of the miraculous. For more than twenty years, Professor Gregg Suaning has been working to bring sight to the blind. Though in the early days, the idea was almost all he had.

“We were dismantling radios and car electricals to make the equipment we needed,” Suaning says, obviously enjoying the memory. “One time we were making bespoke electrodes and we ended up using a capacitor out of a big, old style television.”

Those early hurdles have long been cleared and today, Suaning’s work is at a point where the broad technology of delivering a sense of sight exists. In

principle, it’s not unlike the cochlear implant and related technologies which now help millions of hearing impaired people.

A camera on a pair of glasses collects the visual information which is then sent to a mobile phone and processed. The result is sent wirelessly to a microchip implanted in the retina which decodes the wireless signal and sends electrical impulses to the part of the brain that produces vision: the visual cortex.

While the technology might be cochlear-like, the degree of difficulty is many times greater because vision is so much more information dense than sound.

Where hearing technologies can deliver a more than acceptable result using 14 channels of information, Suaning’s work currently uses 100 channels with more limits in the process of being pushed.

Still, the challenge plays to Suaning’s natural impulses since he grew up

wanting to be a motor mechanic before discovering mechanical engineering then biomedical engineering. In fact, he was an engineer at Cochlear in its very early days, and it was there that he set himself the goal of helping blind people see.

“It hasn’t been easy,” says Suaning in his Australian-inflected San Franciscan accent, having met his Australian wife in a Jerusalem Youth Hostel.

“Keeping in mind that full vision is like a million channels of information, it really helps that the brain can also make a lot out of very little.”

This was demonstrated in 2014 when the sight technology was still cumbersome, and lab bound. As part of national project where researchers were developing an Australian bionic eye, three blind volunteers came to a Melbourne University lab, and were implanted with a rudimentary electrode array and connected to laboratory-based electronics.

“Two didn’t get much of a reaction,

FEATURE – Advances in Implantable Devices

but one of them did really well,” remembers Suaning. “Going through an obstacle course she avoided and even identified obstacles, including a chair. Though it wouldn’t have been a fully realised chair, just a few dots. But her brain filled in enough of the gaps.”

This represents a key challenge for the research: making the visual information captured and communicated actually meaningful for the blind person, meaningful being a key term here.

“We’re working towards something so blind people can navigate the world,” Suaning says. “To help them recognise objects, avoid obstacles and move about more confidently. Will it ever be the full visual experience sighted people have? Thinking about the huge advances there’ve been in video game technology, it might be possible, but we’re not there yet.”

Still, over the years people have been inspired by the huge promise of the technology and even offered much needed financial support (“One blind person called me wanting to donate to the work - though I think he was deaf as well. He was absolutely screaming into the phone because he was so excited”.)

But recent support from the Neil and Norma Hill Foundation has sent Suaning and the technology down a new path.

Where the research focus for Suaning has always been on a rare, blindness inducing condition called retina pigmentosa, which can strike people in their 30s and 40s, causing initial tunnel vision that later narrows to full vision loss, the Foundation gift brought macular degeneration into the frame.

As the Trustee for the Foundation says, “When we heard about Professor Suaning's work we felt compelled to help. We are so pleased that our philanthropy could help to ease the burden in some way for people with macular degeneration and their families."

In some ways, MD is like the reverse of retina pigmentosa since the damage starts in the middle of the field of vision and works outward. Certainly, it’s much more common than retina pigmentosa, with one in seven Australians over 50 having some age-related macular degeneration (MD), and about 17% of

those going on to suffer vision loss.

That being the case, the reason Suaning didn’t focus on MD in the early days of his research was out of concern for his volunteers. People with severe retina pigmentosa can suffer full vision loss, whereas people with MD usually retain some sight around the central area of retinal damage. Suaning didn’t want to risk whatever sight was still retained by MD volunteers.

Allowing that significant advances have been made since those early days, Suaning is now preparing for the first human trials where the volunteers will use wearable equipment that they can take home. To even contemplate using human volunteers in this way, Suaning has had to demonstrate the safety of what he’s doing to the highest possible standards.

This he has done, and in the process seen for himself that the newest expression of the technology would present a minimal threat to any

volunteer participating, including someone with macular degeneration.

This has also seen him looking differently at the technology itself. For retina pigmentosa, the in-eye electrode array is arranged for the outsideto-inside progress of the condition, whereas the new MD array must work inside-to-outside.

Having to do this thinking has fed new and useful ideas into the process.

Another thing that has helped Suaning’s work is his move to the University of Sydney, “There’s so much multidisciplinary stuff that happens here,” he says. “As part of one ecosystem there’s the technical side, medical, business, even the psychological aspects.”

