Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101300
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Probing interfacial impedance in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. This project aims to investigate the mechanism behind the high impedance at the interface between electrodes and the solid electrolyte in solid-state lithium-ion batteries using advanced in-situ transmission electron microscopy. The outcomes will deepen knowledge in chemical and structural evolution at the electrode–electrolyte interface during battery operation under different conditions, and thus inform the design and fabr ....Probing interfacial impedance in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. This project aims to investigate the mechanism behind the high impedance at the interface between electrodes and the solid electrolyte in solid-state lithium-ion batteries using advanced in-situ transmission electron microscopy. The outcomes will deepen knowledge in chemical and structural evolution at the electrode–electrolyte interface during battery operation under different conditions, and thus inform the design and fabrication of safe, high power, and long lasting solid-state batteries for a myriad of portable electronic devices and the emerging electric vehicles.Read moreRead less
High Energy Density - High Delivery Rate Thermal Energy Storage. This project aims to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources using novel thermal storage media. Advanced heat transfer modelling and in situ neutron diffraction and imaging are intended to be used to optimise the microstructure of newly developed miscibility gap thermal storage systems. The new media store energy as the latent heat of fusion of one phase in a stable, high thermal conductivity inverted microstructure. ....High Energy Density - High Delivery Rate Thermal Energy Storage. This project aims to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources using novel thermal storage media. Advanced heat transfer modelling and in situ neutron diffraction and imaging are intended to be used to optimise the microstructure of newly developed miscibility gap thermal storage systems. The new media store energy as the latent heat of fusion of one phase in a stable, high thermal conductivity inverted microstructure. The high energy density of the latent heat (0.5-4.5 Mega Joules/Litre) requires storage volumes as little as five per cent of those relying upon heat capacity and the metal matrix has a hundred-fold greater thermal conductivity than current systems. It is proposed that a range of such materials will be engineered for concentrated solar thermal and space heating applications.Read moreRead less
Application of tuneable nanofluids in regenerative supercritical power generation. The proposed project combines the simplicity, flexibility, robustness and thermodynamic effectiveness of GRANEXTM cycle with the advances recently made in nanotechnology. If deployed across Australia to recover even 50 per cent of the 11,000 Gigawatt hour annual bioenergy potential, it will generate a revenue stream of approximately $550 million per annum while reducing greenhouse emissions by 14 mega tonne, which ....Application of tuneable nanofluids in regenerative supercritical power generation. The proposed project combines the simplicity, flexibility, robustness and thermodynamic effectiveness of GRANEXTM cycle with the advances recently made in nanotechnology. If deployed across Australia to recover even 50 per cent of the 11,000 Gigawatt hour annual bioenergy potential, it will generate a revenue stream of approximately $550 million per annum while reducing greenhouse emissions by 14 mega tonne, which is about 2.5 per cent of the annual national emissions. The proposed research will place Australia within the forefront of the research and development activities in the field of low grade heat recovery and will clearly contribute the Australian Government's National Research Priority an environmentally sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Redox-sensitised dense graphene to boost compact supercapacitors. This project will create redox-sensitised ion-accessible dense graphene to improve the energy density of supercapacitors (SCs). The energy density of SCs is a bottle neck for long-lasting power supply to vehicles, small devices and mobile electronics. By incorporating a redox coordination framework in shrunk graphene to increase the charge storage capacity and speed up the charge movement and further incorporating ionic liquids in ....Redox-sensitised dense graphene to boost compact supercapacitors. This project will create redox-sensitised ion-accessible dense graphene to improve the energy density of supercapacitors (SCs). The energy density of SCs is a bottle neck for long-lasting power supply to vehicles, small devices and mobile electronics. By incorporating a redox coordination framework in shrunk graphene to increase the charge storage capacity and speed up the charge movement and further incorporating ionic liquids in the tailored electrodes, the project will produce SC’s with higher operating voltage and longer cycle life. Such SCs will possess dramatically high energy density, without compromising the power density. This project will improve the efficiency of modern electronics through the development of the next generation of SCs.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Waste Heat Recovery from Low-grade Heat Sources Using a Novel Supercritical Power Cycle. Compared with conventional technologies for waste heat recovery, GRANEX cycle offers higher thermal efficiencies, better economics and a greater degree of robustness. If deployed ascross the country to recover even 10% of the nation's waste heat, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by 9 mega tonne which is roughly 1.6% of the annual national emissions. That is equivalent to the yearly CO2 emissions ....Enhanced Waste Heat Recovery from Low-grade Heat Sources Using a Novel Supercritical Power Cycle. Compared with conventional technologies for waste heat recovery, GRANEX cycle offers higher thermal efficiencies, better economics and a greater degree of robustness. If deployed ascross the country to recover even 10% of the nation's waste heat, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by 9 mega tonne which is roughly 1.6% of the annual national emissions. That is equivalent to the yearly CO2 emissions from 648,000 houses or 2 million cars. The proposed research will place Australia within the forefront of the research and development activities in the field of waste heat recovery and will clearly contribute to the Federal Government’s effort in the National Research Priority 1, An Environmentally Sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100504
