Hybrid cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop molten carbonate-perovskite hybrid cathode materials for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) possessing both high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high tolerance to carbon dioxide poisoning. Carbon dioxide in air can poison nearly all the perovskite cathode materials developed for LT-SOFCs (below 600 degrees C) so far. These materials will not be practically useful ....Hybrid cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop molten carbonate-perovskite hybrid cathode materials for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) possessing both high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high tolerance to carbon dioxide poisoning. Carbon dioxide in air can poison nearly all the perovskite cathode materials developed for LT-SOFCs (below 600 degrees C) so far. These materials will not be practically useful until carbon dioxide poisoning can be prevented. This project expects to make these LT-SOFC cathode materials commercially viable, solving a problem for the widespread use of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.Read moreRead less
Innovative High Temperature Carbon–Air Batteries for High Power Generation. The project intends to develop carbon-air batteries which are expected to have energy density 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries. The battery is designed to use naturally-rich carbon as fuel, highly energy-efficient solid oxide fuel cells as electrochemical reactors, and an integrated mixed conducting ceramic membrane for in situ carbon dioxide separation. The success of this project would provide us with a low-carbo ....Innovative High Temperature Carbon–Air Batteries for High Power Generation. The project intends to develop carbon-air batteries which are expected to have energy density 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries. The battery is designed to use naturally-rich carbon as fuel, highly energy-efficient solid oxide fuel cells as electrochemical reactors, and an integrated mixed conducting ceramic membrane for in situ carbon dioxide separation. The success of this project would provide us with a low-carbon energy system based on Australia’s rich coal resources. New knowledge about carbon dioxide separation may also facilitate carbon dioxide sequestration in other fields.Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes in ....Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes include insights into gas bubble formation and evolution during electrocatalysis, effective catalyst structures to mitigate negative effects of gas bubble formation, and improved catalytic efficiency of gas evolution reactions and develop high performance electrocatalysts for fuel gas production.Read moreRead less
CO2 Utilisation for Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel technology that can convert carbon dioxide into useful products while storing intermittent renewable energy as green stable chemical energy. The project plans to focus on the development of a robust cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide with optimum physical and chemical structure to achieve long-term stable performance. This technology would make a significant contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable e ....CO2 Utilisation for Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel technology that can convert carbon dioxide into useful products while storing intermittent renewable energy as green stable chemical energy. The project plans to focus on the development of a robust cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide with optimum physical and chemical structure to achieve long-term stable performance. This technology would make a significant contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable energy in our energy supply and reducing our carbon dioxide emissions.Read moreRead less
Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, impro ....Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, improve energy efficiency, and utilise CO2 rich gas resources.Read moreRead less
A novel route to produce olefin feedstock for Australia. This project aims to develop a new process to produce longer chain hydrocarbons usable in Australia's olefin and polymer industries. Besides their use as a fuel, hydrocarbons are major industrial chemicals used for the production of polymeric materials and as refrigerants. Olefins are precursors to polymers and conventionally are produced from saturated hydrocarbons through the process of steam cracking. The major precursors for monomers a ....A novel route to produce olefin feedstock for Australia. This project aims to develop a new process to produce longer chain hydrocarbons usable in Australia's olefin and polymer industries. Besides their use as a fuel, hydrocarbons are major industrial chemicals used for the production of polymeric materials and as refrigerants. Olefins are precursors to polymers and conventionally are produced from saturated hydrocarbons through the process of steam cracking. The major precursors for monomers are present in significant quantities in only a few natural gas sources and these sources also undergo significant seasonal variation and are costly. The project aims to develop new catalysts and process conditions to convert low-value feedstock hydrocarbons into feedstock for conventional steam crackers.Read moreRead less
Novel conversion process for carbon dioxide to chemicals. This project aims to develop a novel sorption enhanced material and system to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol. Climate change is one of the primary long-term problems confronting humankind today. Since the production of CO2 through burning fossil fuel is far greater than the current usage of CO2, there is currently little alternative to storage. As a result, there is concerted effort globally to develop alternate use ....Novel conversion process for carbon dioxide to chemicals. This project aims to develop a novel sorption enhanced material and system to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol. Climate change is one of the primary long-term problems confronting humankind today. Since the production of CO2 through burning fossil fuel is far greater than the current usage of CO2, there is currently little alternative to storage. As a result, there is concerted effort globally to develop alternate uses and conversion technologies for CO2. This project will help further this goal.Read moreRead less
A defect mechanism for oxygen reduction reaction. This project aims to use defective carbon to replace expensive platinum as a catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. Defective carbons incorporating non-precious metals are better than platinum in terms of over-potential, current density and number of electron transfer. They reduce the overall fuel cell cost but their better stability and higher open voltage and power density promise huge commercial benefit. This project is ex ....A defect mechanism for oxygen reduction reaction. This project aims to use defective carbon to replace expensive platinum as a catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. Defective carbons incorporating non-precious metals are better than platinum in terms of over-potential, current density and number of electron transfer. They reduce the overall fuel cell cost but their better stability and higher open voltage and power density promise huge commercial benefit. This project is expected to be important for large-scale implementation of fuel cells.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane a ....Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane and oxidative coupling of methane reactions. The expected outcome is an inexpensive green catalysis method for chemical manufacture. This should lower the amount of waste, decrease energy consumption and improve human health, finite global resources and quality of life.Read moreRead less
Assembling multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by hybrid catalytic and photochemical approach. The overall aim of this project is to assemble multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by an integrated catalytic and photocatalytic approach. The issues of impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions have stimulated research for the sustainable utilisation of carbon dioxide. In situ spectros ....Assembling multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by hybrid catalytic and photochemical approach. The overall aim of this project is to assemble multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by an integrated catalytic and photocatalytic approach. The issues of impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions have stimulated research for the sustainable utilisation of carbon dioxide. In situ spectroscopic studies combined with theoretical calculations will be used to elucidate the underlying reaction mechanisms of the synergistic effects of photon and thermal reduction of carbon dioxide . The success of the proposed project will allow the reduction of carbon dioxide, generate a cheap energy source in the form of environmentally benign hydrocarbons and close the carbon loop. Read moreRead less