Aligning and Chaining Carbon Nanofillers in Fibre Composites: Synergistically Improving Damage Tolerance and Diagnosis. Recent studies reveal that alternating electric or magnetic fields can rotate conductive nanofillers in polymers. This project aims to advance a new concept of aligning nano-scale reinforcements (for example, graphene nano-sheets and carbon nanofibres) along the thickness direction of composite materials. The alignment of nano-sized reinforcement will address the perennial prob ....Aligning and Chaining Carbon Nanofillers in Fibre Composites: Synergistically Improving Damage Tolerance and Diagnosis. Recent studies reveal that alternating electric or magnetic fields can rotate conductive nanofillers in polymers. This project aims to advance a new concept of aligning nano-scale reinforcements (for example, graphene nano-sheets and carbon nanofibres) along the thickness direction of composite materials. The alignment of nano-sized reinforcement will address the perennial problem of through-thickness weaknesses of fibre-reinforced composites and, at the same time, improve the electrical conductivity of composites. The synergistic improvements in the mechanical and electrical properties will improve damage tolerance and diagnosis of composites, thus expanding their applications in transport and civil construction to help reduce carbon dioxide emission.Read moreRead less
Multi-functional graphene interleaves in multi-scale carbon fibre reinforced composites. This research project will lead to the development of a new class of multi-functional composites with improved mechanical/fracture performance and in-built health monitoring capability. The new composite systems will revolutionise the design of composite structures for the new generation aerospace vehicles.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100656
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,742.00
Summary
Aqueous-based potassium ion batteries for scalable energy storage. The aim of this project is to develop aqueous-based potassium ion batteries for new energy storage applications that currently have barely been studied. This project will design novel cathode/anode materials and electrolytes to significantly advance knowledge in this new technology. The expected outcomes include high-performance aqueous-based potassium ion batteries, while new fundamental knowledge of the reaction mechanisms will ....Aqueous-based potassium ion batteries for scalable energy storage. The aim of this project is to develop aqueous-based potassium ion batteries for new energy storage applications that currently have barely been studied. This project will design novel cathode/anode materials and electrolytes to significantly advance knowledge in this new technology. The expected outcomes include high-performance aqueous-based potassium ion batteries, while new fundamental knowledge of the reaction mechanisms will enhance our research capabilities to position Australia as a leader in potassium ion storage.Read moreRead less
Accelerated discovery of solar hydrogen photocatalysts. Solar photocatalysis is recognised as an environmentally sustainable process for production of Hydrogen. The adaptation of sophisticated machine learning to innovate solar photocatalysis hydrogen evolution is under question. We aim to harvest scientific principles and integrate with robust protocols to obtain a machine-augmented rational workflow guiding and accelerating discovery of optimal catalysts for solar hydrogen production – solving ....Accelerated discovery of solar hydrogen photocatalysts. Solar photocatalysis is recognised as an environmentally sustainable process for production of Hydrogen. The adaptation of sophisticated machine learning to innovate solar photocatalysis hydrogen evolution is under question. We aim to harvest scientific principles and integrate with robust protocols to obtain a machine-augmented rational workflow guiding and accelerating discovery of optimal catalysts for solar hydrogen production – solving a major bottleneck. The project will contribute largely to Australia’s renewable energy sector; fundamental knowledge-based cognitive photocatalysis platform would be conveniently scalable and transferable to mechanistically relevant processes, such as ammonia synthesis and greenhouse gas reduction.Read moreRead less
Recyclable and Rechargeable All-Solid-State Sodium Ion Batteries. This project aims to design a new generation recyclable and rechargeable all-solid-state sodium ion battery. We will use low cost and abundant sodium as a substitute for expensive and limited lithium to reduce material and environmental costs, and will develop ceramic/polymer composites as safe and environmentally friendly solid-state electrolytes to replace flammable and toxic organic liquid electrolytes. Furthermore, we design a ....Recyclable and Rechargeable All-Solid-State Sodium Ion Batteries. This project aims to design a new generation recyclable and rechargeable all-solid-state sodium ion battery. We will use low cost and abundant sodium as a substitute for expensive and limited lithium to reduce material and environmental costs, and will develop ceramic/polymer composites as safe and environmentally friendly solid-state electrolytes to replace flammable and toxic organic liquid electrolytes. Furthermore, we design a recyclable battery configuration to allow rapid, low cost and green recycling of end-of-life batteries. The new battery will be a safe, low cost and sustainable energy storage technology for the multi-billion dollar electric vehicle and smart grid markets while simultaneously addressing battery recycling issues.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101795
