Chemistry - Faculty of Science

Coordinators: Dr Andrea Robinson (Clayton) and Professor Sam Adeloju (Gippsland/Peninsula)

Opportunities for research in the following broad areas of chemistry are offered by the School of Chemistry and the School of Applied Science and Engineering.

Areas of research

Analytical and instrumentation

New techniques for separating and sizing industrial, environmental and biological particles and macromolecules (field-flow fractionation); methods for real-time monitoring of waters and wastewaters based on flow injection analysis; microwave instrument development ('millijet'); fabrication of novel biosensors; analysis of gas molecules using fluorescence spectra; rare earth elements in minerals using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; infrared spectroscopy for use in medical diagnosis; and the development of inexpensive microprocessor controlled analytical instrumentation for teaching and research.

Analytical spectroscopy

Biospectroscopy and bio-imaging using infrared and Raman spectroscopy to investigate biomolecules and develop systems for medical diagnosis. Brown coal fly ash, transport fuels and oils, low-cost instrumentation.

Spectroscopy and molecular properties

Spectroscopy of supercooled molecules in supersonic jets and enclosive flows; laser detection of gases released in coal gasification; high resolution FTIR spectroscopy of transients and atmospheric species; infrared and Raman spectroscopy and micro-imaging of biological molecules, microwave investigation of the molecular processes of interstellar masers; molecular structures of small molecules and highly reactive compounds from spectroscopy and computational chemistry; x-ray crystallography, magnetochemistry, solution and solid state spectroscopy; and electron microscopy in structural evaluation.

Chemical biology and medicinal chemistry

Elucidation of enzyme mechanisms through the study of model reactions and by the design of mechanism based inhibitors; modelling metalloproteins and metal-induced biological processes; anchored complexes in protein separation; design and testing of pharmaceuticals including anti-cancer and anti-ulcer agents; and medical applications of peptide nucleic acids and metal complex derivatives.

Electrochemistry and electroanalytical chemistry

Fabrication and properties of microelectrodes and chemically modified electrodes; on-line monitoring of metals in process streams; stripping voltammetric and potentiometric analysis of organic and inorganic substances; theory of voltammetry-electrode kinetics; development of electrochemical instrumentation; redox properties of organometallic and coordination compounds; amperometric and potentiometric biosensing of organic and inorganic substances; electrochemical synthesis; spectroscopic identification of electrochemically generated intermediates in unusual oxidation states; bioinorganic electrochemistry; photoelectrochemistry and electrochemical catalysis; and solar cells.

Environmental chemistry - Water Studies Centre and School of Applied Sciences and Engineering

Nutrient cycling in aquatic systems; aquatic colloid chemistry; pollutant speciation transport and fate in aquatic environments; microbial ecology of lowland rivers; pollutant fluxes across the sediment-water interface; interactions between ecosystem structure and biogeochemical functioning; ecosystem processes as indicators of stream health; behaviour of organic phosphates in aquatic environments; and the role of natural organic matter in aquatic ecosystems. Another major research area is ecological risk assessment, quantitative modelling and development of predictive models.

Food chemistry

Interaction between proteins and mineral species in milk; relationship between chemical composition, structure and properties of curd and cheese; encapsulation of flavourings and neutraceuticals.

Green (sustainable) chemistry - Centre for Green Chemistry

New processes with less waste, energy requirements, less or no solvents, and developing new synthetic pathways. This includes replacing organic solvents by water, supercritical CO2 and ionic liquids, the use of aqueous based catalyst systems, biological catalysts and biotechnology, the use of microwave energy in chemical reactions, new energy efficient materials together with the development of new, appropriate analytical methods. Green mineral processing including alternatives to the cyanide gold extraction process, soil chemistry, and organic amendments in treatment of environmentally compromised soils, chemistry of hard substances.

Industrial applications

Structure and reactivity of coals, controlled release technology, non-linear optical materials; molecular recognition used in the extraction and purification of sugars; and purification of fullerenes.

