Low cost aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries for grid-scale energy storage. This project aims to advance energy storage technology by developing high energy aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries, which are the most promising choice for large-scale electrical energy storage, in particular for smart electric grids, owing to their low cost, high safety, and eco-friendly features. The success of this project will advance our fundamental understanding of aqueous rechargeable batteries, provide techniqu ....Low cost aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries for grid-scale energy storage. This project aims to advance energy storage technology by developing high energy aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries, which are the most promising choice for large-scale electrical energy storage, in particular for smart electric grids, owing to their low cost, high safety, and eco-friendly features. The success of this project will advance our fundamental understanding of aqueous rechargeable batteries, provide techniques for the development of a low-cost, high energy, and long life system for renewable energy storage, and benefit Australia's environment, economy, and sustainability.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101354
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,169.00
Summary
Novel Ion Exchange Membrane for High Performance Vanadium Flow battery. This project aims to design and synthesis novel ion exchange membrane with tailored ion selectivity and high proton conductivity for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). VRFB is a promising energy storage technology for large scale storing renewable energy due to its advantage of decoupled capacity and power, long lifetime. Currently, VRFB suffers from fast capacity decay and cyclic instability because of severe vanadium ion ....Novel Ion Exchange Membrane for High Performance Vanadium Flow battery. This project aims to design and synthesis novel ion exchange membrane with tailored ion selectivity and high proton conductivity for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). VRFB is a promising energy storage technology for large scale storing renewable energy due to its advantage of decoupled capacity and power, long lifetime. Currently, VRFB suffers from fast capacity decay and cyclic instability because of severe vanadium ion permeability of commercial membrane. The expected research outcomes in this project include stable, high ion selectivity membranes made of cost-effective aromatic polymer and robust nanofillers, enabling high performance VRFB. This will place Australia in the forefront of clean energy storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Solar rechargeable batteries for wearable electronics. This project aims to develop a new solar battery as a sustainable power source for future wearable electronics. The research will develop solar rechargeable Zinc-Manganese oxide batteries based on new stretchable microelectrodes and materials engineering for the direct storage of solar energy. Expected outcomes include new classes of planar-type solar batteries, functional microelectrodes and energy materials, as well as new knowledge genera ....Solar rechargeable batteries for wearable electronics. This project aims to develop a new solar battery as a sustainable power source for future wearable electronics. The research will develop solar rechargeable Zinc-Manganese oxide batteries based on new stretchable microelectrodes and materials engineering for the direct storage of solar energy. Expected outcomes include new classes of planar-type solar batteries, functional microelectrodes and energy materials, as well as new knowledge generated from collaborations across materials science, photoelectrochemistry and nanotechnology disciplines. These will not only expand the applications of solar batteries to a new domain of wearable electronics, but also may eventually lead to new industry advances in functional materials for clean energy.Read moreRead less
Lithium-rich cathode materials for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. This project aims to develop lithium-rich cathode materials for a new generation of high-energy lithium-ion batteries. These innovative materials could double the capacity of commercial cathodes, thereby doubling the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. A further increase is anticipated from fundamental insights into anionic redox. Expected outcomes include materials with optimised architecture and chemistry, stabilisation ....Lithium-rich cathode materials for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. This project aims to develop lithium-rich cathode materials for a new generation of high-energy lithium-ion batteries. These innovative materials could double the capacity of commercial cathodes, thereby doubling the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. A further increase is anticipated from fundamental insights into anionic redox. Expected outcomes include materials with optimised architecture and chemistry, stabilisation of lithium-rich cathodes, identification of redox mechanism of lithium-rich cathode materials, technologies for producing lithium-rich cathode materials on a large scale and fabrication of new generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries. This project will have benefits especially in the transport and energy sectors. Read moreRead less
Sodium-Metal-Free, Safe and Sustainable Sodium-Ion Sulfur Batteries. This project aims to develop sodium sulfide cathodes via effective single-atom catalysts and elaborately regulate the solid-electrolyte interphase on the anode by using a new class of electrolytes. Thus, the obtained low-cost, high-energy, safe sodium-ion sulfur batteries can serve as a novel technique for large-scale stationary energy storage, especially for intermittent solar and wind energy storage in Australia. Expected out ....Sodium-Metal-Free, Safe and Sustainable Sodium-Ion Sulfur Batteries. This project aims to develop sodium sulfide cathodes via effective single-atom catalysts and elaborately regulate the solid-electrolyte interphase on the anode by using a new class of electrolytes. Thus, the obtained low-cost, high-energy, safe sodium-ion sulfur batteries can serve as a novel technique for large-scale stationary energy storage, especially for intermittent solar and wind energy storage in Australia. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive understanding and a breakthrough in advances of innovative and affordable battery storage technology, leading to significant scientific, economic, environmental, and social benefits to Australia by integrating this battery system with renewable energy.Read moreRead less
