A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of de ....A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of developing functional materials for more efficient solar energy conversion and storage. Expected outcomes include prototypes of the next generation advanced materials and technologies for sustainable energy utilisation systems for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity.Read moreRead less
Perovskite Materials: Exploring properties beyond solar cells. This project aims to explore functionalities of metal halide perovskite materials for sustainable solar energy conversion and storage, beyond the heavily studied perovskite solar cell application. The project intends to design toxic lead free/less perovskite materials for an integrated photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and solar rechargeable battery system. It will study the relations between material synthesis conditions, dev ....Perovskite Materials: Exploring properties beyond solar cells. This project aims to explore functionalities of metal halide perovskite materials for sustainable solar energy conversion and storage, beyond the heavily studied perovskite solar cell application. The project intends to design toxic lead free/less perovskite materials for an integrated photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and solar rechargeable battery system. It will study the relations between material synthesis conditions, device structure and performance of the photoelectrochemical system. Expected outcomes are low cost and more efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion and solar energy storage devices, important for sustainable use of intermittent solar energy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100749
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Designing solar rechargeable batteries for efficient solar energy storage. This project aims to develop a new prototype of solar rechargeable battery for the direct storage of solar energy. Specifically, the research will integrate newly designed solar-driven photo-electrochemical energy conversion process and bi-functional photo-electrodes into a lithium-sulphur battery to achieve high energy storage efficiency. Expected outcomes include high-performance solar rechargeable batteries and new kno ....Designing solar rechargeable batteries for efficient solar energy storage. This project aims to develop a new prototype of solar rechargeable battery for the direct storage of solar energy. Specifically, the research will integrate newly designed solar-driven photo-electrochemical energy conversion process and bi-functional photo-electrodes into a lithium-sulphur battery to achieve high energy storage efficiency. Expected outcomes include high-performance solar rechargeable batteries and new knowledge generated from the integration of interdisciplinary research in energy storage, photo-electrochemistry and nanotechnology. Further advances in material science and solar energy storage technologies will assist in addressing the global energy shortage and mitigating environmental pollution.Read moreRead less
Bio-inspired conducting peptide nanowires for bioelectronic applications. Some bacteria possess a natural conductive tail constructed from proteins (called a nanowire) that has metal-like conductivity. The electrical signals in these nanowires are carried through aromatic groups in the peptides and/or attached cytochromes. This project addresses the design and assembly of conducting peptide-based fibrils inspired by these nanowires. It has already been shown that peptides can, by design, self-as ....Bio-inspired conducting peptide nanowires for bioelectronic applications. Some bacteria possess a natural conductive tail constructed from proteins (called a nanowire) that has metal-like conductivity. The electrical signals in these nanowires are carried through aromatic groups in the peptides and/or attached cytochromes. This project addresses the design and assembly of conducting peptide-based fibrils inspired by these nanowires. It has already been shown that peptides can, by design, self-assemble into long thermostable fibrils that support cell growth and development. The project’s goal is now to create cost-effective, non-toxic, conducting peptide fibrils that can be used in water or physiological environments for bioelectronics applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100607
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,624.00
Summary
Catalytically active surface for hydrogen evolution. This project aims to develop classes of active surface on catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Targeted catalysts with abundant transitional metal active sites are a new frontier in electrocatalysis. This project intends to develop vapour-phase hydrothermal approaches to effectively in-situ grow single crystal catalysts with rich metal centres and to further boost their activities by in-situ doping with heteroatoms. Ex ....Catalytically active surface for hydrogen evolution. This project aims to develop classes of active surface on catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Targeted catalysts with abundant transitional metal active sites are a new frontier in electrocatalysis. This project intends to develop vapour-phase hydrothermal approaches to effectively in-situ grow single crystal catalysts with rich metal centres and to further boost their activities by in-situ doping with heteroatoms. Expected outcomes include robust fabrication means for atomic construction of active surfaces and improved understanding of active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction.Read moreRead less
Towards High-quality Hetero-epitaxial III-V Semiconductor Nanowires. The use of semiconductor nanowires has uncovered many scientific curiosities and extended their potential applications in many fields. In general, nanowire growth is governed by metallic catalysts, involving nanowire nucleation and growth. So far, the role of catalysts during nanowire nucleation is not clear and needs urgent attention. This project aims to investigate the behaviour of catalysts before and during the nucleation ....Towards High-quality Hetero-epitaxial III-V Semiconductor Nanowires. The use of semiconductor nanowires has uncovered many scientific curiosities and extended their potential applications in many fields. In general, nanowire growth is governed by metallic catalysts, involving nanowire nucleation and growth. So far, the role of catalysts during nanowire nucleation is not clear and needs urgent attention. This project aims to investigate the behaviour of catalysts before and during the nucleation of III-V nanowires by means of nano-characterisation to ultimately integrate high-quality III-V nanowires on silicon substrates. The new knowledge developed from this project is expected to provide critical insights for developing high-quality III-V nanowires integrated on silicon substrates.Read moreRead less
Fabrication of Novel Core-Shell Nanocomposites as Targeted Carriers. This project intends to design and fabricate a group of core-shell nanocomposites as new-generation carriers for effective drug delivery applications. The unique core-shell functional materials possess radiation/magnetic-responsive release behaviour due to the nanoparticle core, and good biocompatibility, ultra-high loading capacity and outstanding targeting specificity due to the surface-modified mesoporous metal-organic frame ....Fabrication of Novel Core-Shell Nanocomposites as Targeted Carriers. This project intends to design and fabricate a group of core-shell nanocomposites as new-generation carriers for effective drug delivery applications. The unique core-shell functional materials possess radiation/magnetic-responsive release behaviour due to the nanoparticle core, and good biocompatibility, ultra-high loading capacity and outstanding targeting specificity due to the surface-modified mesoporous metal-organic frameworks shell. Development of such hybrid materials would overcome the existing challenges such as low loading capacity, poor release control. The application of such materials may help to improve the efficacy of pharmaceutical therapies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100129
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,200.00
Summary
Atomic layer nanofabrication system for multi-functional applications. This project aims to establish a multifunctional atomic layer nanofabrication facility in Sydney with the capacity to provide services nation-wide. The facility has powerful capabilities to produce mono-atom thin films, nanosize powders and two-dimensional nanostructures of a variety of materials, including elemental metals, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal sulfides, metal-metal compounds, and polymers. This will significa ....Atomic layer nanofabrication system for multi-functional applications. This project aims to establish a multifunctional atomic layer nanofabrication facility in Sydney with the capacity to provide services nation-wide. The facility has powerful capabilities to produce mono-atom thin films, nanosize powders and two-dimensional nanostructures of a variety of materials, including elemental metals, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal sulfides, metal-metal compounds, and polymers. This will significantly enhance Australian research and industrial activities in the areas of renewable energy production and storage, microelectronics, chemical and bio-sensors, protective coatings, flexible electronic devices, and catalysis.Read moreRead less