CDU researchers fabricate fibres for fuel, defence forces and more

Charles Darwin University (CDU) has shared some of the uses of an electrospinning machine at its Casuarina campus, producing nanofibres “10 to 100 times thinner than a spider’s silk”.

In a statement on Monday, the university said the extreme surface area-to-volume ratios of such fibres could act like a superpower with usefulness in applications “whether that’s capturing light, absorbing impacts, or bonding with other materials.”

Three areas of particular interest to mechanical engineering lecturer Dr Naveen Kumar Elumalai’s team were in the defence industry, in producing hydrogen from water using sunlight, and in industrial filtration.

“Kevlar vests and other protective clothing which our police and defence force wear are currently quite heavy and lack breathability, which is not ideal here in the NT,” said Elumalai.

“Utilising [nanofibres] will help to make the vests stronger without increasing the weight. This means that they will offer greater protection for wearers against things such as bullets and shrapnel without making them hotter, this is for sure a win-win.

“We do need to do more research to determine which substance would be the most beneficial, but we are hoping to work with the defence industry particularly here in the NT on the development of these smart textiles.”

CSIRO recently showcased a lightweight fabric for the defence industry – developed with DMTC, Bruck Textiles, Defence Science and Technology Group and RMIT University – containing nanofibres that helped filter out pollutants, maintained comfortable temperatures in extreme conditions, and protected against hazardous chemicals.

Natural and synthetic materials including collagen, keratin and gelatin can be made into nanofibres using electrospinning, which stretches and elongates a liquid droplet to form fibres under a precisely controlled electric field. 

The CDU engineering researcher – whose work saw him recognised in 2022, 2023 and 2024 among the top two per cent of international scientists by Stanford University – added that his group has created a variety of nanofibres that, when dispersed in water and exposed to sunlight, can split water molecules to produce hydrogen.

“This technology is particularly promising for Darwin and the Northern Territory,” said Elumalai. 

“It could help address our energy needs using just water and sunlight, without the need for complex systems. Imagine being able to produce hydrogen fuel directly from water – it’s a game-changer for sustainable energy production in our region.”

Picture: credit CDU

Further reading

Secrets in spider silk “could herald a revolution in manufacturing”

CSIRO’s nanofibre military uniform revealed

Nanodiamond textiles could cool clothing faster