Layered and scrolled carbon materials for advancing energy storage systems. This project aims to reveal the structure–property relations in carbon electrodes through the design of model carbon systems that allow the simultaneous control of graphitic interlayer distance, ion diffusion pathway length, and surface functional group density. The project is expected to generate new knowledge on the charging mechanisms of micro-supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries and technologies for emerging port ....Layered and scrolled carbon materials for advancing energy storage systems. This project aims to reveal the structure–property relations in carbon electrodes through the design of model carbon systems that allow the simultaneous control of graphitic interlayer distance, ion diffusion pathway length, and surface functional group density. The project is expected to generate new knowledge on the charging mechanisms of micro-supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries and technologies for emerging portable electronics and renewable energy storage applications. The demonstration of high-performance and sustainable energy storage devices is anticipated. This will help to advance the prominence of Australia in the global renewable energy market and the move towards more sustainable economies and lifestyles.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100071
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Light-bending strategies of next generation scalable plasmonic devices. This project will focus on a goal of engineering novel plasmonic metamaterials for manipulating light at the nanoscale. In particular, it will employ curved anodized alumina templates as well as 3D hybrid structures to explore light bending and strong resonances at the visible spectral range. Plasmonic metamaterials offer a unique ability to control subwavelength light propagation, for achieving unprecedented sensing sensiti ....Light-bending strategies of next generation scalable plasmonic devices. This project will focus on a goal of engineering novel plasmonic metamaterials for manipulating light at the nanoscale. In particular, it will employ curved anodized alumina templates as well as 3D hybrid structures to explore light bending and strong resonances at the visible spectral range. Plasmonic metamaterials offer a unique ability to control subwavelength light propagation, for achieving unprecedented sensing sensitivities and emerging nanophotonics phenomena. However, fabrication challenges and high losses hamper their application in the visible spectral range. Engineering these plasmonic structures in a scalable manner should strengthen Australia’s economy, lead to new industrial companies in the emerging field of plasmonics, attract international investments and create job opportunities.Read moreRead less
Lead-free oxide perovskites for highly efficient solar cells. This project aims to develop nanostructured lead-free oxide perovskites for solar energy applications. These materials will strengthen the future of photovoltaic technology by overcoming bandgap voltage limitations and toxicity/stability issues that plague conventional silicon-based and emerging halide perovskite-based solar cells. This project is expected to advance the rational design of solar cells based on oxide perovskites, which ....Lead-free oxide perovskites for highly efficient solar cells. This project aims to develop nanostructured lead-free oxide perovskites for solar energy applications. These materials will strengthen the future of photovoltaic technology by overcoming bandgap voltage limitations and toxicity/stability issues that plague conventional silicon-based and emerging halide perovskite-based solar cells. This project is expected to advance the rational design of solar cells based on oxide perovskites, which are efficient, high output voltage, environmentally friendly photovoltaic technology Success of the proposed programme paves the way to promote photovoltaic technology as a mainstream power generation source and a significant contributor to achieving energy, environmental and economic goals.Read moreRead less
Development of high-performance lead-free piezoelectric superlattices for environmentally-friendly and biocompatible piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) applications. This program is aimed at development of environmentally friendly and biocompatible lead-free piezoelectric thin films and superlattices for the potential applications in pMUTs. The expected outcome includes deposition of BNT and BZT-based thin films and superlattices, and enhancement of their physical propert ....Development of high-performance lead-free piezoelectric superlattices for environmentally-friendly and biocompatible piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) applications. This program is aimed at development of environmentally friendly and biocompatible lead-free piezoelectric thin films and superlattices for the potential applications in pMUTs. The expected outcome includes deposition of BNT and BZT-based thin films and superlattices, and enhancement of their physical properties by strain and interface engineering.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100752
