Solar-Driven C-H Functionalization Reactions. This project aims to investigate the functionalization reaction of unreactive C-H bonds using light as the source of energy. Light is a transformative change to synthesis as thermal activation is exchanged to solar activation. The latter gives access to excited state chemistry and enables reaction steps that are thermally inaccessible. It is a key strategy to leverage synthesis to the demands of the 21st century and to minimise its ecologic footprint ....Solar-Driven C-H Functionalization Reactions. This project aims to investigate the functionalization reaction of unreactive C-H bonds using light as the source of energy. Light is a transformative change to synthesis as thermal activation is exchanged to solar activation. The latter gives access to excited state chemistry and enables reaction steps that are thermally inaccessible. It is a key strategy to leverage synthesis to the demands of the 21st century and to minimise its ecologic footprint. At the same time this strategy provides a lever to profoundly impact and drive new concepts in synthesis. Significant benefits are expected, such as increase in fundamental knowledge on photochemical processes, but also the access to new materials for applications as drugs or OLEDs.Read moreRead less
Engineered redox polymers for catalytic water purification. This project aims to develop a novel family of chemically and structurally controlled redox polymer as metal-free catalysts for wastewater micropollutant treatment. Innovations lie in the synthesis of high-performance and nanostructured carbon-based materials, multiscale modeling, and in situ characterizations for understanding structure-property relationship in carbon catalysis. Expected outcomes will deliver innovations in functional ....Engineered redox polymers for catalytic water purification. This project aims to develop a novel family of chemically and structurally controlled redox polymer as metal-free catalysts for wastewater micropollutant treatment. Innovations lie in the synthesis of high-performance and nanostructured carbon-based materials, multiscale modeling, and in situ characterizations for understanding structure-property relationship in carbon catalysis. Expected outcomes will deliver innovations in functional materials, mechanism, catalytic engineering, and sustainable separation processes. This project will provide significant benefits in renovating smart nanomaterials in advanced manufacturing and clean environmental technologies, promoting Australia’s economic development and environment protection.Read moreRead less
Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in sit ....Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in situ. This will enable the control of stereochemistry in photoredox reactions – not possible with standard catalysts - and establish other useful synthetic transformations. These strategies will make it easier to prepare valuable classes of organic molecules – efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.
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Three-dimensional solar-energy-driven hydrogen generation from ammonia. This project aims to address the challenges of hydrogen generation, transportation and storage by conceptualising a novel three-dimensional, solar-driven system for ammonia splitting on ultralight catalyst materials. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced materials enabled hydrogen technologies through interdisciplinary approaches involving materials science, novel catalysis, and nanotechnology ....Three-dimensional solar-energy-driven hydrogen generation from ammonia. This project aims to address the challenges of hydrogen generation, transportation and storage by conceptualising a novel three-dimensional, solar-driven system for ammonia splitting on ultralight catalyst materials. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced materials enabled hydrogen technologies through interdisciplinary approaches involving materials science, novel catalysis, and nanotechnology. Expected outcomes include new catalyst materials, design strategies, and advanced ammonia splitting technologies. This should provide significant benefits, such as newly created knowledge, technological innovation, research training, contributing to hydrogen economy and net zero for a greener environment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction. This project aims to synthesise highly active electrochemical catalysts of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanostructure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen gas could generate clean energy, but the platinum catalyst’s cost and low activity make it impractical. This project will develop 2D inorganic nanosheets with tuneable pores and electronic band structures, hybridised ....Two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction. This project aims to synthesise highly active electrochemical catalysts of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanostructure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen gas could generate clean energy, but the platinum catalyst’s cost and low activity make it impractical. This project will develop 2D inorganic nanosheets with tuneable pores and electronic band structures, hybridised with organic and/or inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials for HER, and use density functional theory calculation to investigate these hybridised nanosheets’ mechanisms for HER. These highly efficient and low-cost catalysts are expected to generate clean energy and create opportunities for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100100
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$975,934.00
Summary
