Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101244
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,276.00
Summary
Advanced zinc-ion batteries with high voltage and high energy density. Zinc-ion battery is not only cheaper than current lithium-ion battery (LIB), but it is safer due to a neutral aqueous electrolyte. However, its grid-scale development is plagued by limited output voltage and inadequate energy density compared with more mainstream LIB. This project aims to solve the discharge-voltage problem by fabricating atomic-level structure engineered manganese (Mn)-based cathode and a new stable solid-st ....Advanced zinc-ion batteries with high voltage and high energy density. Zinc-ion battery is not only cheaper than current lithium-ion battery (LIB), but it is safer due to a neutral aqueous electrolyte. However, its grid-scale development is plagued by limited output voltage and inadequate energy density compared with more mainstream LIB. This project aims to solve the discharge-voltage problem by fabricating atomic-level structure engineered manganese (Mn)-based cathode and a new stable solid-state electrolyte, and improve the device energy density by zinc (Zn) anode interface nanotechnology. The success of this project will benefit Australia’s access to new markets and introduce a new low-cost and safe energy storage technology for the long-term viability of Australia’s abundant Zn and Mn resources.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102784
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Water-swellable rubber with nanoparticle-enabled super capacity as smart water-leakage sealant. A novel water-swellable rubber (WSR) sealant with continuous hydrophobic phase and isolated hydrophilic phase is developed for stopping water leakage from gaps and cracks. Nanoparticle-enabled blocks and network channels in rubber matrix effectively improve the integrity and capability of WSR as smart water-leakage sealants in various applications.
Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials . This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making nanostructured hybrid core-shell materials with exceptionally high drug loading and programmed release. Building on this research team's recent breakthrough in the precision engineering of core-shell materials, this research will revolutionise current approaches for making drug-loaded polymer and inorganic particles. Significant outcomes will include a novel sequential nanoprecipi ....Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials . This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making nanostructured hybrid core-shell materials with exceptionally high drug loading and programmed release. Building on this research team's recent breakthrough in the precision engineering of core-shell materials, this research will revolutionise current approaches for making drug-loaded polymer and inorganic particles. Significant outcomes will include a novel sequential nanoprecipitation platform technology for making drug-core polymer-shell nanoparticles, and a new bio-inspired approach for making hybrid drug-core silica-shell nanocomposites, and new materials for applications in programmed release and delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Clean Fuels Production. This project aims to develop single-component and hybrid transition-metal and metal-free electrocatalysts with controllable nanostructures to efficiently and selectively catalyse carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions for clean fuels production including hydrogen and low-carbon organic molecules. By combining experimental and theoretical modelling, this project plans to reveal the origins, mechanism and pathway of the ....Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Clean Fuels Production. This project aims to develop single-component and hybrid transition-metal and metal-free electrocatalysts with controllable nanostructures to efficiently and selectively catalyse carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions for clean fuels production including hydrogen and low-carbon organic molecules. By combining experimental and theoretical modelling, this project plans to reveal the origins, mechanism and pathway of these reactions, and the effect of catalyst composition and morphology on their performance. The resulting nanostructured catalysts are of great importance for feasible clean fuel generation and carbon dioxide reduction.Read moreRead less
Batteries of the future-a new strategy for CO2 fixation and energy storage. This project aims to develop metal-carbon dioxide batteries with high specific energy densities for carbon dioxide capture as well as energy conversion and storage. Metal-carbon dioxide batteries are promising not only for conversion of waste carbon dioxide to value-added chemicals, but also for storage of electricity from renewable power and balancing of the carbon cycle. By combining experimental work and theoretical m ....Batteries of the future-a new strategy for CO2 fixation and energy storage. This project aims to develop metal-carbon dioxide batteries with high specific energy densities for carbon dioxide capture as well as energy conversion and storage. Metal-carbon dioxide batteries are promising not only for conversion of waste carbon dioxide to value-added chemicals, but also for storage of electricity from renewable power and balancing of the carbon cycle. By combining experimental work and theoretical modelling, this study will explore novel electrode materials via catalyst design and understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms. The outcomes will revolutionize battery technology and position Australia as a global leader in the critical transition to a decarbonized economy.