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,000.00
Summary
Interphases and interfaces of nanomaterials in potassium-ion batteries. This project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of interfacial interactions in multicomponent materials, which is a critical precursor to successfully designing and experimentally validating novel layered sulphide systems for potassium-ion batteries. A new layered structure construction technique will be employed to enhance the intrinsic electronic and ionic conductivities in the anode by controllable interphase a ....Interphases and interfaces of nanomaterials in potassium-ion batteries. This project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of interfacial interactions in multicomponent materials, which is a critical precursor to successfully designing and experimentally validating novel layered sulphide systems for potassium-ion batteries. A new layered structure construction technique will be employed to enhance the intrinsic electronic and ionic conductivities in the anode by controllable interphase and interface engineering. The expected outcomes of this project are to generate potassiumion batteries with high energy density, high safety, and long cycle life for next generation energy storage. This project should give Australia a competitive edge in the globally emerging sustainable manufacturing and energy-storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100362
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Nanostructured metal hydrides for practical hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to synthesise nanostructured metal hydrides with particle size smaller than 5 nm. The practical applications of metal hydrides as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials require substantial knowledge and delicate engineering of materials on the nanoscale. Combined with controllable modification on the nanoscale, the optimised metal hydrides will enhance the performance of hydrogen storage materia ....Nanostructured metal hydrides for practical hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to synthesise nanostructured metal hydrides with particle size smaller than 5 nm. The practical applications of metal hydrides as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials require substantial knowledge and delicate engineering of materials on the nanoscale. Combined with controllable modification on the nanoscale, the optimised metal hydrides will enhance the performance of hydrogen storage materials. This project is expected to advance understanding of the technologies of metal hydrides as hydrogen storage materials and develop practical applications of metal hydrides in storage tanks for fuel cells. Hydrogen energy could also reduce carbon dioxide emissions and alleviate air pollution.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional trilayer separator for durable multivalent energy storage. This project aims to develop an important new family of economical, high energy, multivalent batteries based on an abundant element, sulphur. The project plans to design a new battery separator to enable long-term stability in sulphur-based rechargeable batteries. This type of separator is of critical importance in many membrane-involved energy storage technologies. The project plans to use leading-edge durable energy tec ....Multifunctional trilayer separator for durable multivalent energy storage. This project aims to develop an important new family of economical, high energy, multivalent batteries based on an abundant element, sulphur. The project plans to design a new battery separator to enable long-term stability in sulphur-based rechargeable batteries. This type of separator is of critical importance in many membrane-involved energy storage technologies. The project plans to use leading-edge durable energy technologies to strengthen the development of residential energy systems and the involvement of renewable energy sources in modern grid.Read moreRead less
Improved design and operational efficiency of small wind turbines in unsteady flows. The purpose of this research is to improve the design and performance of small wind turbines for energy generation. The expected outcomes are novel control strategies and mechanical designs that account for unsteady aerodynamics and its effects on structural loads and power quality. Recommendations to improve current design standards will be made.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100131
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Multifunctional micro/nano-engineered solar thermal receivers. This project is designed to develop a new class of thermal receivers that overcome key challenges in today's concentrating solar thermal systems. The development of accurate micro/nanofabrication and characterisation techniques in recent years has made it possible to achieve thermofluid devices that are engineered from the bottom up to achieve high performance at relatively low cost. This project aims to develop a new class of solar ....Multifunctional micro/nano-engineered solar thermal receivers. This project is designed to develop a new class of thermal receivers that overcome key challenges in today's concentrating solar thermal systems. The development of accurate micro/nanofabrication and characterisation techniques in recent years has made it possible to achieve thermofluid devices that are engineered from the bottom up to achieve high performance at relatively low cost. This project aims to develop a new class of solar thermal receivers which use micro/nanotechnology to directly absorb concentrated solar energy with very little pumping power and minimal radiative heat loss. By tailoring the geometry and materials inside the receiver, the project expects to achieve a unique level of integrated optical, heat transfer and fluid flow control.Read moreRead less