Spinning Nanosheets for Versatile Applications. This project seeks to develop a highly versatile and innovative fibre spinning research platform for fabricating multifunctional hybrid fibres with unprecedented mechanical, electrical and electrochemical properties. The novel fibres to be produced can be assembled into macroscale architectures or be weaved into functional textiles that can feed into relevant technologies and Australian industries such as advanced textiles for wearable energy stora ....Spinning Nanosheets for Versatile Applications. This project seeks to develop a highly versatile and innovative fibre spinning research platform for fabricating multifunctional hybrid fibres with unprecedented mechanical, electrical and electrochemical properties. The novel fibres to be produced can be assembled into macroscale architectures or be weaved into functional textiles that can feed into relevant technologies and Australian industries such as advanced textiles for wearable energy storage and conversion, microelectrodes and sensors, and smart medical/biomedical platforms. More importantly, this project will have far reaching implications across a range of research disciplines, and ultimately sectors critical to Australia’s health, social, and economic future.Read moreRead less
Novel Materials for Dye Sensitised Solar Cells. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to alternative devices. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Novel surface modification approaches and microwave processing will be employed to fabricate the ....Novel Materials for Dye Sensitised Solar Cells. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to alternative devices. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Novel surface modification approaches and microwave processing will be employed to fabricate the nanporous semiconductor electrodes on polymer substrates and to improve cell efficiency. Improved dyes and new electrolyte systems, such as plastic crystals, will be incorporated into the cell to improve efficiency, durability and stability.Read moreRead less
MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF FLEXIBLE DYE SENSITISED SOLAR CELLS. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable and environmentally sustainable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to silicon-based solar cells. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Microwave processing will be employed to fabr ....MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF FLEXIBLE DYE SENSITISED SOLAR CELLS. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable and environmentally sustainable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to silicon-based solar cells. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Microwave processing will be employed to fabricate the semiconductor layers on polymer substrates. Novel surface modification approaches will be examined to facilitate microwave processing and improve cell efficienRead moreRead less
Zeolitic Nanoflake-Polymer Composite Membranes for Low Energy Desalination. The desalination of seawater is becoming an important source of drinking water for Australia. The current desalination process using polymer membranes is energy-intensive. The proposed project will contribute to the development of low energy desalination technology by advancing membrane design and fabrication techniques. The use of zeolitic nanoflake-polymer composite membranes developed in this project is expected to su ....Zeolitic Nanoflake-Polymer Composite Membranes for Low Energy Desalination. The desalination of seawater is becoming an important source of drinking water for Australia. The current desalination process using polymer membranes is energy-intensive. The proposed project will contribute to the development of low energy desalination technology by advancing membrane design and fabrication techniques. The use of zeolitic nanoflake-polymer composite membranes developed in this project is expected to substantially reduce energy consumption in the desalination process. This research will produce important economic and environmental benefits by developing a green technology for fresh water production and water treatment for power generation, irrigation and other industrial uses.Read moreRead less
Perpetual photothermal modulation with scalable hybrid graphene films. This project aims to develop a perpetual photothermal modulation theory and device to deliver a highly selective and tunable broadband spectral filter across the entire visible and infrared wavelength range. The tuned nanostructure of the hybrid film can provide an environmentally-friendly solution for efficient thermal energy manipulation. This project significantly contributes to the fundamental understanding of photo-phono ....Perpetual photothermal modulation with scalable hybrid graphene films. This project aims to develop a perpetual photothermal modulation theory and device to deliver a highly selective and tunable broadband spectral filter across the entire visible and infrared wavelength range. The tuned nanostructure of the hybrid film can provide an environmentally-friendly solution for efficient thermal energy manipulation. This project significantly contributes to the fundamental understanding of photo-phonon interactions. The high performance photothermal modulation devices are low-cost and scalable, rendering them of tremendous value for other highly relevant sectors involving thermal energy.Read moreRead less
