Design of Nanoporous BCN with Tunable Pores for CO2 Capture and Conversion. This project aims to design and develop advanced boron carbon nitride-based materials with high specific surface areas, tunable pores and functional groups, guided by theoretical calculations for the capture of CO2 at ambient conditions. By introducing single metal atoms in the above nanostructures, we also aim to design a novel catalytic system for the effective conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals. This project will o ....Design of Nanoporous BCN with Tunable Pores for CO2 Capture and Conversion. This project aims to design and develop advanced boron carbon nitride-based materials with high specific surface areas, tunable pores and functional groups, guided by theoretical calculations for the capture of CO2 at ambient conditions. By introducing single metal atoms in the above nanostructures, we also aim to design a novel catalytic system for the effective conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals. This project will offer new knowledge on the design of low-cost advanced materials with specific functionalities for the simultaneous capture and conversion of CO2. This project will make a significant impact on Australian industries and further offer job opportunities and economic benefits by offering new technologies for a clean environment.Read moreRead less
Tandem Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to High Value Hydrocarbon Products. Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into hydrocarbon products is ideal for combating anthropogenic emissions whilst reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Despite the significant advantages, CO2 valorisation is hindered by barriers such as high energy requirements and low-value products (methane and carbon monoxide). This project will establish a sustainable approach to CO2 valorisation using a unique tandem solar-driven hie ....Tandem Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to High Value Hydrocarbon Products. Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into hydrocarbon products is ideal for combating anthropogenic emissions whilst reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Despite the significant advantages, CO2 valorisation is hindered by barriers such as high energy requirements and low-value products (methane and carbon monoxide). This project will establish a sustainable approach to CO2 valorisation using a unique tandem solar-driven hierarchical catalyst array to offset energy requirements and directly yield high-value hydrocarbon products, such as ethane (C2H6) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH), from captured CO2.Read moreRead less
Physico-chemical effects on long-time fluid transport for CO2 geostorage. This project aims to develop an efficient multi-scale laboratory-based modelling framework for the analysis of nonequilibrium transport and reaction processes occurring in CO2 storage scenarios. In a significant technological advance two non-destructive analysis techniques, Xray computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance, are combined with pore-scale simulations to address uncertainties in dynamic wettability alter ....Physico-chemical effects on long-time fluid transport for CO2 geostorage. This project aims to develop an efficient multi-scale laboratory-based modelling framework for the analysis of nonequilibrium transport and reaction processes occurring in CO2 storage scenarios. In a significant technological advance two non-destructive analysis techniques, Xray computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance, are combined with pore-scale simulations to address uncertainties in dynamic wettability alteration occurring during gravity driven convection. Expected outcomes are the in-situ characterisation of solid-surface interactions and predictions of multi-phase fluid flow. The project benefits the Australian resources sector by improving injectivity, storage efficiency and security of supercritical CO2 storage projects.Read moreRead less
Mineral Biosequestration of Organic Carbon in Early Pedogenesis of Tailings. Upcycling tailings into soil (technosols developed from technogenic parent materials) offers a sustainable approach to overcome severe topsoil shortage that limits the progress of ecological rehabilitation of tailings across mine sites. This project aims to establish new knowledge on mineral bioweathering, organic carbon (OC) sequestration in rapidly formed mineral phases, and OC turnover driven by colonising microbes a ....Mineral Biosequestration of Organic Carbon in Early Pedogenesis of Tailings. Upcycling tailings into soil (technosols developed from technogenic parent materials) offers a sustainable approach to overcome severe topsoil shortage that limits the progress of ecological rehabilitation of tailings across mine sites. This project aims to establish new knowledge on mineral bioweathering, organic carbon (OC) sequestration in rapidly formed mineral phases, and OC turnover driven by colonising microbes and plant roots, in the early pedogenesis of tailings initiated by inputs of organic and inorganic materials. This new knowledge is required for developing eco-engineering technology adaptable to a wide range of tailings of diverse mineralogy, to achieve sustainable tailings rehabilitation and organic carbon sequestration.Read moreRead less
Novel Characterization of Porous Structure and Surface Chemistry of Carbon. The aim of this project is to develop novel characterisation methods that probe the structure and surface chemistry of carbons, ranging from highly graphitised thermal carbon black through ordered mesoporous carbon to disordered porous activated carbon. The project plans to develop a new generic molecular model based on wedge-shaped pores. Conventional parallel sided pore models fail to account for real structures and th ....Novel Characterization of Porous Structure and Surface Chemistry of Carbon. The aim of this project is to develop novel characterisation methods that probe the structure and surface chemistry of carbons, ranging from highly graphitised thermal carbon black through ordered mesoporous carbon to disordered porous activated carbon. The project plans to develop a new generic molecular model based on wedge-shaped pores. Conventional parallel sided pore models fail to account for real structures and therefore for the physics of adsorption in real materials. The project then plans to back the theoretical model with high-resolution experimental measurements. It is expected that the model will unify the structural analysis for all carbons and account for all experimental isotherms within a rational and physically plausible framework.Read moreRead less
