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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100820
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Nanowire photoelectrodes for carbon dioxide conversion. Returning carbon dioxide (CO2) to a useful state is a significant and challenging problem which requires appropriate devices and energy input. By utilising sunlight as a promising and green energy input, the conversion of CO2 into liquid fuel would positively impact the global carbon balance. This project aims to prepare abundant, non-toxic and sufficiently active photoelectrodes with one dimensional nanostructure, then develop appropriate ....Nanowire photoelectrodes for carbon dioxide conversion. Returning carbon dioxide (CO2) to a useful state is a significant and challenging problem which requires appropriate devices and energy input. By utilising sunlight as a promising and green energy input, the conversion of CO2 into liquid fuel would positively impact the global carbon balance. This project aims to prepare abundant, non-toxic and sufficiently active photoelectrodes with one dimensional nanostructure, then develop appropriate and robust photoelectrochemical devices to convert CO2 into liquid fuels. This project aims to help reduce the atmospheric CO2 concentrations and explore a new energy source.Read moreRead less
Engineering the Building Blocks of Novel Interfacial Metastable Oxide Materials. This project aims to engineer the building blocks of a new family of materials recently discovered and patented as interfacial metastable oxide (i-MOx). A key discovery is the interfacial columnar atom alignment adjacent to crystal structures, conferring the materials exceptional ionic conduction well beyond the state-of-the-art, with a broad appeal to ionic transport membranes, electrodes in fuel cells and thermal ....Engineering the Building Blocks of Novel Interfacial Metastable Oxide Materials. This project aims to engineer the building blocks of a new family of materials recently discovered and patented as interfacial metastable oxide (i-MOx). A key discovery is the interfacial columnar atom alignment adjacent to crystal structures, conferring the materials exceptional ionic conduction well beyond the state-of-the-art, with a broad appeal to ionic transport membranes, electrodes in fuel cells and thermal cycling oxygen production. Advanced characterisation techniques will be employed to fundamentally elucidate the role that the interfacial structure plays to deliver remarkable performance. The outcomes will lead to possible breakthroughs in advanced materials for emerging green energy applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101094
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Precision Spectroscopy of CO2 Exchange in Hydrates for Clean Energy Production. Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration is a widely considered climate change mitigation strategy. Clathrate hydrates of natural gas, found in deep-water ocean sediments, represent a tremendous opportunity for simultaneous carbon dioxide sequestration and clean energy production. By injecting carbon dioxide into the hydrate reservoir, methane can be displaced and replaced by carbon dioxide. This project will use Ram ....Precision Spectroscopy of CO2 Exchange in Hydrates for Clean Energy Production. Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration is a widely considered climate change mitigation strategy. Clathrate hydrates of natural gas, found in deep-water ocean sediments, represent a tremendous opportunity for simultaneous carbon dioxide sequestration and clean energy production. By injecting carbon dioxide into the hydrate reservoir, methane can be displaced and replaced by carbon dioxide. This project will use Raman spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance imaged core-flood experiments to develop a fundamental understanding of the exchange mechanisms governing the replacement of the methane molecule in the hydrate cage with carbon dioxide. This knowledge will be critical for future development of these resources to safely extract methane from sub-sea hydrates.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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
A facility for non-destructive quantification of coal structures, composition and percolation fluid flows in energy and environmental applications. The facility will advance our scientific understanding of 3D micro- and nanostructures of coal under various mechanical and chemical conditions. It will help develop process innovation and breakthrough technologies for energy and environmental applications. It will also enhance the research capabilities of the collaborating institutions.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100523
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,446.00
Summary
Tailoring efficient photo-thermal catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction. This project aims to develop a highly solar-efficient and environmentally-friendly approach to reducing greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels that will be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. New multifunctional catalysts will be constructed by combining various catalytic active centres and optical promoters, for optimising energy efficiency and reaction activity. ....Tailoring efficient photo-thermal catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction. This project aims to develop a highly solar-efficient and environmentally-friendly approach to reducing greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels that will be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. New multifunctional catalysts will be constructed by combining various catalytic active centres and optical promoters, for optimising energy efficiency and reaction activity. Such knowledge gained is essential for the success of the low-carbon industry and a more environmentally-friendly energy economy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100205
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A novel high-pressure system for multiple gas adsorption. This facility will equip researchers with analytical capabilities for research in the field of multi-gas adsorption. The facility will be of great significance to clean energy research, such as greenhouse gas emission control and hydrogen production and storage.
Solar-driven massive hydrogen production from biomass and biomass/coal mixtures by supercritical water gasification. Cheap and massive hydrogen production from renewable resources is one of the key challenges to achieve a hydrogen economy that promises to ultimately solve critical problems, such as energy depletion and climate change. This project exactly falls into this research and development priority and will benefit Australian economy and environment.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100329
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with water into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. This project aims to develop a highly efficient photocatalytic process for converting CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels and high value-added chemicals. This new technology can reduce CO2 concentrations in the environment and provide a feasible mean to produce non-fossil fuels and industrial chemicals that society has to depend upon.