Materials chemistry

Sol-gel precursors for ceramic oxides with applications as electrochromics, protective coatings, sensors and optical films; organometallics and related complexes as precursors for semiconductor and microelectronic materials; microporous materials including zeolites and pillared clays; inorganic glasses (non-oxide); liquid crystals for opto-electronic devices; new conducting polymers; and recyclable polymers; molecular magnetic materials displaying long-range order or spin-crossover transitions; nano-chemistry and nanotechnology; self-assembly of multicomponent systems based on host-guest chemistry; supramolecular indicated transport of molecules across membranes; molecular and supramolecular photonic devices; characterisation of nanoparticles and macromolecules; colloid aspects of food chemistry; dye sensitised solar cells; nanostructured functional surfaces; nanostructured electrochemical devices and arrays; peptide based nanodevices; nanomagnetic materials with switching properties; nanoscale sensors; and nanoscale synthesis and catalysis; novel receptors for ink jet dyes; nanomaterials for chemical and physical detectors; atmospheric plasma treatment of polymer surfaces.

Nano-chemistry and nanotechnology

Self-assembly of multicomponent systems based on host-guest chemistry; supramolecular indicated transport of molecules across membranes; molecular and supramolecular photonic devices; characterisation of nanoparticles and macromolecules; colloid aspects of food chemistry; dye sensitised solar cells; nanostructured functional surfaces; nanostructured electrochemical devices and arrays; peptide based nanodevices; nanomagnetic materials with switching properties; nanoscale sensors; and nanoscale synthesis and catalysis; novel receptors for ink jet dyes; nanomaterials for chemical and physical detectors; atmospheric plasma treatment of polymer surfaces.

Polymer chemistry

Novel ions conducting polymers for applications in batteries, capacitors and electrochromic windows; improving the properties of polymer blends; and polyurethane elastomers and foams.

Spectroscopy, crystallography, magnetism and molecular properties

Spectroscopy in supersonic jets; laser detection of gases released in coal gasification; high resolution FTIR spectroscopy of transients and atmospheric species; IR spectroscopy of biological molecules, microwave investigation of the molecular processes of interstellar masers; molecular structures of small molecules and highly reactive compounds from spectroscopy and computational chemistry; x-ray crystallography, magnetochemistry, solution and solid state spectroscopy; and electron microscopy in structural evaluation.

Synthetic and catalytic chemistry

Total synthesis of biologically and clinically important molecules, including antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, marine toxins and steroids; heterocyclic synthesis, including a wide variety of oxygen and nitrogen-containing heterocycles, many of which are found in important, bio-active molecules; stereoselective methods, design of new reactions using enzymes and organotransition metal catalysts, ring expansion and contraction reactions, conjugate additions; invention of chemical reagents and new chemical reactions, including metal-based systems; synthetic methods for organometallics, coordination complexes, clusters, heterometallic species, metallopolymers and fluorocarbon compounds; organometallics of main group elements, d-block metals, rare earths including catalysts, reagents for organic synthesis, and novel clusters; metal complexes, including amides, imides, oxides, alkoxides; polynuclear spin-crossover complexes, extended network coordination polymers, large magnetic cluster complexes; metal ion hydrolysis products, corrosion inhibitors; catalysis of polymerisation and hydroformylation; and element-carbon bond activation.

Theoretical and computation chemistry

New ligands for asymmetric synthesis; investigation of reaction mechanisms by application of semi-empirical and ab-initio calculations; and ab-initio calculations in supramolecular chemistry.

Coal product development

Development of coal dewatering processes; characterisation of coal structure and coal-water interactions; humic acids for soil improvement; bitumen from coal; liquid fuels from coal; active carbon manufacture and applications; catalytic processes in fuel science; and applications of molecular modelling to fuel science.

Centres

Centre for Biospectroscopy

The Centre for Biospectroscopy is a faculty of science centre directed at developing spectroscopy and imaging techniques for the investigation of biological, biomedical and biotechnological systems. It has research links with a number of Monash and Melbourne departments and hospitals. For more information visit http://www.chem.monash.edu.au/biospec/biospectroscopy.html.

Water Studies Centre and School of Applied Sciences and Engineering

See entry under 'Environmental chemistry' above.

Centre for Green Chemistry

The Centre for Green Chemistry is a Special Research Centre funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council and located in the School of Chemistry at Monash University. The centre's mission is to become a world leader for research, industrial collaboration and teaching in the field of green chemistry and to harness this expertise to enhance the international competitiveness of Australian industry. The centre provides opportunities for research and postgraduate study in the area of green chemistry. For further information about research in this field and other activities of the centre, visit http://www.chem.monash.edu.au/green-chem/.