Designing high performance gas separation by interfacial diffusion membrane. This project aims to develop a new generation of interfacial diffusion membranes for industrial gas separations including carbon dioxide removal, nitrogen gas enrichment, methane purification and air separation. The project focuses on advancing separation technologies for the petrochemical, natural gas, and clean energy industries in the mining sector. The project is expected to reveal new separation properties and perf ....Designing high performance gas separation by interfacial diffusion membrane. This project aims to develop a new generation of interfacial diffusion membranes for industrial gas separations including carbon dioxide removal, nitrogen gas enrichment, methane purification and air separation. The project focuses on advancing separation technologies for the petrochemical, natural gas, and clean energy industries in the mining sector. The project is expected to reveal new separation properties and performance based on highly selective interfacial diffusion membranes. The project will also create new scientific knowledge about the role of functional surfaces and nanostructures that will not only facilitate new membrane designs but also offer new, more cost-effective devices for solar conversion, energy storage and harvesting, biomedical applications, sensing and information technology.Read moreRead less
Regulating guest transport in microporous materials by electric field. This project aims to address the fundamentals and applications of regulating micropore accessibility. It has long been known that some highly adsorbing molecular sieves suddenly become inaccessible to gases below certain temperatures. Following a recent breakthrough in elucidating the mechanism of such temperature-regulated guest admission, this project will explore electrical regulation of micropore accessibility in conjunct ....Regulating guest transport in microporous materials by electric field. This project aims to address the fundamentals and applications of regulating micropore accessibility. It has long been known that some highly adsorbing molecular sieves suddenly become inaccessible to gases below certain temperatures. Following a recent breakthrough in elucidating the mechanism of such temperature-regulated guest admission, this project will explore electrical regulation of micropore accessibility in conjunction with developing new mechanisms, materials, and control tools for applications, including tunable molecular sieves, valves and gas encapsulation devices. The outcomes of this project will generate new knowledge in the active manipulation of the admission and release of guest molecules in/out of microporous materials, and establish new expertise and capabilities that can advance gas separation, storage and sensing technologies. It is expected that this project will contribute to the long term benefit in low emission energy supplies and Australia's natural gas industry, improve the separation efficiency of our chemical industry, and boost the development of the hydrogen economy.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
Carbon in a Bubble: Cavitation in Ionic Liquids. This project aims to investigate the potential of pressure-driven phase change as an energy-efficient mechanism for removing dissolved gases from low melting point salts, by advancing understanding of the cavitation behaviour of ionic liquids. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of fluid mechanics through an innovative combination of advanced computational simulations and synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques developed by ....Carbon in a Bubble: Cavitation in Ionic Liquids. This project aims to investigate the potential of pressure-driven phase change as an energy-efficient mechanism for removing dissolved gases from low melting point salts, by advancing understanding of the cavitation behaviour of ionic liquids. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of fluid mechanics through an innovative combination of advanced computational simulations and synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques developed by the investigators. Expected outcomes of this project include expanded understanding of the physics of ionic liquids, and the ability to engineer more efficient gas separation systems. The project aims to benefit the chemical and energy sectors through improved energy efficiency.Read moreRead less
Searching Cohesive Subgraphs in Big Attributed Graph Data. The availability of big attributed graph data brings great opportunities for realizing big values of data. Making sense of such big attributed graph data finds many applications, including health, science, engineering, business, environment, etc. A cohesive subgraph, one of key components that captures the latent properties in a graph, is essential to graph analysis. This project aims to invent effective models of cohesive subgraphs and ....Searching Cohesive Subgraphs in Big Attributed Graph Data. The availability of big attributed graph data brings great opportunities for realizing big values of data. Making sense of such big attributed graph data finds many applications, including health, science, engineering, business, environment, etc. A cohesive subgraph, one of key components that captures the latent properties in a graph, is essential to graph analysis. This project aims to invent effective models of cohesive subgraphs and efficient algorithms for searching and monitoring cohesive subgraphs in big and dynamic attributed graphs from both structure and attribute perspectives. The methods, techniques, and prototype systems developed in this project can be deployed to facilitate the smart use of big graph data across the nation. Read moreRead less