Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface act ....Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface active ionic liquids in the bulk and at electrode surfaces, and use this to elucidate rules for the rational design of new surface active ionic liquids with fast dynamics at low temperature, towards their use at room temperature in diverse areas; this project will target capacitors and gas sensors. Read moreRead less
On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and ....On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and selectivities increase on water’s surface rather than in its bulk will remove fundamental constraints on the viability of aqueous electro-synthesis – moving beyond current reactor designs to transform our view of electrochemistry and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry.Read moreRead less
Sliding diodes: harvesting triboelectricity with surface chemistry. This project aims to create new methods for the conversion of friction at vibrating metal–semiconductor contacts into a continuous source of electricity; an autonomous technology to power miniature electronics in applications spanning health management to environmental sensing. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of new surface chemistry and miniature semiconductor technologies, with benefits for the de ....Sliding diodes: harvesting triboelectricity with surface chemistry. This project aims to create new methods for the conversion of friction at vibrating metal–semiconductor contacts into a continuous source of electricity; an autonomous technology to power miniature electronics in applications spanning health management to environmental sensing. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of new surface chemistry and miniature semiconductor technologies, with benefits for the design and function of silicon-based devices such as life-critical pacemakers, and self-powered monitors in remote/dangerous places.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180200015
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,007.00
Summary
Combination of electrochemistry with sono to destroy and detoxify PFAS. Previously the major means of dealing with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is by adsorption, to collect and remove PFAS from contaminated sites. However, PFAS still exist, non-degraded and waiting for destruction. Targeting slurry waste from current remediation / adsorption plants, this project aims to efficiently degrade PFAS by combining electrochemical oxidation with sono-chemistry to enhance degradation capac ....Combination of electrochemistry with sono to destroy and detoxify PFAS. Previously the major means of dealing with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is by adsorption, to collect and remove PFAS from contaminated sites. However, PFAS still exist, non-degraded and waiting for destruction. Targeting slurry waste from current remediation / adsorption plants, this project aims to efficiently degrade PFAS by combining electrochemical oxidation with sono-chemistry to enhance degradation capacity, to accelerate PFAS desorption / transportation from slurry waste, to avoid electrode fouling and to detoxify PFAS. The expected outcome of this project is to clean up contaminated sites, including PFAS / precursors and other persistent organic pollutants, leading to significant environmental benefits.Read moreRead less
Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silic ....Light Activated Electrochemistry: Microelectrode Arrays with just one wire. Electrochemistry requires each electrode to be connected to the external circuit by a wire. With many electrodes this means many wires. Wires limit electrode density in arrays and dictate that the electrode architecture must be predetermined. This project aims to remove the need for a wire for each electrode by using light to sequentially connect each electrode to a single wire. This will be achieved using modified silicon electrodes where irradiating with light causes an increase in conductivity at the illumination spot. The project will explore the variables that influence the spatial resolution and apply the ideas to making soft connects for nanoelectronics and making high density electrode arrays for electroanalysis.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100732
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,544.00
Summary
Electrostatic Catalysis: guiding reactive interfaces using electric fields. This project seeks to gain quantitative understanding of the role of electrostatics over chemical processes. Chemical transformations of organic compounds at interfaces underpin some of the most important processes, from the production of fine chemicals for pharmaceuticals to assisting bio-degradation of pollutants in clean technologies. Recent computational studies suggest that by applying oriented electric fields at in ....Electrostatic Catalysis: guiding reactive interfaces using electric fields. This project seeks to gain quantitative understanding of the role of electrostatics over chemical processes. Chemical transformations of organic compounds at interfaces underpin some of the most important processes, from the production of fine chemicals for pharmaceuticals to assisting bio-degradation of pollutants in clean technologies. Recent computational studies suggest that by applying oriented electric fields at interfaces, the rate and the selectivity of chemical processes can be altered at will. The project intends to test these theoretical findings. The knowledge generated by this research may translate into new technologies for the fine-chemical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Gelled electrolyte materials for toxic gas sensing. This project aims to develop and implement an alternative approach to the current methods of monitoring of oxygen and toxic gas levels. The aim is to use novel gelled electrolytes based on ionic liquids and polymers, combined with miniaturised sensor devices, to create a robust membrane-free and spill-less design. Amperometric gas sensors are commonly employed to monitor oxygen and toxic gas levels, but the technology used is still based on a ....Gelled electrolyte materials for toxic gas sensing. This project aims to develop and implement an alternative approach to the current methods of monitoring of oxygen and toxic gas levels. The aim is to use novel gelled electrolytes based on ionic liquids and polymers, combined with miniaturised sensor devices, to create a robust membrane-free and spill-less design. Amperometric gas sensors are commonly employed to monitor oxygen and toxic gas levels, but the technology used is still based on a 1950s design. The expected outcome of the project is to make fundamental advances in the design of materials that are not affected by humidity changes and which impart selectivity towards particular gases. This will provide the basis for a new generation of low-cost, miniaturised, selective sensors for use in applications such as wearable toxic gas sensors, and as leak detectors on hydrogen-powered vehicles.Read moreRead less
Redox processes in Bayer liquors. Alumina, and the aluminium produced from it, are amongst Australia's most important mineral commodities, earning about $8 billion p.a. in exports. However, ongoing technological improvements are needed for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. This project addresses a key problem in alumina production - the behaviour of organic impurities - which will help to increase industrial productivity and reduce energy consumption. Insights gained from this ....Redox processes in Bayer liquors. Alumina, and the aluminium produced from it, are amongst Australia's most important mineral commodities, earning about $8 billion p.a. in exports. However, ongoing technological improvements are needed for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. This project addresses a key problem in alumina production - the behaviour of organic impurities - which will help to increase industrial productivity and reduce energy consumption. Insights gained from this research will also minimize the environmental and occupational health impacts of various process emissions, making the industry more sustainable.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100026
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,000.00
Summary
A surface characterisation facility. This surface characterisation facility will provide scientists with an understanding of material's surfaces and interfaces. This will lead to a range of new technologies and innovative solutions required to address the many resource and environmental challenges facing our planet now and in the future.
Unlocking the potential of poly(ionic liquids) for electrochemical sensing. This project aims to create new science that will enable the development of low-cost, miniaturised electrochemical sensors based on poly-ionic liquids. The chemistry of the materials will be tuned to selectively detect hazardous pollutants to enable trace concentration detection at analytically relevant levels. Fundamental behaviour of gases and solid contaminants dissolved in poly-ionic liquid/ionic liquid membranes wil ....Unlocking the potential of poly(ionic liquids) for electrochemical sensing. This project aims to create new science that will enable the development of low-cost, miniaturised electrochemical sensors based on poly-ionic liquids. The chemistry of the materials will be tuned to selectively detect hazardous pollutants to enable trace concentration detection at analytically relevant levels. Fundamental behaviour of gases and solid contaminants dissolved in poly-ionic liquid/ionic liquid membranes will be uncovered, and their performance for sensing in real environments will be examined. It is expected that these advances will transform detection methods by taking sensing out of the lab and in to the hands of the everyday person, giving rapid and accurate knowledge about the concentration of hazards in the environment.Read moreRead less