“That makes every advancement even more immediate. You can see the effect it could have, maybe not tomorrow, but you can see it; something is emerging that will help people.”

Smart Wound Monitor Poised To Improve Chronic Infection Care

By Sally Wood

Researchers from RMIT University have developed a wearable wound monitoring device with integrated sensors that could reduce infection risks by minimising the need for frequent physical contact.

Standard methods require regular removal of wound dressings for assessments, often delaying crucial interventions, whereas this invention monitors healing remotely via a Bluetooth connection.

The proof-of-concept device is designed for reuse, making it more cost-effective and practical than disposable smart bandages and other emerging wound monitoring technologies.

Globally, millions of people suffer from chronic wounds, impacting their quality of life and incurring significant healthcare costs. In Australia, about 500,000 people are affected, costing the healthcare system $3 billion annually.

Lead inventor Dr Peter Francis Mathew Elango said the device used advanced integrated sensor technology – including inflammation, pH and temperature sensors – to continuously track key healing indicators. High temperatures signal inflammation or infection, while changes in pH levels can indicate different stages of wound healing.

“We tested our wound monitoring device by simulating conditions it would encounter in wound management. We placed the device on a human arm to demonstrate that it conforms well to the curved surface,” said Elango, from the School of Engineering.

“This was a test to show that this type of alternative monitoring technology is possible, and we are now ready to work with industry partners to develop it for clinical trials. Its components are biocompatible and fit seamlessly into existing manufacturing workflows and processes, potentially bringing the cost below $5 per unit when produced at scale.”

An RMIT-patented technology platform underpins this innovation, with flexible sensors that can be placed on or next to a wound under dressings.

“The high-resistivity silicon-based sensor technology is our platform IP that has been proven to be efficient at multiple biomarker detection related to different ailments,” said team leader Professor Madhu Bhaskaran.

Bhaskaran’s Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT has a strong track record developing medtech devices, including bedding sensors for use in aged care to monitor sleep quality and comfort. Meanwhile, earlier work led by Elango on a wearable heart monitor is now progressing towards commercialisation through a partnership with Perth-based Lubdub Technologies.

Dr Peter Francis Mathew Elango showcases sensor innovation at RMIT University. Image Credit: Will Wright, RMIT University.

Dr Peter Francis Mathew Elango at RMIT University is part of a team advancing wound monitoring technology. Image Credit: Will Wright, RMIT University.

Proof-of-concept wearable wound monitor being developed at RMIT University. Image Credit: Will Wright, RMIT University.

FEATURE – Advances in Implantable Devices

Ultra-Thin, Tough Implantable Material Could Treat Spinal Cord Injury and Parkinson’s Disease

By Sally Wood

Flexible implanted electronics are a step closer toward clinical applications thanks to a recent breakthrough technology developed by a research team from Griffith University and UNSW Sydney.

The work was pioneered by Dr TuanKhoa Nguyen, Professor Nam-Trung Nguyen and Dr Hoang-Phuong Phan (currently a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales) from Griffith University’s Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC) using in-house silicon carbide technology as a new platform for longterm electronic biotissue interfaces.

The project was hosted by the QMNC, which houses a part of the Queensland node of the Australian National Nanofabrication Facility (ANFF-Q).

ANFF-Q is a company established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy to provide nano- and microfabrication facilities for Australia’s researchers.

The QMNC offers unique capabilities for the development and characterisation of wide band gap material, a class of semiconductors that have electronic properties lying between non-conducing materials such as glass and semiconducting materials such as silicon used for computer chips.

These properties allow devices made of these materials to operate at extreme conditions such as high voltage, high temperature, and corrosive environments.

The QMNC and ANFF-Q provided this project with silicon carbide materials, the scalable manufacturing capability, and advanced characterisation facilities for robust micro/nanobioelectronic devices.

“Implantable and flexible devices have enormous potential to treat chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and injuries to the spinal cord,” Dr Tuan-Khoa Nguyen said.

“These devices allow for direct diagnosis of disorders in internal organs and

provide suitable therapies and treatments. For instance, such devices can offer electrical stimulations to targeted nerves to regulate abnormal impulses and restore body functions.”

Because of direct contact requirement with biofluids, maintaining their longterm operation when implanted is a daunting challenge.

The research team developed a robust and functional material system that could break through this bottleneck.

“The system consists of silicon carbide nanomembranes as the contact surface and silicon dioxide as the protective encapsulation, showing unrivalled stability and maintaining its functionality in biofluids,” Professor Nam-Trung Nguyen said.