Interface Engineering of Multilayer Nanostructures. Nanostructured multilayers can outperform coatings of their constituent layers in both hardness and strength. It is believed that the nature of interfaces in these materials is critical since they mediate dislocation motion and crack propagation. This project will use advanced synthesis, microanalysis and theoretical methods to investigate multilayer coatings with sharp, diffuse and rough interfaces in order to reveal their failure mechanisms u ....Interface Engineering of Multilayer Nanostructures. Nanostructured multilayers can outperform coatings of their constituent layers in both hardness and strength. It is believed that the nature of interfaces in these materials is critical since they mediate dislocation motion and crack propagation. This project will use advanced synthesis, microanalysis and theoretical methods to investigate multilayer coatings with sharp, diffuse and rough interfaces in order to reveal their failure mechanisms under stress. This will enable us to understand the principles required to design the strongest structures and facilitate the selection of materials and deposition parameters in order to produce coatings optimised for a range of demanding applications.Read moreRead less
Development and application of WO3-Mica Multifunctional Nanocomposites . This project aims to develop innovative techniques to produce advanced tungsten oxide/metal oxide/mica composites for paint applications. The findings will be used to develop pearlescent paints for diverse applications in a range of industries, with the potential for huge benefits in improving the value of metal oxides and mica. The findings will be useful in the development of other new materials and provide a foundation f ....Development and application of WO3-Mica Multifunctional Nanocomposites . This project aims to develop innovative techniques to produce advanced tungsten oxide/metal oxide/mica composites for paint applications. The findings will be used to develop pearlescent paints for diverse applications in a range of industries, with the potential for huge benefits in improving the value of metal oxides and mica. The findings will be useful in the development of other new materials and provide a foundation for new applications such as photochromic and self-cleaning paints. This will generate opportunities to develop and apply advanced knowledge to solve significant problems in industry, leading to national economic growth by adding high values of mineral resources in Australia.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101637
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,318.00
Summary
Heterogeneous Molecular Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Conversion. This project aims to develop a series of structure-tailored, activity-enhanced and selectivity-oriented heterogeneous molecular catalysts for efficiently converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into value-added fuels and chemicals. Innovations are expected in the rational design and engineering of materials, new mechanistic findings from computation and in-situ characterisation, and breakthroughs in CO2 conversion. Expected outcomes includ ....Heterogeneous Molecular Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Conversion. This project aims to develop a series of structure-tailored, activity-enhanced and selectivity-oriented heterogeneous molecular catalysts for efficiently converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into value-added fuels and chemicals. Innovations are expected in the rational design and engineering of materials, new mechanistic findings from computation and in-situ characterisation, and breakthroughs in CO2 conversion. Expected outcomes include new synthesis methods, innovative multi-structural engineering strategies, thorough reaction mechanism understanding, and high-performance commercially-relevant CO2 reduction electrolysis. Benefits include a sustainable future for Australia with decreased CO2 emissions and increased green-fuel production.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Development of two-dimensional nanoporous membranes. This project aims to develop new desalination membranes able to selectively remove contaminants from liquid effluents with greater cost efficiency and lower environmental footprint. It aims to do this by forming hierarchical membranes, where nanoscale pores generated across nano-porous two-dimensional materials are seeded with highly selective micro-porous crystals. These membranes will reduce the cost of desalination, developing new markets b ....Development of two-dimensional nanoporous membranes. This project aims to develop new desalination membranes able to selectively remove contaminants from liquid effluents with greater cost efficiency and lower environmental footprint. It aims to do this by forming hierarchical membranes, where nanoscale pores generated across nano-porous two-dimensional materials are seeded with highly selective micro-porous crystals. These membranes will reduce the cost of desalination, developing new markets beyond the sole field of water desalination, in resource, solvent recovery and protein fractionation.Read moreRead less
Nanotechnology enabled electrochemical energy storage materials from indigenous natural graphite. This project aims to develop a technology package for reclamation of fine-fractions of indigenous natural graphite to create high-value, nano-engineered 'graphene-based' energy storage materials. A multidisciplinary team of experts in materials science, chemical engineering, physics and electrochemistry will address this issue of national priority.