Mechanical advantage: biomimetic artificial muscles for micro-machines. This project will develop better ways to operate miniature machines by copying the way that muscle operates in Nature. The outcome will be important for portable devices like digital cameras that need small, efficient motors. The artificial muscles developed in this project may also be used in medical prosthetics and more agile robots.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101264
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Carbon nanotube-based supercapacitors: breaking the energy density limit. Novel electrodes will be nano-architectured by using ultralong single-walled carbon nanotube arrays and transition metal oxides to produce next-generation supercapacitors. The outcomes will lead to unprecedented energy densities in energy storage devices for sustainable future energy solutions.
Exploration of highly regenerable boron-nitrogen based hydrides for hydrogen storage. The project will design and synthesise novel boron-nitrogen hydrides. It will employ material design strategies, such as new synthesis techniques, dopant destabilisation, and dehydrogenation catalysts to design and experimentally validate novel multicomponent hydride systems with high storage capacities (above 9 wt% under near-ambient conditions) and high reversibility. The outcomes of this project will make a ....Exploration of highly regenerable boron-nitrogen based hydrides for hydrogen storage. The project will design and synthesise novel boron-nitrogen hydrides. It will employ material design strategies, such as new synthesis techniques, dopant destabilisation, and dehydrogenation catalysts to design and experimentally validate novel multicomponent hydride systems with high storage capacities (above 9 wt% under near-ambient conditions) and high reversibility. The outcomes of this project will make a significant enhancement in the performance of solid state hydrogen storage materials and will deliver a viable storage technology for a range of fuel cell applications.Read moreRead less
Liquid-phase hydrogen carriers for energy storage and delivery. This project aims to overcome hydrogen storage and delivery issues by developing liquid-phase hydrogen storage materials with high hydrogen capacity, exceptional stability and that do not change phase during hydrogen evolution. This project will build on the recent synthesis of strategically important hydrogen storage compounds. The innovative liquid-phase hydrogen storage and delivery technology will enable effective usage of estab ....Liquid-phase hydrogen carriers for energy storage and delivery. This project aims to overcome hydrogen storage and delivery issues by developing liquid-phase hydrogen storage materials with high hydrogen capacity, exceptional stability and that do not change phase during hydrogen evolution. This project will build on the recent synthesis of strategically important hydrogen storage compounds. The innovative liquid-phase hydrogen storage and delivery technology will enable effective usage of established liquid fuel distribution techniques and infrastructure throughout the country. The project would benefit renewable energy, chemical, and manufacturing industries, where new employment opportunities would be created.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,191.00
Summary
A facility for laser-based automated manufacturing of carbon composites. This project aims to create an advanced manufacturing facility for carbon-composites research by integrating laser-based processing and robotic automation. It will enable fundamental research on rapid processing of high-performance thermoplastics and metal-composite hybrids, including functionalisation of the composite through nano-material coating technology, and new instrumentation for structural health monitoring. The fa ....A facility for laser-based automated manufacturing of carbon composites. This project aims to create an advanced manufacturing facility for carbon-composites research by integrating laser-based processing and robotic automation. It will enable fundamental research on rapid processing of high-performance thermoplastics and metal-composite hybrids, including functionalisation of the composite through nano-material coating technology, and new instrumentation for structural health monitoring. The facility will significantly enhance the research capability in the newly established ARC Training Centre for Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites, which will engage with Australian industry to improve productivity and material performance for industry sectors such as aerospace, automotive, marine, and sport.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale control of energy and matter for future energy-efficient technologies. Unprecedented control of energy and matter in nanoscale fabrication will be achieved using non-equilibrium self-organised plasma-solid systems. The outcomes will lead to energy-efficient, environment- and human-health-friendly production of nanomaterials for future energy, health, information, food, water, environmental and security technologies.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100153
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,264.00
Summary
Integrated In situ Characterisation Facilities for Energy Studies. This project aims to establish a new capability to reveal catalytic behaviour of materials under practical working conditions at multi-scale levels. Through in situ monitoring of surface, interface and structural properties of catalysts, this unique integrated facility will overcome current limitations due to a lack of understanding of reaction mechanism, by ex situ and/or individual in situ characterisations. This world-class fa ....Integrated In situ Characterisation Facilities for Energy Studies. This project aims to establish a new capability to reveal catalytic behaviour of materials under practical working conditions at multi-scale levels. Through in situ monitoring of surface, interface and structural properties of catalysts, this unique integrated facility will overcome current limitations due to a lack of understanding of reaction mechanism, by ex situ and/or individual in situ characterisations. This world-class facility will significantly advance a range of electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and battery applications for renewable energy-storage and clean-fuel generation. This will be Australia’s only platform; it will benefit a number of innovative research projects in energy, catalysis and environmental and materials science.Read moreRead less
In pursuit of high performance lithium-oxygen batteries. This project aims to achieve high-energy lithium-oxygen batteries for electric vehicles. Electrification of road transport will minimise consumption of fossil fuels, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and increase energy security. Lithium-oxygen batteries have the highest energy density among all rechargeable battery systems, which is more than 10 times the density of current lithium-ion batteries. Through exploration of new catalysts, redox ....In pursuit of high performance lithium-oxygen batteries. This project aims to achieve high-energy lithium-oxygen batteries for electric vehicles. Electrification of road transport will minimise consumption of fossil fuels, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and increase energy security. Lithium-oxygen batteries have the highest energy density among all rechargeable battery systems, which is more than 10 times the density of current lithium-ion batteries. Through exploration of new catalysts, redox mediators, and porous material architectures, this project intends to significantly improve the performance of lithium-oxygen batteries, including specific capacity, cycle life and round-trip efficiency.Read moreRead less
The effect of structure and size on the mechanical behaviour of III-V semiconductor nanowires. The project aims to apply in-situ deformation transmission electron microscopy to investigate the mechanical behaviour of compound semiconductor nanowires and the effect of structure and geometry on the behaviour. The results will uncover the fundamental mechanical properties of nanowires and will guide the design of nanowire-based devices.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,446.00
Summary
Rechargeable room-temperature sodium-oxygen batteries. This project aims to develop high performance room-temperature sodium-oxygen batteries as a green and low-cost power source for large scale electrical energy storage. Through electrode architecture design, this research intends to significantly improve the performance of sodium-oxygen batteries, including specific capacity, cycle life and round-trip energy efficiency. Expected outcomes include reducing consumption of fossil fuels to generate ....Rechargeable room-temperature sodium-oxygen batteries. This project aims to develop high performance room-temperature sodium-oxygen batteries as a green and low-cost power source for large scale electrical energy storage. Through electrode architecture design, this research intends to significantly improve the performance of sodium-oxygen batteries, including specific capacity, cycle life and round-trip energy efficiency. Expected outcomes include reducing consumption of fossil fuels to generate electricity, with benefits for the environment, climate change and energy security.Read moreRead less