Faster interfacial electron transfer: the effect of molecule shape and size. This project aims to explore the effect of shape and size of pi-conjugated molecules on interfacial electron transfer reactions, which are fundamentally important in all applications of photo-electrochemical conversion and storage of energy. By making two series of pi-conjugated molecules and determining electron transfer rates using a combination of transient spectroscopies and computational chemistry, the project expe ....Faster interfacial electron transfer: the effect of molecule shape and size. This project aims to explore the effect of shape and size of pi-conjugated molecules on interfacial electron transfer reactions, which are fundamentally important in all applications of photo-electrochemical conversion and storage of energy. By making two series of pi-conjugated molecules and determining electron transfer rates using a combination of transient spectroscopies and computational chemistry, the project expects to generate new design principles for molecules with the potential to significantly improve the efficiencies of solar energy conversion and photo-catalytic processes. The new materials and findings will be exploited in a novel redox-mediated water splitting device as a practical outcome with potential end user benefits.Read moreRead less
New carbon nanotube electrocatalysts for water splitting and fuel cells. The demand for clean, secure and sustainable energy sources has stimulated great interest in electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies such as water splitting and fuel cells. The efficiency of water splitting and fuel cells is however strongly dependent on the activity of the electrocatalysts. The objective of the project is to develop new electrocatalysts based on the recently discovered phenomena that car ....New carbon nanotube electrocatalysts for water splitting and fuel cells. The demand for clean, secure and sustainable energy sources has stimulated great interest in electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies such as water splitting and fuel cells. The efficiency of water splitting and fuel cells is however strongly dependent on the activity of the electrocatalysts. The objective of the project is to develop new electrocatalysts based on the recently discovered phenomena that carbon nanotubes with specific size and number of walls are very active and significantly promote the reaction of water splitting and fuel cells. The proposed project is expected to open a new research field in the development of new electrocatalysts and photoelectrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion and storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide d ....Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide directly from seawater. The electrolyser can also be used to treat desalination brine while produce hydrogen and chemicals. The success of the project will set a firm technological foundation for seawater utilisation, which will add to Australian capability to meet future energy and environment challenges.Read moreRead less
Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes in ....Two-dimensional nanoporous structured high performance gas evolution electrocatalysts. This project aims to develop nano-catalysts with high catalytic activity and rapid gas detachment properties for efficient fuel gas production. Heterogeneous electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions are important for clean energy generation and storage technologies, but high overpotentials caused by slow gaseous products’ detachment from catalyst surface severely hinder their efficiencies. Expected outcomes include insights into gas bubble formation and evolution during electrocatalysis, effective catalyst structures to mitigate negative effects of gas bubble formation, and improved catalytic efficiency of gas evolution reactions and develop high performance electrocatalysts for fuel gas production.Read moreRead less
Tuning the electrolytes for high efficiency solar splitting of water. This project will develop a new technology that uses ionic liquids and sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen to be used as a clean fuel. Australia has abundant sunlight, is very close to the growing energy markets of the Asia-Pacific region, and is ideally placed to benefit from this new technology.
A fundamental study of the simultaneous gold dissolution during the alkaline oxidation of sulfide containing refractory gold ores and concentrates. The gold industry is Australia's second largest export earner and therefore is immensely important to the Australian economy. The proposed project aims to develop an environmentally acceptable process for treating gold containing sulfidic ores and concentrates that are not amenable to conventional cyanidation. This would provide an enormous benefit t ....A fundamental study of the simultaneous gold dissolution during the alkaline oxidation of sulfide containing refractory gold ores and concentrates. The gold industry is Australia's second largest export earner and therefore is immensely important to the Australian economy. The proposed project aims to develop an environmentally acceptable process for treating gold containing sulfidic ores and concentrates that are not amenable to conventional cyanidation. This would provide an enormous benefit to both the Australian gold industry and the Australian environment. A successful outcome in the research project would also lead to export earnings emanating from technology transfer and enhance Australia's reputation for high quality research and academic endeavours.Read moreRead less
Optimising gold recovery whilst minimising cyanide and copper discharges during the processing of gold ores containing copper. The presence of copper is a major problem in Australia's gold industry. We have proposed an innovative method for treating copper containing ores which eliminates discharge of copper and cyanide to the tailings dam. The copper is recovered, and the cyanide is either recycled or destroyed within the plant. Another advantage of the process is a reduction in the cyanide req ....Optimising gold recovery whilst minimising cyanide and copper discharges during the processing of gold ores containing copper. The presence of copper is a major problem in Australia's gold industry. We have proposed an innovative method for treating copper containing ores which eliminates discharge of copper and cyanide to the tailings dam. The copper is recovered, and the cyanide is either recycled or destroyed within the plant. Another advantage of the process is a reduction in the cyanide requirement, hence reducing the risk associated with cyanide transport and storage. Thus the proposed project has the potential to substantially improve the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public concerns exist over the use of cyanide.Read moreRead less
Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis for Clean Hydrogen Production. Low-cost and robust water electrolysis technology is a cornerstone towards the success of the hydrogen economy. This project aims to develop next generation anion exchange membrane water electrolyser technologies for low-cost and high-efficiency clean hydrogen production and renewable energy storage. Novel non-precious transition metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity, large surface area and super-hydrophilic s ....Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis for Clean Hydrogen Production. Low-cost and robust water electrolysis technology is a cornerstone towards the success of the hydrogen economy. This project aims to develop next generation anion exchange membrane water electrolyser technologies for low-cost and high-efficiency clean hydrogen production and renewable energy storage. Novel non-precious transition metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity, large surface area and super-hydrophilic surfaces will be developed, and their mechanism and stability within membrane electrode assemblies understood by using operando spectroscopy, electrochemistry and 3D X-ray imaging characterisations. An efficient anion exchange membrane water electrolyser prototype made entirely of non-precious materials is to be devised. Read moreRead less