“For the first time, our team has successfully developed a robust implantable electronic system with an expected duration of a few decades.”

The researchers demonstrated multiple modalities of impedance and temperature sensors, and neural stimulators together with effective peripheral nerve stimulation in animal models.

Corresponding author Dr Phan said implanted devices such as cardiac pace markers and deep brain stimulators had powerful capabilities for timely treatment of several chronical diseases.

“Traditional implants are bulky and have a different mechanical stiffness from human tissues that poses potential risks to patients. The development of mechanically soft but chemically strong electronic devices is the key solution to this long-standing problem,” Dr Phan said.

The concept of the silicon carbide flexible electronics provides promising avenues for neuroscience and neural stimulation therapies, which could offer live-saving treatments for chronic neurological diseases and stimulate patient recovery.

“To make this platform a reality, we are fortunate to have a strong multidisciplinary research team from Griffith University, UNSW, University of Queensland, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) – ERATO, with each bringing their expertise in material science, mechanical/ electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering,” Dr Phan said.

Implantable Medical Devices Bolstered By Next-Gen Modification

By Sally Wood

Synthetic peptides could integrate seamlessly with host tissue.

A discovery by University of Sydney researchers could underpin a new class of implantable devices that provide biological signals to surrounding tissue for better integration with the body and reduced risk of infection.

Modern medicine increasingly relies on implantable biomedical devices but their effectiveness is often limited because of unsuccessful integration with host tissue or the development of untreatable infections, necessitating replacement of the device through revision surgery.

The team at the Applied Plasma Physics and Surface Engineering Laboratory has developed practical techniques to guide and attach peptides to surfaces; computer simulations and experiments demonstrated control of both peptide orientation and surface concentration, which can be achieved by applying an electric field like that delivered by a small household-sized battery.

Corresponding author Professor of Applied Physics and Surface Engineering Marcela Bilek said biomaterial coatings can mask the implanted devices and mimic surrounding tissue.

“The holy grail is a surface that interacts seamlessly and naturally with host tissue through biomolecular signalling,” said Professor Bilek, who is a member of the University of Sydney Nano Institute and the Charles Perkins Centre.

Robust attachment of biological molecules to the bio-device surface is required to achieve this, as enabled by unique surface modification processes developed by Professor Bilek.

“Although proteins have successfully been used in a number of applications, they don’t always survive harsh sterilisation treatments – and introduce the risk of pathogen transfer due to their production in micro-organisms,” Professor Bilek said.

Professor Bilek – together with Dr Behnam Akhavan from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and the School of Physics and lead author, PhD candidate Lewis Martin from the School of Physics – are exploring the use of short protein segments called peptides that, when strategically designed, can recapitulate the function of the protein.

Mr Martin said the team was able to tune the orientation of extremely small biomolecules (less than 10 nanometres in size) on the surface.

“We used specialised equipment to perform the experiments, but the electric fields could be applied by anyone using a home electronics kit,” he said.

Dr Akhavan said that assuming industry support and funding for clinical trials, improved implants could be available to patients within five years.

“The application of our approach ranges from bone-implants to cardiovascular stents and artificial blood vessels,” he said.

An image derived from Lewis Martin's simulations that depicts the immobilised peptides (purple) attached to the surface of an implanted biodevice (top red) and interacting with the receptor of a cell membrane protein (brown) incorporated in the cell membrane (green bottom).

Image credit: University of Sydney.

Control of peptide orientation by electric field. Charge separation on one end of the peptide creates a dipole moment (indicated by ellipses) that aligns with the electric field and rotates the entire molecule. When the peptide makes contact with the radical-functionalized surface it becomes irreversibly anchored in this orientation. Image credit: University of Sydney.

“For the bone implantable devices, for example, such modern bio-compatible surfaces will directly benefit patients suffering from bone fracture, osteoporosis and bone cancer.”

Because of their small size, the peptides can be produced synthetically and they are resilient during sterilisation. The main difficulty in using peptides is ensuring they are attached at appropriate densities and in orientations that effectively expose their active sites.

Using applied electric fields and buffer chemistry, the researchers discovered several new levers that control peptide attachment. Charge separation on peptides creates permanent dipole moments that can be aligned with an electric field to provide optimal orientation of the molecules and the amount of peptide immobilised can also be tuned by the electrostatic interactions when the peptides have an overall charge.

The paper said this knowledge is being used to design strategies to create a new generation of synthetic biomolecules.

“Our findings shed light on mechanisms of biomolecule immobilisation that are extremely important for the design of synthetic peptides and biofunctionalisation of advanced implantable materials,” the paper states.