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating ....Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating the mechanisms of exceptionally large elastic strains achieved in nanowires embedded in a phase-transforming metallic matrix (i.e. NiTi). An understanding of this high performance nanocomposite design has broad application in medicine and engineering.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100131
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,000.00
Summary
Photo-electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in gas phase. This project aims to develop a highly efficient gas-phase photo-electrocatalytic process for converting carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals or fuels, through an integrated dual-chamber system. The project expects to use this new system to simplify the catalysis process and precisely control the reaction conditions, in order to investigate the reaction mechanism of carbon dioxide reduction and develop innovative photocatalysts ....Photo-electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in gas phase. This project aims to develop a highly efficient gas-phase photo-electrocatalytic process for converting carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals or fuels, through an integrated dual-chamber system. The project expects to use this new system to simplify the catalysis process and precisely control the reaction conditions, in order to investigate the reaction mechanism of carbon dioxide reduction and develop innovative photocatalysts and electrocatalysts. Successful implementation of this project should yield fundamental new knowledge in catalysis and material areas, promote the study of carbon dioxide recycle use to confront the worldwide environmental issues and energy crisis.Read moreRead less
Novel multiscale fibre composites for cryogenic space technologies. This project aims to develop new composite materials technologies for cryogenic space applications. Multifunctional nanomaterials with negative thermal expansion properties will be developed to simultaneously reduce thermal stress and improve fracture toughness, suppressing microcracking of fibre composites observed in current materials at cryogenic temperatures. New interleaves will be developed to act as gas barriers and provi ....Novel multiscale fibre composites for cryogenic space technologies. This project aims to develop new composite materials technologies for cryogenic space applications. Multifunctional nanomaterials with negative thermal expansion properties will be developed to simultaneously reduce thermal stress and improve fracture toughness, suppressing microcracking of fibre composites observed in current materials at cryogenic temperatures. New interleaves will be developed to act as gas barriers and provide strength. The composites will provide a new lightweight solution for storing cryogenic propellants such as liquid hydrogen and oxygen, for the next generation re-usable spacecraft. The outcomes of this project will enable Australian companies to produce and export specialised, high-performance composite products.Read moreRead less
Mechanical modulation of particle-cell interactions. Mechanical forces play critical roles in many biological processes, but how particle mechanical properties modulate particle-cell interactions remains elusive. This project aims to develop new design principles for engineering nano/micromaterials with tunable mechanical properties for improved cell activation and expansion, and to advance knowledge of the role of particle stiffness in modulating receptor-mediated particle-cell interactions. Ex ....Mechanical modulation of particle-cell interactions. Mechanical forces play critical roles in many biological processes, but how particle mechanical properties modulate particle-cell interactions remains elusive. This project aims to develop new design principles for engineering nano/micromaterials with tunable mechanical properties for improved cell activation and expansion, and to advance knowledge of the role of particle stiffness in modulating receptor-mediated particle-cell interactions. Expected outcomes and benefits include new fundamental understanding of the effect of particle mechanical properties on cell function, new insights into T cell activation and expansion, and new classes of stiffness-tunable fit-for-purpose materials for various applications in cell manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100050
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,263,000.00
Summary
Interfacial design and engineering for high-performance batteries. This Fellowship aims to design the next generation of batteries - for use in portable devices, electric vehicles and smart grids - that will overcome the energy density, cycle life, and safety issues, and will contribute to a more sustainable future. This comprehensive and ground-breaking research program combines experiment and theory of electrode/electrolyte interfacial behaviour with materials engineering, to develop a toolkit ....Interfacial design and engineering for high-performance batteries. This Fellowship aims to design the next generation of batteries - for use in portable devices, electric vehicles and smart grids - that will overcome the energy density, cycle life, and safety issues, and will contribute to a more sustainable future. This comprehensive and ground-breaking research program combines experiment and theory of electrode/electrolyte interfacial behaviour with materials engineering, to develop a toolkit of new battery design principles. The program expects to deliver high energy-density batteries with outstanding safety profiles and extended cycle lives. These outcomes would revolutionise battery technologies and position Australia as a global leader in the critical transition to a decarbonised economy.
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