Tough bio-derived and biodegradable wood plastic composites. This project aims for the development of tough bio-based and biodegradable wood plastic composites (WPCs), directly addressing a key end-user demand that performance of bio-WPCs must be at least comparable with existing commercial WPCs. The project expects to generate key innovations such as developing a new, high performance, bio-based and biodegradable WPC by incorporating native spinifex-derived nano-cellulose fibres, ensuring excel ....Tough bio-derived and biodegradable wood plastic composites. This project aims for the development of tough bio-based and biodegradable wood plastic composites (WPCs), directly addressing a key end-user demand that performance of bio-WPCs must be at least comparable with existing commercial WPCs. The project expects to generate key innovations such as developing a new, high performance, bio-based and biodegradable WPC by incorporating native spinifex-derived nano-cellulose fibres, ensuring excellent, molecular-level dispersion with a novel low-cost and energy-efficient wet-mix technology. This will provide significant benefits as it will lead to new products and markets for the Australian forestry industry and for rural and indigenous Australia, maximising Australia’s competitive advantage in biomass-derived products.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,943,949.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites. There is unprecedented growth in demand for bioderived and biodegradable materials. This Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites will capitalise on Australia’s abundance of the requisite natural bioresources to drive advances in technology for the development of bioplastic and biocomposite products for the new bioeconomy. The aim is to deliver leading edge research with a holistic focus on technical, social, policy and end of life so ....ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites. There is unprecedented growth in demand for bioderived and biodegradable materials. This Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites will capitalise on Australia’s abundance of the requisite natural bioresources to drive advances in technology for the development of bioplastic and biocomposite products for the new bioeconomy. The aim is to deliver leading edge research with a holistic focus on technical, social, policy and end of life solutions, training a cohort of industry ready research specialists to underpin Australia’s transition to a globally significant bioplastics and biocomposites industry, while at the same time laying the foundations for accelerated growth in this space.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,000.00
Summary
Ultra-high resolution and advanced analytical scanning electron microscope facility. This scanning electron microscope facility will form an essential part of characterising a broad range of material types, from nanometre sized particles through to cells and their interactions.
Corrosion of heat resisting alloys in steam/hydrogen-rich environment . Hydrogen is a clean fuel for energy future. Its production and utilisation unavoidably involve water vapour and hydrogen at high temperature which is however corrosive to materials used in the system. This project aims to investigate corrosion behaviour of heat resistant alloys in the presence of both hydrogen and water vapour, mechanisms of water transport in oxide scale, and the effect of hydrogen on water vapour corrosion ....Corrosion of heat resisting alloys in steam/hydrogen-rich environment . Hydrogen is a clean fuel for energy future. Its production and utilisation unavoidably involve water vapour and hydrogen at high temperature which is however corrosive to materials used in the system. This project aims to investigate corrosion behaviour of heat resistant alloys in the presence of both hydrogen and water vapour, mechanisms of water transport in oxide scale, and the effect of hydrogen on water vapour corrosion. Alloying effects on corrosion rates will be defined and methods of slowing or preventing water vapour corrosion in the presence of hydrogen will be devised. The results will provide a basis for improved design/selection of heat resisting alloys for hydrogen production and hydrogen utilisation industries.Read moreRead less
Controlling Anisotropic Growth of Metal Oxide Crystals in Aqueous Solution by Selective Adsorption of Small Molecules. The proposed research will enhance our ability to make both light emitting diodes (LEDs) and piezoelectric actuators from ZnO. LEDs are a high efficiency light source that save energy compared to conventional illumination sources and can be fabricated in thin films. The proposal is to also bring the technology for device fabrication to Australia where it can ultimately be used ....Controlling Anisotropic Growth of Metal Oxide Crystals in Aqueous Solution by Selective Adsorption of Small Molecules. The proposed research will enhance our ability to make both light emitting diodes (LEDs) and piezoelectric actuators from ZnO. LEDs are a high efficiency light source that save energy compared to conventional illumination sources and can be fabricated in thin films. The proposal is to also bring the technology for device fabrication to Australia where it can ultimately be used to broaden the economic base of the country. The knowledge of crystal growth rate and crystal morphology control can be applied to improvements in the efficiency of alumina production which is already an important contributor to Australian exports.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101190
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,292.00
Summary
Designing low-toxicity and stable perovskites for solar energy conversion. Efficient solar energy conversion systems can significantly promote sustainable and low carbon-emission economy. This project aims to rationally design low-toxic and stable metal halide perovskites for efficient solar hydrogen conversion. The key concept is to design stable lead-free metal halide perovskite semiconductors with superior photophysical properties for solar-driven valuable chemical production. Expected outcom ....Designing low-toxicity and stable perovskites for solar energy conversion. Efficient solar energy conversion systems can significantly promote sustainable and low carbon-emission economy. This project aims to rationally design low-toxic and stable metal halide perovskites for efficient solar hydrogen conversion. The key concept is to design stable lead-free metal halide perovskite semiconductors with superior photophysical properties for solar-driven valuable chemical production. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced materials and proof-of-concept technologies for efficient solar hydrogen generation. The successful completion of this project will benefit Australia by positioning the nation at the frontier of advanced functional materials and renewable energy supply technologies.Read moreRead less
Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Sustainable hydrogen production is highly significant towards decarbonised economy. This project aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelecrochemical hydrogen production. The key concept is to design toxic Lead free/less OHPQDs for use as stable photoelectrode materials in self-powered sunlight driven water splitting devices. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced mat ....Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Sustainable hydrogen production is highly significant towards decarbonised economy. This project aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelecrochemical hydrogen production. The key concept is to design toxic Lead free/less OHPQDs for use as stable photoelectrode materials in self-powered sunlight driven water splitting devices. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced materials and revolutionary technologies for efficient solar hydrogen generation. The successful completion of this project will significantly benefit Australia by positioning the nation at the frontier of renewable hydrogen supply technologies. Read moreRead less
Atomic scale information for the design of nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a new tool to measure the 3-D distribution of atoms within nanoparticles. For the rational design of nanoparticles, it is necessary to compare the atomic scale structure to the resulting performance. But this information is hard to access. This projects aims to develop new methods so that atom probe microscopy can be applied to experimentally measure the precise 3-D location and identity of the individual atom ....Atomic scale information for the design of nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a new tool to measure the 3-D distribution of atoms within nanoparticles. For the rational design of nanoparticles, it is necessary to compare the atomic scale structure to the resulting performance. But this information is hard to access. This projects aims to develop new methods so that atom probe microscopy can be applied to experimentally measure the precise 3-D location and identity of the individual atoms within nanoparticles, and apply them in the development of alloy catalyst nanoparticles that could make the sustainable production of liquid fuels from biomass commercially viable. These new tools would be useful across the wide range of engineering applications for which nanomaterials are currently being developed.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
A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of de ....A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of developing functional materials for more efficient solar energy conversion and storage. Expected outcomes include prototypes of the next generation advanced materials and technologies for sustainable energy utilisation systems for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity.Read moreRead less