Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100596
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to de ....Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to develop novel Li2S-rich cathode materials with high lithium-ion conductivity, which will form the basis of all-solid-state Li–S batteries with high energy density. The new battery is expected to have wide applications in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable energy storage.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100136
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,100,000.00
Summary
High Performance Solid State NMR Spectroscopy for Materials Research. The project will support research in a diverse set of fields such as biomedical engineering catalysis, energy storage and waste recovery, with cutting edge next-generation solid state (400 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance capabilities and research expertise. The system enabling high sensitivity, high throughput analysis over extended temperature range will enable addressing of fundamental questions regarding the structure-prope ....High Performance Solid State NMR Spectroscopy for Materials Research. The project will support research in a diverse set of fields such as biomedical engineering catalysis, energy storage and waste recovery, with cutting edge next-generation solid state (400 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance capabilities and research expertise. The system enabling high sensitivity, high throughput analysis over extended temperature range will enable addressing of fundamental questions regarding the structure-property relationships of advanced functional materials. Accessible to a wide user base in fundamental and applied research, in medicine, energy, catalysis and recycling of waste, the project will extend the current facilities to develop Sydney as regional centre for advanced solid state nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100197
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A magnetic property measurement facility for the development of advanced materials and biomedical technologies in the Sydney basin. The measurement of magnetic properties is important in the study both of magnetic and electronic materials and biological systems. This new equipment will support a diverse array of high impact research, spanning the fundamental to the applied, and will bring together complementary expertise from multiple disciplines and institutions.
Advanced electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis with validated analysis. Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals worldwide but current manufacturing industries consume massive amounts of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases. This project aims to develop a sustainable electrochemical system for ammonia synthesis using electricity and atmospheric nitrogen. A family of porous catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids will be developed to drive nitrogen reduction by enhancing the reaction ....Advanced electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis with validated analysis. Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals worldwide but current manufacturing industries consume massive amounts of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases. This project aims to develop a sustainable electrochemical system for ammonia synthesis using electricity and atmospheric nitrogen. A family of porous catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids will be developed to drive nitrogen reduction by enhancing the reaction kinetics. Rigorous experimental protocols and novel analytical methods will be developed for quantification of electro-synthesised ammonia. A prototype gas diffusion layer-assisted electrolyser will be demonstrated by coupling with oxygen evolution reactions for selective ammonia synthesis at a reasonable production rate.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
Fatigue in Lead-free Piezoceramics. This project aims are to achieve a fundamental understanding of the fatigue behaviour of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics which achieve high strain through phase transformations and then ascertain the effects of this behaviour on material degradation rates. The expected outcomes will facilitate replacement of toxic lead in commodity electronics. The focus will be on new lead-free bismuth-alkali-based piezoelectric ceramic systems which demonstrate exciting pot ....Fatigue in Lead-free Piezoceramics. This project aims are to achieve a fundamental understanding of the fatigue behaviour of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics which achieve high strain through phase transformations and then ascertain the effects of this behaviour on material degradation rates. The expected outcomes will facilitate replacement of toxic lead in commodity electronics. The focus will be on new lead-free bismuth-alkali-based piezoelectric ceramic systems which demonstrate exciting potential as alternate materials to lead zirconate titanate (PZT) materials. Successful optimisation of the materials' design and knowledge of their degradation rates are expected to facilitate their commercialisation through a profound reduction in the environmental challenges associated with manufacture and disposal of devices.Read moreRead less
Doped metal perovskites for electrocatalysis. This project aims to discover and design perovskite metal-oxide electrocatalyst materials and develop electrocatalytic methods for efficiently driving the oxygen evolution reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction. These are the two most crucial reactions in sustainable energy cycles involving water, hydrogen and oxygen. The project’s anticipated advances in electrocatalysis efficiency for these two reactions will benefit sustainable energy technolo ....Doped metal perovskites for electrocatalysis. This project aims to discover and design perovskite metal-oxide electrocatalyst materials and develop electrocatalytic methods for efficiently driving the oxygen evolution reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction. These are the two most crucial reactions in sustainable energy cycles involving water, hydrogen and oxygen. The project’s anticipated advances in electrocatalysis efficiency for these two reactions will benefit sustainable energy technologies such as fuel cells, metal air batteries and water splitting.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
Carbon-free high temperature vacuum sintering facility. This facility will provide an extremely clean sintering environment for development of advanced materials free from imperfections for applications which range from energy conversion to medical components. It will ensure that Australia is an important international leader in both fundamental research and industrial innovation.
Micropatterned polymer film coatings for the capture of water directly from the atmosphere. This project will produce micropatterned surface coatings that collect large amounts of water from the atmosphere. Through this technology, isolated and drought-prone regions of Australia will be able to partially satisfy their water supply needs, in a manner that is economically and environmentally sustainable.
Development of high efficiency nanocatalysts using novel electron beam fabrication and imaging techniques. This project will develop a new approach for fabricating and studying nanocatalysts based on our expertise in electron beam induced deposition (EBID) of nanostructured materials and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). ESEM will be used to conduct unique, time-resolved studies of nano-scale, catalysed chemical reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures. The project will ....Development of high efficiency nanocatalysts using novel electron beam fabrication and imaging techniques. This project will develop a new approach for fabricating and studying nanocatalysts based on our expertise in electron beam induced deposition (EBID) of nanostructured materials and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). ESEM will be used to conduct unique, time-resolved studies of nano-scale, catalysed chemical reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures. The project will advance fundamental understanding and applicability of EBID, ESEM and nanocatalysis. It will yield novel, highly efficient, industrially relevant nanocatalysts for the production of renewable (green) and low emission (clean) energy, with particular applications in hydrogen fuel cells and the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide.Read moreRead less