Flexible Gold Sensor Unlocks A New Generation Of Medical Implants

By Sally Wood

A thin, flexible gold sensor engineered by University of Queensland (UQ) researchers has the potential to unlock the next generation of implantable medical devices.

Using a brand-new engineering method, researchers at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) were able to produce a small film-like sensor that is both flexible and sensitive enough to enable more streamlined future for electronic medical implants and realtime sensing applications.

The intricate approach used by Dr Mostafa Kamal Masud and PhD candidate Aditya Ashok represents a breakthrough in the field of flexible nanoarchitecture and, ultimately, suggests a new way to miniaturise and improve medical devices for diagnostics, biological sensing, and neurological exploration.

“Although modern implanted electronics have developed rapidly over the past 60 years, most commercially available devices are still built on relatively similar – and limitingdesign concepts such as thick ceramic or titanium packaging,” said Dr Masud.

“We are offering a new route toward miniaturised, flexible, implanted medical devices that will diagnose and treat chronic diseases and help improve the lives of millions of people.”

The film-like sensor designed by Dr Masud and Mr Ashok represents a novel approach to the field of mesoporous materials, which are highly porous substances with traits that benefit diagnostics, catalysis, and drug delivery.

Using a novel hybrid fabrication process under the guidance of senior AIBN group leader Professor Yusuke Yamauchi, Dr Masud and Mr Ashok were able to synthesise a mesoporous gold film that acts as an electrode for biosensing and bioimplant applications.

The flexibility and sensitivity of the gold film make it an ideal wearable system for real-time monitoring of body glucose, while Dr Masud said there was strong potential for implanted nerve recording applications.

“The demand for a simple and robust fabrication process with this kind of flexible electronics is enormous,” Dr Masud said.

“Our aim here is to see this sensor embedded in wearable devices – but the potential and possibilities in this field are vast. We’re going to be exploring more in our coming projects.”

The research was published as an inside cover feature for the nano-micro journal Small.

Dr Masud and Mr Ashok acknowledge Dr Hoang-Phuong Phan from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales as a key collaborator in their broader work.

Dr Mostafa Kamal Masud and PhD candidate Aditya Ashok are offering a new route toward miniaturised, flexible, implanted medical devices. Image credit: University of Queensland.

Short Courses - Study at Home

Register Now

These short courses provide you with an engaging learning experience. Courses may include flash animations, video of instructors teaching the course in a classroom, video segments from ASM’s DVD series relevant to the learning material, and PDFs of instructor Power Points used in the instructor led training. All online courses require internet access for reading and viewing course content. Both HTML pages and PDF files for each lesson are downloadable and printable for easy offline access. https://www.materialsaustralia.com.au/training-courses-and-workshops/online-training

BASICS OF HEAT TREATING

Steel is the most common and the most important structural material. In order to properly select and apply this basic engineering material, it is necessary to have a fundamental understanding of the structure of steel and how it can be modified to suit its application. The course is designed as a basic introduction to the fundamentals of steel heat treatment and metallurgical processing. Read More

HOW TO ORGANISE AND RUN A FAILURE INVESTIGATION

Have you ever been handed a failure investigation and have not been quite sure of all the steps required to complete the investigation? Or perhaps you had to review a failure investigation and wondered if all the aspects had been properly covered? Or perhaps you read a failure investigation and wondered what to do next? Here is a chance to learn the steps to organise a failure investigation Read More

MEDICAL DEVICE DESIGN VALIDATION AND FAILURE ANALYSIS

This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of the design process necessary to make robust medical devices. Fracture, fatigue, stress analysis, and corrosion design validation approaches are examined, and real-world medical device design validations are reviewed. Further, since failures often provide us with important information about any design, mechanical and materials failure analysis techniques are covered. Several medical device failure analysis case studies are provided Read More

METALLURGY OF STEEL FOR THE NON-METALLURGIST

This course provides essential knowledge to those who do not have a technical background in metallurgical engineering, but have a need to understand more about the technical aspects of steel manufacturing, properties and applications.

PRINCIPLES OF FAILURE ANALYSIS

Profit from failure analysis techniques, understand general failure analysis procedures, learn fundamental sources of failures. This course is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice of failure analysis.