Low-density high-performance proppants for hydraulic fracturing process . Australia has vast resources of unconventional oil/gas, which require hydraulic fracturing to stimulate production. This project aims to develop advanced low-density high-performance proppants from industry waste for hydraulic fracturing. This will be achieved by selecting purer SiO2 raw material, carefully designing the porous structure, and fully understanding its relationship with strength and pack conductivity. Low-den ....Low-density high-performance proppants for hydraulic fracturing process . Australia has vast resources of unconventional oil/gas, which require hydraulic fracturing to stimulate production. This project aims to develop advanced low-density high-performance proppants from industry waste for hydraulic fracturing. This will be achieved by selecting purer SiO2 raw material, carefully designing the porous structure, and fully understanding its relationship with strength and pack conductivity. Low-density means no chemicals in proppant transportation and application. Successful development of such high-performance proppants will significantly increase Australia oil/gas exploration and production with an environmental acceptable technology, a leap forward for the oil/gas industry in Australia and the world.Read moreRead less
Development of next generation smart sucker rod wear guides . In a natural gas wells, sucker rod guides protect the production tubing from wear by the rod string. Premature and erratic failures are costing the industry tens of millions every year. In collaboration with two local SMEs, this project aims to develop the next generation of smart and durable wear guides. The project seeks to understand the complex three body wear mechanisms that drive guide and tubing wear, then use this knowledge to ....Development of next generation smart sucker rod wear guides . In a natural gas wells, sucker rod guides protect the production tubing from wear by the rod string. Premature and erratic failures are costing the industry tens of millions every year. In collaboration with two local SMEs, this project aims to develop the next generation of smart and durable wear guides. The project seeks to understand the complex three body wear mechanisms that drive guide and tubing wear, then use this knowledge to develop new wear resistant compounds and develop a smart guide that provides feedback on its wear state. This will enable the industry partners to supply cutting edge technology to the global oil and gas industry that not only reduces well operation cost but also enhances well resilience.Read moreRead less
Next generation flexible high current micro-electronic interconnects. The project aims to reduce the temperatures required for the manufacture of electronic circuitry through the use of low melting temperature metallic gallium-based alloys. The project will use a range of innovative techniques to generate methods that these low temperature alloys can rapidly transition from a liquid state to a solid intermetallic in short timeframes at low-temperatures. The outcomes from this project include red ....Next generation flexible high current micro-electronic interconnects. The project aims to reduce the temperatures required for the manufacture of electronic circuitry through the use of low melting temperature metallic gallium-based alloys. The project will use a range of innovative techniques to generate methods that these low temperature alloys can rapidly transition from a liquid state to a solid intermetallic in short timeframes at low-temperatures. The outcomes from this project include reduced energy costs during electronic manufacture and the development of techniques that will enable sensitive next-generation components to be assembled by removing the need to use elevated temperatures.Read moreRead less
Real-time imaging of crystal strengthening mechanisms in metals. The strength limit of a metal is marked by rapid motion of crystalline defects. The associated speeds can locally approach that of sound. To probe the associated mechanisms clearly requires both spatial and temporal resolution. We propose to create a new bulk x-ray technique with an unprecedented combination of temporal and spatial resolution. We plan to exploit the technique to mediate a step change in modelling strength based on ....Real-time imaging of crystal strengthening mechanisms in metals. The strength limit of a metal is marked by rapid motion of crystalline defects. The associated speeds can locally approach that of sound. To probe the associated mechanisms clearly requires both spatial and temporal resolution. We propose to create a new bulk x-ray technique with an unprecedented combination of temporal and spatial resolution. We plan to exploit the technique to mediate a step change in modelling strength based on twinning. The formation of crystalline twins is known to dictate the strength of the light metal magnesium. A fuller understanding of the effect of twinning on strength in this metal will provide much needed confidence to implement it more widely in energy saving applications.Read moreRead less
Intermetallic compounds for high reliability electronic interconnections. The aim of the proposal is to develop an entirely new way of joining functional elements of circuit boards using tailored intermetallic joints that replace traditional solders. The outcome will be that electronic devices, from smart phones to smart grids and electric vehicles, will become more reliable and less susceptible to cracking and circuit failure. Electronics will last longer and less E-waste will be generated. Thi ....Intermetallic compounds for high reliability electronic interconnections. The aim of the proposal is to develop an entirely new way of joining functional elements of circuit boards using tailored intermetallic joints that replace traditional solders. The outcome will be that electronic devices, from smart phones to smart grids and electric vehicles, will become more reliable and less susceptible to cracking and circuit failure. Electronics will last longer and less E-waste will be generated. This would revolutionise electronics manufacturing. The project has a high probability of achieving this breakthrough based on unique, world-class expertise in intermetallic compounds and characterisation that has already been established by the international network of Investigators.Read moreRead less