Symposia

All Symposia will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 28^th and 29^th June 2012.

Functional Nanotube Composites
Convenors: John Zhu(UQ), Max Lu(UQ), Denisa Jarcakova (UQ)

Since being brought to scientific and public attention in the 90's, nanotubes have been hailed as the material of choice for solving the world energy crisis and for development of new clean energy systems.

This symposium will focus on the synthesis, functionalisation and characterization of nanotube composites; their applications in energy production, storage and conversion; and on environmental and related topics. The objectives are to identify critical issues associated with exploitation of nanotubes in clean energy applications and to examine possible pathways for overcoming the current difficulties in nanotubes research and development.

Graphene: Processing and Device Fabrication
Convenors: Gordon G. Wallace(UOW), David L. Officer(UOW) and Dan Li(Monash)

Graphene - stronger than diamond, exceptional electronic conductivity and with all the rich diversity available through carbon chemistry - is indeed a wonder material.

Elevated by researchers around the globe to a level that would see it used in composites, in electronic devices and for energy conversion and storage electrodes, the prospects are exciting. However, will we be thwarted by an ability to process material of reliable quality and/or to fabricate devices from graphene?

This symposium will examine the state-of-the-art, confront the challenges and explore ways forward in these critical areas

Metrology
Convenors: Stephen Hawkins (CSIRO) and Mainak Majumder(Monash)

Nano-scale phenomena present new challenges in both the method and the expression of measured quantities, from the tensile strength of single nano fibres to the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells. This workshop aims to explore the techniques and issues encountered in quantifying properties of interest. It follows in the tradition of Nanometrology symposia established at previous NT events, but here emphasising tools and techniques. In this way, it aims to provide participants with a clearer vision of what is available or needed to measure nano-scale properties and to express those measurements in a consistent and rigorous fashion.

Non-carbon nanotubes and nanosheets
Convenors: Ying Chen (Deakin), Yoke Khin Yap(MTU) and Lianzhou Wang(UQ)

Non-carbon nanotubes and nanosheets including BN, TiO2, ZnO2 have similar structures as carbon nanotubes and graphene respectively, but exhibit some distinct properties and applications, attracting increasing research attention. This symposium will review latest research development of non-carbon nanotubes and nanosheets from synthesis, characterization to applications.

Theory and Modelling of Carbon and Related NanoSystems: Development and Applications for the Future (TMCRN12).
Convenors: Tiff Walsh (Deakin), Chenghua Sun(UQ) and James Elliott(Cambridge)

Computational approaches offer complementary routes to revealing properties and behaviours of carbon and related (e.g boron-nitride) nanostructures - including nanotubes and graphene - in a wide range of applications, ranging from electronic devices, clean energy to biological functionalisation. Significant challenges remain to be addressed if theory and computation aspire to be predictive as well as aid in the interpretation of experimental observations. This Symposium will showcase state-of-the-art developments in theory and simulation in terms of both development of techniques and applications of methodologies, and provide a forum for discussion of these challenges, as well as the future steps required to address them.