ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concent ....ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concentrator systems. Expected outcomes include long-term research, commercial research, publications, education, community outreach and commercialisation of solar energy technologies to benefit Australia's economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989858
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,230.00
Summary
Fabrication Facilities of Atomic-Scale and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Novel Devices, Sensors, and Biomedical Components. Australia's energy, mining, metallurgical, defence, biomedical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new ....Fabrication Facilities of Atomic-Scale and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Novel Devices, Sensors, and Biomedical Components. Australia's energy, mining, metallurgical, defence, biomedical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new dimension to high-level research performance and significantly enhance the capability for the development of advanced materials and biomedical components in Australia. The continual development of advanced material and biomedical components will potentially provide a sustainable means for meeting the increasing global challenge for the industries.Read moreRead less
Multi Tower Solar Array (MTSA) for combined heat and power applications in urban areas. The MTSA is a highly compact, middle-scale (0.5 - 10 MW) solar power concept designed for urban areas. It comprises an array of small towers with high mounted receivers which collect sunlight from a very densely packed reflector field below. Reflectors can be aimed at different towers during the day to minimise blocking and shading losses. A prototype MTSA system to be constructed will test new reflector modu ....Multi Tower Solar Array (MTSA) for combined heat and power applications in urban areas. The MTSA is a highly compact, middle-scale (0.5 - 10 MW) solar power concept designed for urban areas. It comprises an array of small towers with high mounted receivers which collect sunlight from a very densely packed reflector field below. Reflectors can be aimed at different towers during the day to minimise blocking and shading losses. A prototype MTSA system to be constructed will test new reflector modules developed in conjunction with Solahart Industries (Perth). Innovative receivers incorporating spectral control, and both photovoltaic and thermal electricity generation paths will also be developed.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101751
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,000.00
Summary
Nanofiller reinforced concrete for high performance thermal energy storage. Harnessing the abundance of solar energy has been one of the most attractive energy alternatives. This project aims to investigate the mechanical properties, thermal energy storage capacity, thermal conductivity, long-term durability and nano/microstructural changes in nanofiller reinforced concrete composites using modern characterisation and modelling techniques. The newly developed concrete will be accessed as a therm ....Nanofiller reinforced concrete for high performance thermal energy storage. Harnessing the abundance of solar energy has been one of the most attractive energy alternatives. This project aims to investigate the mechanical properties, thermal energy storage capacity, thermal conductivity, long-term durability and nano/microstructural changes in nanofiller reinforced concrete composites using modern characterisation and modelling techniques. The newly developed concrete will be accessed as a thermal energy storage medium for concentrated solar energy plants. The project aims to create the next generation of construction materials to reduce the cost of the storage medium for solar energy harvesting.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775511
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Laser Flash Thermophysical Properties Analyzer for the Development of Advanced Materials, Food Processing Technologies and Biomedical Components. The Australian's energy, mining, metallurgical and food industries spearhead the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the locomotive of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials and food processing technology. The installation of the proposed fa ....Laser Flash Thermophysical Properties Analyzer for the Development of Advanced Materials, Food Processing Technologies and Biomedical Components. The Australian's energy, mining, metallurgical and food industries spearhead the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the locomotive of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials and food processing technology. The installation of the proposed facility will add a new dimension to high-level research performance and significantly enhance the capability for characterization of various forms of materials, foods and biomedical components in Australia. The continual development of advanced materials and food processing technology will potentially provide a sustainable means for meeting the increasing global challenge for the industries.Read moreRead less
Development of High Performance Nanostructured (Bi, Sb)2Te3 Nanomaterials. The direct energy conversion between heat and electricity, based on thermoelectric effects without moving parts, has been considered as a green and sustainable solution to the global energy dilemma. This project aims to develop novel band-engineered (Bi, Sb)2Te3 nanomaterials for high-efficiency energy conversion using novel microwave assisted wet chemistry approach, coupled with nanostructure and band engineering strateg ....Development of High Performance Nanostructured (Bi, Sb)2Te3 Nanomaterials. The direct energy conversion between heat and electricity, based on thermoelectric effects without moving parts, has been considered as a green and sustainable solution to the global energy dilemma. This project aims to develop novel band-engineered (Bi, Sb)2Te3 nanomaterials for high-efficiency energy conversion using novel microwave assisted wet chemistry approach, coupled with nanostructure and band engineering strategies. The key breakthrough is to design high performance (Bi, Sb)2Te3 thermoelectrics for satisfying the high efficiency solid-state devices. The expected outcomes will lead to an innovative technology that waste heat recovery and refrigeration, which will place Australia at the forefront of practical energy technologies.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the coupled dependence of concentrated solar radiation and combustion in a novel solar hybrid technology. The project will develop the models necessary for the optimisation of a novel solar-combustion hybrid technology and a novel heat exchanger component. It will deliver a solar thermal technology that lowers the cost of solar energy with immediate potential in off-grid sites, such as in remote mines, in Australia and throughout the world.