HEAT TREATING FURNACES AND EQUIPMENT

This course is designed as an extension of the Introduction to Heat Treatment course. It discusses advanced concepts in thermal and thermo-chemical surface treatments, such as case hardening, as well as the principles of thermal engineering (furnace design) Read More

NEW - INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITES

Composites are a specialty material, used at increasing levels throughout our engineered environment, from high-performance aircraft and ground vehicles, to relatively low-tech applications in our daily lives. This course, designed for technical and non-technical professionals alike, provides an overarching introduction to composite materials. The course content is organised in a manner that guides the student from design to raw materials to manufacturing, assembly, quality assurance, testing, use, and life-cycle support Read More

METALLURGY FOR THE NON-METALLURGIST™

An ideal first course for anyone who needs a working understanding of metals and their applications. It has been designed for those with no previous training in metallurgy, such as technical, laboratory, and sales personnel; engineers from other disciplines; management and administrative staff; and non-technical support staff, such as purchasing and receiving agents who order and inspect incoming material.

PRACTICAL INDUCTION HEAT TREATING

Taking a fundamentals approach, this course is presented as an introduction to the world of induction heat treating. The course will cover the role of induction heating in producing reliable products, as well as the considerable savings in energy, labor, space, and time. You will gain in-depth knowledge on topics such as selecting equipment, designs of multiple systems, current application, and sources and solutions of induction heat treating problems Read More

TITANIUM AND ITS ALLOYS

Titanium occupies an important position in the family of metals because of its light weight and corrosion resistance. Its unique combination of physical, chemical and mechanical properties, make titanium alloys attractive for aerospace and industrial applications. Read More

The Pacific Rim International Conference on Advanced Materials and Processing is held every three years, jointly sponsored by the Chinese Society for Metals (CSM), The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials (JIMM), The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials (KIMM), Materials Australia (MA), and The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS).

The purpose of PRICM is to provide an attractive forum for the exchange of scientific and technological information on materials and processing. PRICM-12 will be held in Gold Coast on August 9-13, 2026, hosted by Materials Australia.

PRICM-12 aims to bring together leading scientists, technologists and engineers from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world to discuss contemporary discoveries and innovations in the rapidly evolving field of materials and processing. This event is also intended to foster stronger and closer interactions between materials practitioners and their international counterparts.

9-13 AUGUST 2026

Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

ORGANIZING SOCIETY

Materials Australia

Tanya Smith +61 3 9326 7266

events@materialsaustralia.com.au

This conference will cover most aspects of advanced materials and their manufacturing processes. It has 15 symposia:

Symposium A: Advanced Steels and Properties

Symposium B: Advanced Processing of Materials

Symposium C: Structural Materials for High Temperature

Symposium D: Light Metals and Alloys

Symposium E: Additive Manufacturing

Symposium F: Interfaces and Surface Engineering

Symposium G: Materials for Energy Conversion, Generation and Storage

Symposium H: Electronic and Magnetic Materials

Symposium I: Biomaterials and their Applications

Symposium J: Advanced Characterization and Evaluation of Materials

Symposium K: High-Entropy Materials and Amorphous Materials

Symposium L: Composites, Hetero-Materials, and Functionally Graded Materials

Symposium M: Nano Materials and Nano Severe Plastic Deformation

Symposium N: Modelling and Simulation of Materials and Processes and Artificial Intelligence

Symposium O: Materials for Sustainability (Corrosion, Coating, Green Steel, Recycling)

On behalf of the organising committee, it is our great pleasure to cordially invite you to PRICM-12.

Professor Jianfeng Nie

Organizing Chair of PRICM-12

JOIN NOW!

Our Members

Materials Australia members are involved in all aspects of materials science, technology and engineering. Members include manufacturing technical officers, professional engineers, academics, research scientists, technical staff and students.

Our members are experts in polymers, nano and biomaterials, ceramics, metals, composites and all of their engineering applications.

There are two types of Materials Australia membership available: Individual and Corporate.

Individual members can join Materials Australia as a Student Member, Graduate Member, Standard Member, Retired Member or a Certified Materials Professional (CMatP).

Corporate members can opt for a Standard, Premium, or Premium Plus membership package.

Individual Membership Benefits

• Accreditation as a Certified Materials Professional (CMatP) if eligible.

• Discounts on all Materials Australia conferences and training courses, including the CAMS and APICAM Conferences.

• Digital subscription to Materials Australia Magazine, our quarterly publication that is jam-packed with industry, product, technical and research news.

• Discounts on advertising in Materials Australia Magazine.

• Conferences, training courses, workshops and regular branch meetings, designed to facilitate continued professional development.

• Outstanding networking opportunities through regular branch meetings, conferences and training courses.

• Regular branch newsletters full of information on local activities.

Corporate Membership Benefits

• Discounts on advertising in Materials Australia Magazine.

• Editorial support for articles in Materials Australia Magazine.

• Digital subscription to Materials Australia Magazine.

• Free employment listings on the Materials Australia website.

• Free company listing on the Materials Australia website.

• Free company listing in the Materials Australia Magazine.