Improving solar energy utilisation by splitting water with visible light. The project seeks to improve solar-hydrogen fuel production via water splitting by addressing a fundamental scientific roadblock. By engineered nanostructures with controlled charge transfer abilities, the most desirable route to water splitting will be promoted; granting Australia an opportunity to develop a solar-based renewable fuel.
All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic i ....All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic interfacial layers that change smoothly from hard ceramic to flexible glass and back again, through rigorous chemical design and synthetic control. This will reduce the stress that causes mechanical failure, while increasing chemical stability so that the latest generation of high-power electrodes can be brought into service.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100596
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to de ....Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to develop novel Li2S-rich cathode materials with high lithium-ion conductivity, which will form the basis of all-solid-state Li–S batteries with high energy density. The new battery is expected to have wide applications in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable energy storage.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100350
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Sodium inventory for sodium-ion batteries. This project aims to increase the energy density and cycle life of sodium-ion batteries by investigating practical ways to increase the amount of cycleable sodium ions. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of energy storage using an innovative approach to address the key issues facing sodium-ion batteries. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a novel high-energy sodium-ion battery, achieved by practical sod ....Sodium inventory for sodium-ion batteries. This project aims to increase the energy density and cycle life of sodium-ion batteries by investigating practical ways to increase the amount of cycleable sodium ions. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of energy storage using an innovative approach to address the key issues facing sodium-ion batteries. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a novel high-energy sodium-ion battery, achieved by practical sodium inventory solutions and fundamental understanding of internal battery processes. This should provide significant benefits including lowering the cost of energy storage, decreasing the reliance on lithium, and facilitating society’s shift towards renewable and sustainable energy sources.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100237
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,754.00
Summary
A new method to realise zero thermal expansion materials. The aim of the project is to produce a novel method to create zero thermal expansion materials. It is anticipated that this new method will be faster and provide an unprecedented level of control of the thermal expansion properties of the materials. Since thermal degradation plagues components in industry, for example in all engines and electronics, a zero thermal expansion material can indefinitely avoid such problems and thereby increas ....A new method to realise zero thermal expansion materials. The aim of the project is to produce a novel method to create zero thermal expansion materials. It is anticipated that this new method will be faster and provide an unprecedented level of control of the thermal expansion properties of the materials. Since thermal degradation plagues components in industry, for example in all engines and electronics, a zero thermal expansion material can indefinitely avoid such problems and thereby increase the life of the components or devices. This project will also potentially deliver an understanding of the mechanisms behind zero thermal expansion, thus allowing the rational design of future materials that could increase the lifespan and durability of a range of products.Read moreRead less
Scaffolding layered structures to improve insertion electrodes. This project aims to change how positive electrodes are designed and improve battery performance. The positive electrode is arguably the largest bottleneck in battery performance. Modifying layered electrodes to produce better batteries has ramifications ranging from longer-lasting portable power for everyday devices and vehicles to energy storage solutions for intermittent power generation sources (i.e., renewables). This project w ....Scaffolding layered structures to improve insertion electrodes. This project aims to change how positive electrodes are designed and improve battery performance. The positive electrode is arguably the largest bottleneck in battery performance. Modifying layered electrodes to produce better batteries has ramifications ranging from longer-lasting portable power for everyday devices and vehicles to energy storage solutions for intermittent power generation sources (i.e., renewables). This project will develop scaffolded layered crystal structures to improve the ease, speed and amount of ion insertion/extraction. These structures will be incorporated into lithium and sodium ion batteries, resulting in better battery lifetime, energy density and charge/discharge speed (capability). This is expected to improve batteries for the future and decrease reliance on fossil fuels for energy.Read moreRead less
Dual-ion electrochemical systems. The project aims to develop dual-ion electrochemical systems. In contrast to conventional single-ion rechargeable cells, the charge storage process in the cathodes of these devices is facilitated by a second, negative ion. Dual-ion systems represent robust alternatives to current lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion capacitors, addressing their sustainability and energy density limitations. The project’s outcomes are in the form of new sustainable energy storag ....Dual-ion electrochemical systems. The project aims to develop dual-ion electrochemical systems. In contrast to conventional single-ion rechargeable cells, the charge storage process in the cathodes of these devices is facilitated by a second, negative ion. Dual-ion systems represent robust alternatives to current lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion capacitors, addressing their sustainability and energy density limitations. The project’s outcomes are in the form of new sustainable energy storage technologies with attrative energy and power densities for a wide range of applications. This should provide a significant benefit to society, the economy and the environment in enabling an easier transition to clean energy and ensuring energy security in Australia.Read moreRead less
Composite oxides as next-generation photocatalysts for solar energy capture. This project aims to prepare new photocatalysts that capture and convert solar energy to stored energy by directly splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen, a perfectly clean and renewable fuel. The project will use a "bottom-up" nanoscale approach, in which compounds with different chemical and electronic properties, but with compatible crystal structures in at least one dimension, are assembled in a single synthetic s ....Composite oxides as next-generation photocatalysts for solar energy capture. This project aims to prepare new photocatalysts that capture and convert solar energy to stored energy by directly splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen, a perfectly clean and renewable fuel. The project will use a "bottom-up" nanoscale approach, in which compounds with different chemical and electronic properties, but with compatible crystal structures in at least one dimension, are assembled in a single synthetic step to form a well-ordered composite. By making composites of compounds the band gaps - crucial to capturing light - and surfaces -crucial to evolving hydrogen and oxygen gas- of which complement each other, the project can deliver higher performing materials at a lower cost than can be achieved by conventional top-down modification. The project will deliver new and improved photocatalysts that will hasten progress towards commercially viable systems, helping to establish a new technology and putting pressure on competing technologies such as photovoltaics and wind to drive the renewables sector forward.Read moreRead less