Novel Inorganic Nanostructures Fabricated using Polymeric Supports and Templates for Environmental and Catalytic Applications. The flexibility and versatility of nanotemplating processes will be exploited to fabricate novel porous inorganic structures with controllable properties. These include tailorable surface area, pore size and structure, particle size and composition. The influence of such properties will be studied in various applications, including the photocatalytic decomposition of pol ....Novel Inorganic Nanostructures Fabricated using Polymeric Supports and Templates for Environmental and Catalytic Applications. The flexibility and versatility of nanotemplating processes will be exploited to fabricate novel porous inorganic structures with controllable properties. These include tailorable surface area, pore size and structure, particle size and composition. The influence of such properties will be studied in various applications, including the photocatalytic decomposition of pollutants, where the ability to control the morphological structure of the inorganic materials introduced by the templating technique will lead to enhanced efficiencies. These nanostructures will also be considered for use in solar cells, an alternative energy source that is currently receiving copious attention worldwide.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional 2D materials for sustainable energy applications. This project seeks to explore the great potential of novel graphene-like two dimensional (2-D) materials for energy applications. 2-D materials, which possess atomic or molecular thickness and infinite planar lengths, are regarded as a building block for many applications due to their unique nanostructures, electronic and mechanical properties. This project is focused on the design and exploration of layered two-dimensional artifi ....Multifunctional 2D materials for sustainable energy applications. This project seeks to explore the great potential of novel graphene-like two dimensional (2-D) materials for energy applications. 2-D materials, which possess atomic or molecular thickness and infinite planar lengths, are regarded as a building block for many applications due to their unique nanostructures, electronic and mechanical properties. This project is focused on the design and exploration of layered two-dimensional artificial graphene and graphene analogues with ‘on-demand’ properties to exploit advanced energy applications. There is now a pressing need to integrate graphene sheets into multidimensional and multifunctional systems with spatially well-defined configurations, and integrated systems with a controllable structure and predictable performance. Project outcomes may lead to next-generation devices in energy storage and other applications.Read moreRead less
Formation of Nanoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) by Anodization of Titanium Thin Films. The development of nanoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2), with pore diameter less than 25 nm, represents a significant advance for both R&D and industrial applications. It is an invaluable material for the manufacture of a range of electronic and optical devices. These structures can be employed for the development of efficient thermoelectric coolers, highly sensitive biosensors as well as optical micro-devices w ....Formation of Nanoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) by Anodization of Titanium Thin Films. The development of nanoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2), with pore diameter less than 25 nm, represents a significant advance for both R&D and industrial applications. It is an invaluable material for the manufacture of a range of electronic and optical devices. These structures can be employed for the development of efficient thermoelectric coolers, highly sensitive biosensors as well as optical micro-devices with high refractive index. In addition, nanoporous TiO2 has numerous applications in the fields of nanotechnology, bioengineering, diagnostics, materials science, and in the building industry. Australia will greatly benefit from the research and development of such a product with its promising market.Read moreRead less