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale heating towards high efficient nitrogen reduction reduction. This project aims to develop nanoscale heating technique using AC magnetic field for efficient synthesis of ammonia, widely used for fertiliser and having potential for hydrogen storage. This project is to introduce nanoscale heating concept by heating catalyst only but not solution in electrochemical catalysis to achieve high catalytic activity. Expected outcome is the creation of low cost catalysts having high selectivity a ....Nanoscale heating towards high efficient nitrogen reduction reduction. This project aims to develop nanoscale heating technique using AC magnetic field for efficient synthesis of ammonia, widely used for fertiliser and having potential for hydrogen storage. This project is to introduce nanoscale heating concept by heating catalyst only but not solution in electrochemical catalysis to achieve high catalytic activity. Expected outcome is the creation of low cost catalysts having high selectivity and formation rate for ammonia production. This unique technology has the potential to replace current ammonia production based on Haber-Bosch process, which consumes 2% of world energy and contributes 3% of overall CO2 emission. The project provides opportunities for new industries that will benefit Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. This project aims to use the surface-functionalized nanostructured carbons as fillers to reinforce natural rubber. These fillers should significantly enhance the cross-linking between carbon and rubber matrix, leading to high-performance composite products with long lifetime, high thermal conductivity, high oil resistance and outstanding dynamic behaviou ....Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. This project aims to use the surface-functionalized nanostructured carbons as fillers to reinforce natural rubber. These fillers should significantly enhance the cross-linking between carbon and rubber matrix, leading to high-performance composite products with long lifetime, high thermal conductivity, high oil resistance and outstanding dynamic behaviours. This project is expected to make Australia capable of fabricating superior rubber-based materials and devices that are comfortable, quiet and energy efficient, for use in aircrafts, automobiles and vessels. It should also reduce the use of non-degradable rubber materials, promoting Australia’s economic development and environment protection.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100187
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,000.00
Summary
SA Facility for High Resolution Imaging and Material Characterization. Facility for high resolution imaging and material characterisation: The aim of this project is to establish a facility that will allow researchers to visualise and analyse structure at nanoscale resolutions. The development of the next generation of opto-electronics, electrochemical and biomedical devices requires tools that can quickly visualise and characterise complex materials at multiscale. The new collaborative nano in ....SA Facility for High Resolution Imaging and Material Characterization. Facility for high resolution imaging and material characterisation: The aim of this project is to establish a facility that will allow researchers to visualise and analyse structure at nanoscale resolutions. The development of the next generation of opto-electronics, electrochemical and biomedical devices requires tools that can quickly visualise and characterise complex materials at multiscale. The new collaborative nano infrared thermal analysis facility is essential to meet the demands of a large number of innovative projects conducted by multidisciplinary consortia of researchers. Located in state-of-the art laboratories and managed as open access resources, the facility will enable and advance research in the areas of energy harvesting, environmental monitoring, biomedical devices, food and pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100050
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,263,000.00
Summary
Interfacial design and engineering for high-performance batteries. This Fellowship aims to design the next generation of batteries - for use in portable devices, electric vehicles and smart grids - that will overcome the energy density, cycle life, and safety issues, and will contribute to a more sustainable future. This comprehensive and ground-breaking research program combines experiment and theory of electrode/electrolyte interfacial behaviour with materials engineering, to develop a toolkit ....Interfacial design and engineering for high-performance batteries. This Fellowship aims to design the next generation of batteries - for use in portable devices, electric vehicles and smart grids - that will overcome the energy density, cycle life, and safety issues, and will contribute to a more sustainable future. This comprehensive and ground-breaking research program combines experiment and theory of electrode/electrolyte interfacial behaviour with materials engineering, to develop a toolkit of new battery design principles. The program expects to deliver high energy-density batteries with outstanding safety profiles and extended cycle lives. These outcomes would revolutionise battery technologies and position Australia as a global leader in the critical transition to a decarbonised economy.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101365
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$433,082.00
Summary
Multiscale Design of Electrocatalysts for On-Demand H2O2 Production. The aim of this project is to design advanced single-atom catalysts at multiscale for efficient and selective electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxides as clean chemicals and fuels. It is expected to generate new knowledge in materials science and electrochemistry, using interdisciplinary approaches of multiscale material engineering, in situ characterisation and theoretical calculations. Expected outcomes incl ....Multiscale Design of Electrocatalysts for On-Demand H2O2 Production. The aim of this project is to design advanced single-atom catalysts at multiscale for efficient and selective electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxides as clean chemicals and fuels. It is expected to generate new knowledge in materials science and electrochemistry, using interdisciplinary approaches of multiscale material engineering, in situ characterisation and theoretical calculations. Expected outcomes include generalised design principles, innovative synthesis strategies, refined reaction mechanism understanding, and commercially relevant electrolysis technologies. Benefits include a sustainable future for Australia with advanced manufacturing, decreased emissions and resilient chemicals supply.Read moreRead less