Multifunctional Platform for Chemical Manufacturing and Energy Materials. We aim to establish the first platform in Australia for the continuous production and in-situ characterisation of molecules and nanomaterials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of functional materials using an interdisciplinary approach. The expected outcomes will be a unique analytical capability for rapid screening of synthetic and operational parameters, and unprecedented fundamental insight int ....Multifunctional Platform for Chemical Manufacturing and Energy Materials. We aim to establish the first platform in Australia for the continuous production and in-situ characterisation of molecules and nanomaterials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of functional materials using an interdisciplinary approach. The expected outcomes will be a unique analytical capability for rapid screening of synthetic and operational parameters, and unprecedented fundamental insight into chemical reactions to inform the design and development of sustainable chemical processes. This proposal will provide significant benefits to cutting-edge research in catalysis, polymer engineering, separation science, CO2 capture and organic synthesis, to positively impact on the energy-manufacturing-environment nexus.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100163
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,000.00
Summary
Harnessing dynamic materials to produce better heterogeneous catalysts. This project aims to investigate an emerging class of catalysts featuring dynamic reaction sites using innovative computational chemistry methods. The capability of traditional materials has reached a performance status quo for many catalytic reactions. Dynamic materials may unlock a new dimension in catalyst design; however, their influence on reactivity is unclear, and the combination of materials and dynamics represents a ....Harnessing dynamic materials to produce better heterogeneous catalysts. This project aims to investigate an emerging class of catalysts featuring dynamic reaction sites using innovative computational chemistry methods. The capability of traditional materials has reached a performance status quo for many catalytic reactions. Dynamic materials may unlock a new dimension in catalyst design; however, their influence on reactivity is unclear, and the combination of materials and dynamics represents an immense parameter space. This project expects to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding dynamic catalytic processes. Expected outcomes of this project include the identification of specific materials and dynamics that achieve extraordinary efficiency for the benefit of sustainable chemical production.Read moreRead less
Light driven degradation of persistent organic pollutants. This project aims to address the accumulation of pollutants in our environment by developing and optimising materials that utilise light energy to breakdown these persistent chemicals. Combining novel techniques and approaches, this project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of materials science and photochemistry. The anticipated outcomes of this project include an advancement of environmental remediation methods and the cap ....Light driven degradation of persistent organic pollutants. This project aims to address the accumulation of pollutants in our environment by developing and optimising materials that utilise light energy to breakdown these persistent chemicals. Combining novel techniques and approaches, this project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of materials science and photochemistry. The anticipated outcomes of this project include an advancement of environmental remediation methods and the capture of pollutants at their source. This should provide significant benefits to both humans and the environment through preventing the adverse impacts of pollutant exposure.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide. ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide. This Centre aims to advance carbon dioxide electrochemistry innovations to enable the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products and transition Australia to a carbon-neutral economy. This Centre expects to generate new knowledge using experimental and computational approaches to develop systems-level understanding to fu ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide. ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide. This Centre aims to advance carbon dioxide electrochemistry innovations to enable the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products and transition Australia to a carbon-neutral economy. This Centre expects to generate new knowledge using experimental and computational approaches to develop systems-level understanding to furnish industry-ready carbon dioxide utilisation technologies. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity through collaborations establishing the Centre as an international hub for research, training, technology translation and strategic advice for stakeholders and policymakers. This should accelerate Australia’s progress towards net zero emissions targets and grow a sustainable economy and create future jobs.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,054.00
Summary
Remediation of PFAS in current and legacy biosolids application sites. This project aims to develop novel immobilisation, adsorption and/or thermal destruction methods for biosolids, soil and groundwater in current and legacy per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) sites receiving biosolids. Biosolids generated during waste water treatment carry an unknown potential risk of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination, through their application in agriculture and rehabilitation sites. This project ....Remediation of PFAS in current and legacy biosolids application sites. This project aims to develop novel immobilisation, adsorption and/or thermal destruction methods for biosolids, soil and groundwater in current and legacy per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) sites receiving biosolids. Biosolids generated during waste water treatment carry an unknown potential risk of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination, through their application in agriculture and rehabilitation sites. This project will provide the first major investigation of the release, fate and remediation of perfluorinated compounds in relation to their environmental pathways through wastewater treatment plants in Australia. The data will be evaluated to determine if perfluorinated compounds should be further incorporated into Australian soil and water quality monitoring programs. The project will provide evidence of research advice and methodologies being successfully adopted by water industry end-users, government regulatory agencies and private remediation industries.Read moreRead less