Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The exp ....Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The expected outcome is the achievement of high reversible hydrogen storage capacity to meet all the demands required for energy conversion applications, in particular, for hydrogen storage/fuel-cell vehicular applications.Read moreRead less
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
Mapping new cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries: The mechanism of intercalation of lithium in aqueous solutions. This technology could power electric vehicles of the future. With the aid of using advanced oxide and phosphate materials for an aqueous battery, the project will establish a widespread use of green energy for national benefit. This will help us to reduce the current emission observed in transport and energy conversion. The project will facilitate an understanding the ....Mapping new cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries: The mechanism of intercalation of lithium in aqueous solutions. This technology could power electric vehicles of the future. With the aid of using advanced oxide and phosphate materials for an aqueous battery, the project will establish a widespread use of green energy for national benefit. This will help us to reduce the current emission observed in transport and energy conversion. The project will facilitate an understanding the electrochemical energy storage technology. The challenging and significant results from this project will contribute to the energy industries to build non-pollutant high energy storage equipments and productivity of Australia's research and development.Read moreRead less
Molecular Framework Materials: Nanoporosity and Anomalous Thermal Expansion. The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials represents both a key area of fundamental research and a critical step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we explore the strategic assembly of molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and anomalous thermal expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental ....Molecular Framework Materials: Nanoporosity and Anomalous Thermal Expansion. The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials represents both a key area of fundamental research and a critical step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we explore the strategic assembly of molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and anomalous thermal expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental advances in nanoscience and will forge deep understandings of how materials properties relate to nanoscale structure. These advances will spur a wide range of important new technologies, with application of the materials in molecular separations and sensing, clean energy storage, electronics and photonics.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
Multifunctional nanoballs and variable length ligands. Nanometer sized molecules will produce new advanced materials that absorb hydrogen (energy storage) and carbon dioxide (pollution control), separate gases, produce cleaner chemical reactions and magnetically switch in response to temperature, light and guests. Other new materials will increase or decrease their porosity in a controlled fashion.
Improvement and synthesis of advanced hydrogen storage materials for fuel cell applications. Energy systems of the future must be cleaner and much more efficient, flexible, and reliable to meet the growing global demand for energy. A hydrogen economy offers a potential solution to satisfying the global energy requirements while reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy security. The enhanced hydrogen storage materials to be investigated will have higher hydr ....Improvement and synthesis of advanced hydrogen storage materials for fuel cell applications. Energy systems of the future must be cleaner and much more efficient, flexible, and reliable to meet the growing global demand for energy. A hydrogen economy offers a potential solution to satisfying the global energy requirements while reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy security. The enhanced hydrogen storage materials to be investigated will have higher hydrogen storage capacity, which can have applications in a variety of areas, including the storage and transport of hydrogen, fuel cells and electric automobiles.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
Probing anti-ferroelectric to ferroelectric structural phase transitions: towards high power energy transformation devices. Materials which can be rapidly switched from anti-ferroelectric to ferroelectric states exhibit a wide range of exploitable properties. This project will identify the factors enabling such materials to respond to applied electric fields and mechanical stresses and use them to enhance the ability of industry to develop new advanced materials.