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Rational Design of Hematite Photoanodes for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Hematite (iron oxide) is a promising electrode material for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from water. It has low cost, good long-term stability and absorbs light efficiently. However, its use is limited by its poor electrical conductivity. This project aims to develop a novel host-guest nanostructure that exploits the beneficial light-absorption properties of hematite (the guest) but shifts the charge transport fun ....Rational Design of Hematite Photoanodes for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Hematite (iron oxide) is a promising electrode material for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from water. It has low cost, good long-term stability and absorbs light efficiently. However, its use is limited by its poor electrical conductivity. This project aims to develop a novel host-guest nanostructure that exploits the beneficial light-absorption properties of hematite (the guest) but shifts the charge transport function to a nanostructured transparent conductive oxide host. The project aims to produce nanostructured hematite electrodes for efficient hydrogen production from water and sunlight, thus making a significant contribution to the goal of commercially-viable storage of solar energy in the form of hydrogen.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100129
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,200.00
Summary
Atomic layer nanofabrication system for multi-functional applications. This project aims to establish a multifunctional atomic layer nanofabrication facility in Sydney with the capacity to provide services nation-wide. The facility has powerful capabilities to produce mono-atom thin films, nanosize powders and two-dimensional nanostructures of a variety of materials, including elemental metals, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal sulfides, metal-metal compounds, and polymers. This will significa ....Atomic layer nanofabrication system for multi-functional applications. This project aims to establish a multifunctional atomic layer nanofabrication facility in Sydney with the capacity to provide services nation-wide. The facility has powerful capabilities to produce mono-atom thin films, nanosize powders and two-dimensional nanostructures of a variety of materials, including elemental metals, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal sulfides, metal-metal compounds, and polymers. This will significantly enhance Australian research and industrial activities in the areas of renewable energy production and storage, microelectronics, chemical and bio-sensors, protective coatings, flexible electronic devices, and catalysis.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100188
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
Epitaxial growth facility for advanced materials. An advanced materials fabrication facility accessible to all Australian researchers will be established. This will allow crystal growth at the atomic level for novel materials with applications including fundamental physics, nanocomposites, energy storage and conversion systems, and solar cells.
Engineering a physiologically-relevant blood vessel in vitro . The project will develop an in vitro blood vessel model which will mimic arterial conditions by incorporating vascular cells and silk conduits as scaffolds, for the first time. This approach will overcome the limitations of simplistic 2D cell cultures, the long maturation times of fully tissue-engineered vessels, and resource intensive animal models. The innovative bioengineered construct proposed builds on the CI’s significant advan ....Engineering a physiologically-relevant blood vessel in vitro . The project will develop an in vitro blood vessel model which will mimic arterial conditions by incorporating vascular cells and silk conduits as scaffolds, for the first time. This approach will overcome the limitations of simplistic 2D cell cultures, the long maturation times of fully tissue-engineered vessels, and resource intensive animal models. The innovative bioengineered construct proposed builds on the CI’s significant advances in materials and surface engineering and the Partner Organisation’s (Codex Research) new bioreactor platform. It will offer a solution for modelling of native vessel processes in vitro that would be more appropriate for pre-clinical drug and device development, and in the long-term, tissue replacement.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100098
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Advanced facility for next generation sustainable energy, biomedical & nano-imaging optical fibre technologies. Remote optical fibre technologies are the way forward for effective and safe monitoring of many industries, and will play a big part in the sustainability of Australia's core oil, gas and alternative energy sectors. They are equally important to health industry applications, particularly in medical and imaging technologies. This facility brings together world-class Australian expertise ....Advanced facility for next generation sustainable energy, biomedical & nano-imaging optical fibre technologies. Remote optical fibre technologies are the way forward for effective and safe monitoring of many industries, and will play a big part in the sustainability of Australia's core oil, gas and alternative energy sectors. They are equally important to health industry applications, particularly in medical and imaging technologies. This facility brings together world-class Australian expertise—from across nine universities—in advanced structured optical fibres, complex fibre diagnostic systems, nanoscale imaging, and environment monitoring, to design and implement the next generation of technologies that will reduce the impact of climate change through reduced energy consumption and vastly improved health diagnostics.Read moreRead less