Novel energy-efficient electrowinning anodes. Developed nations rely extensively on metallic materials to sustain modern society. This places a significant importance on delivery of base metals, and that delivery must be as efficient and clean as possible. The first step in the delivery chain is extraction from the ore, and much of this technology is based on electrowinning (EW), where the behaviour of the anode is critical to overall process efficiency. This project will deliver advances in EW ....Novel energy-efficient electrowinning anodes. Developed nations rely extensively on metallic materials to sustain modern society. This places a significant importance on delivery of base metals, and that delivery must be as efficient and clean as possible. The first step in the delivery chain is extraction from the ore, and much of this technology is based on electrowinning (EW), where the behaviour of the anode is critical to overall process efficiency. This project will deliver advances in EW anodes which will lead to energy savings, which in turn, will result in a cleaner overall production cycle, major emission reductions and cost savings. The expected outcomes of this project are targeted at the development of new and advanced anode materials.Read moreRead less
Advanced glazing systems for solar energy harvesting and radiation control. Development of advanced energy-saving glass and glazings capable of generating electricity is expected to lead towards new products of significant commercial potential. The outcomes of this project undertaken by Edith Cowan University and Tropiglas will raise the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and vehicles to levels not possible with other technologies.
Increased liquified natural gas (LNG) production efficiency through nitrogen and carbon dioxide capture using high-pressure cryogenic adsorption onto tailored nanopore substrates. This research will contribute to a more environmentally sustainable Australia because it will promote the use of natural gas as a fuel supply which produces significantly less greenhouse gases than oil or coal. It will contribute to the harnessing of some of Australia's largest gas reserves, like the Gorgon field, whic ....Increased liquified natural gas (LNG) production efficiency through nitrogen and carbon dioxide capture using high-pressure cryogenic adsorption onto tailored nanopore substrates. This research will contribute to a more environmentally sustainable Australia because it will promote the use of natural gas as a fuel supply which produces significantly less greenhouse gases than oil or coal. It will contribute to the harnessing of some of Australia's largest gas reserves, like the Gorgon field, which are contaminated with large amounts of CO2 and are not yet economically viable. The removal of N2 from natural gas will reduce the cost of producing LNG which is the only method Australia can use to access global gas markets. The new adsorbent materials developed for this work may enhance other research programmes attempting to capture and sequester CO2 from industrial flue gases.Read moreRead less
A physiological and biochemical basis for seed storage for biodiversity conservation and restoration. Seed banking is a vital component of the integrated strategies required to conserve biodiversity and restore degraded landscapes. The effectiveness of seed banking for Australian flora is limited by a lack of research into the factors affecting seed viability during storage. For key indicative Australian species this study will focus on morphological, biophysical and biochemical factors governin ....A physiological and biochemical basis for seed storage for biodiversity conservation and restoration. Seed banking is a vital component of the integrated strategies required to conserve biodiversity and restore degraded landscapes. The effectiveness of seed banking for Australian flora is limited by a lack of research into the factors affecting seed viability during storage. For key indicative Australian species this study will focus on morphological, biophysical and biochemical factors governing seed longevity to determine the optimum storage conditions and identify bio-indicators of seed deterioration for rapid determination of seed storage behaviour. This project will develop benchmark standards by which the estimated 325 seed banks storing native seeds in Australia will benefit.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms fo Release of Deep Dormancy in Seeds of Australian Plant Species used in Land Restoration. Over 4 million Ha of Australian land is currently in need of revegetation. To facilitate this, large-scale revegetation programs utilising native species are urgently required. Currently, many desirable species are difficult to propagate due to deep intractable dormancy, but are nevertheless needed due to their keystone function in many ecosystems. The aim is to therefore investigate seed dorman ....Mechanisms fo Release of Deep Dormancy in Seeds of Australian Plant Species used in Land Restoration. Over 4 million Ha of Australian land is currently in need of revegetation. To facilitate this, large-scale revegetation programs utilising native species are urgently required. Currently, many desirable species are difficult to propagate due to deep intractable dormancy, but are nevertheless needed due to their keystone function in many ecosystems. The aim is to therefore investigate seed dormancy alleviation in key rehabilitation species. Outcomes flowing from this project will significantly increase the suite of species currently available for land restoration efforts by land rehabilitation practitioners and will therefore increase the quality and effectiveness of Australian restoration programs.Read moreRead less
