This project involves the deposition of different electrode materials onto SrBi 2 Ta 2 O 9 samples. Subsequent heat treatments will initiate interfacial reactions which will be examined in an attempt to understand the fundamental interfacial chemistry within these microelectronic applications. The sol-gel method has allowed the controlled tailoring of both the chemical composition and molecular structure of materials. Our aim is to prepare water-repellent coatings on glass, rubber, ceramics, metals, etc., which show good durability. In an attempt to improve the durability of these coatings research will be done using different synthetic techniques, incorporating various starting inorganic and organic components with varied molecular structure.
Figure above shows the proposed structure of the polymer network.
Surface characterisation in mineral processing Understanding the surface chemical composition of minerals is critical to the efficient processing of ores containing the valuable components. This is of significance to what is one of the largest industry sectors within Australia. The subsequent extraction of the metal from the resulting flotation concentrate is often achieved through hydrometallurgical processing. In both operations, the surface of the mineral species is important as it provides a unique chemical signature of that material. Research directed towards increasing the efficiency of these operations involves characterisation of the mineral surface under processing-related conditions.