Field scale biocementation in remediation and self-healing . This project aims to address the challenges of field applications and commercialisation of biocementation technology. Biocementation is the process through which Nature, with the help of microbes builds large and durable carbonate formations such as corals and beach rocks. This is emerging as a clean technology that alleviates the sustainability challenges faced by the construction industry. Microorganisms especially suited to Australi ....Field scale biocementation in remediation and self-healing . This project aims to address the challenges of field applications and commercialisation of biocementation technology. Biocementation is the process through which Nature, with the help of microbes builds large and durable carbonate formations such as corals and beach rocks. This is emerging as a clean technology that alleviates the sustainability challenges faced by the construction industry. Microorganisms especially suited to Australian conditions will be developed focusing on optimum use of resources for economic and environmental viability. Biocementation products will be developed for easy field application and self-healing concrete and bioremediation will be attempted on deteriorated structural systems. This technology has the potential to usher in the era of biologisation of construction.Read moreRead less
Novel Hydrophobic Concrete for Durable and Resilient Mining Infrastructure. The mining field is harsh with various corrosive media that cause rapid deterioration and ageing of concrete. This project aims to develop a novel hydrophobic concrete with integrated water-proofing and self-healing capacities and optimise its efficacy and cost-effectiveness for durable and resilient mining infrastructure using hybrid water-repellent nanoparticles and raw crystalline admixtures. The new hydrophobic concr ....Novel Hydrophobic Concrete for Durable and Resilient Mining Infrastructure. The mining field is harsh with various corrosive media that cause rapid deterioration and ageing of concrete. This project aims to develop a novel hydrophobic concrete with integrated water-proofing and self-healing capacities and optimise its efficacy and cost-effectiveness for durable and resilient mining infrastructure using hybrid water-repellent nanoparticles and raw crystalline admixtures. The new hydrophobic concrete is expected to significantly improve structural safety, durability, and service life of mining infrastructure while simultaneously reducing protection costs, repair needs, and reconstruction. The outcomes will offer desirable benefits for Australia’s mining industry, with significant reductions in maintenance costs.Read moreRead less
Wandoo crown decline - an ecophysiological diagnosis. Eucalyptus wandoo forests and woodlands once covered a large area in SW Western Australia. Remnants of these ecosystems are now threatened by the Wandoo Crown Decline syndrome. We hypothesise that the progressive dieback of branches is due to drought stress, causing irreversible damage to water supply and/or predisposing trees to fungal disease. The project aims at identifying the physiological mechanism of Wandoo Crown Decline. This knowledg ....Wandoo crown decline - an ecophysiological diagnosis. Eucalyptus wandoo forests and woodlands once covered a large area in SW Western Australia. Remnants of these ecosystems are now threatened by the Wandoo Crown Decline syndrome. We hypothesise that the progressive dieback of branches is due to drought stress, causing irreversible damage to water supply and/or predisposing trees to fungal disease. The project aims at identifying the physiological mechanism of Wandoo Crown Decline. This knowledge is imperative for the assessment of risks for wandoo populations and for the formulation of management options.Read moreRead less
Development of a novel and practical method for fabricating carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites for automotive applications. An effective, economical and environmentally friendly technology will be developed by this project to fabricate carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites. The thus obtained products will be applied as automotive parts.
High performance metal oxide inks for printable memory arrays . This project aims to develop next generation printable memory devices with low cost and excellent stability. The goal will be achieved by developing a new class of metal oxide nanomaterials based inks and large scale printing technology, through optimizing the synthesis, printing process and electrode configuration. The expected outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in flexible electronics, significa ....High performance metal oxide inks for printable memory arrays . This project aims to develop next generation printable memory devices with low cost and excellent stability. The goal will be achieved by developing a new class of metal oxide nanomaterials based inks and large scale printing technology, through optimizing the synthesis, printing process and electrode configuration. The expected outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in flexible electronics, significant advances in energy efficient data storage devices, and commercialisation of the technology to Australian industries.Read moreRead less