Advanced electrochemical capacitors. This project aims to design electrochemical capacitors that can provide self-sustaining power for equipment using renewable energy sources, such as sunlight. Electrical power systems are needed to supply both the peak power and the energy demand that users, particularly those without grid electricity, and their equipment need. This project will match the capacitator electrochemistry to the power attributes of the load and charging source, making them more eff ....Advanced electrochemical capacitors. This project aims to design electrochemical capacitors that can provide self-sustaining power for equipment using renewable energy sources, such as sunlight. Electrical power systems are needed to supply both the peak power and the energy demand that users, particularly those without grid electricity, and their equipment need. This project will match the capacitator electrochemistry to the power attributes of the load and charging source, making them more efficiently charged and able to supply both peak power and energy demand for improved off-grid power supplies and integration of renewable energy into electricity grids.Read moreRead less
Advanced materials for space propulsion: satellites and cubesats. Poorly controlled interactions between plasmas and surfaces often mean loss of process efficiency and surface degradation over time. For Hall thrusters, a type of engine used to move satellites in space, this means increased fuel consumption and shorter useful life. Through modelling and experiment, this project will show how intelligent selection of advanced materials and plasma parameters can minimise surface wear, enable in sit ....Advanced materials for space propulsion: satellites and cubesats. Poorly controlled interactions between plasmas and surfaces often mean loss of process efficiency and surface degradation over time. For Hall thrusters, a type of engine used to move satellites in space, this means increased fuel consumption and shorter useful life. Through modelling and experiment, this project will show how intelligent selection of advanced materials and plasma parameters can minimise surface wear, enable in situ material repair to extend device lifetime, and modulate plasma properties to increase thruster efficiency for a given task. These benefits enable reliable propulsion platforms for massive communication and observation satellite networks and deep space exploration.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH170100009
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Energy-efficient Separation. The ARC Research Hub for Energy-efficient Separation aims to develop advanced separation materials, innovative products and smart processes to reduce the energy consumption of separation processes. The Research Hub will create a multi-disciplinary training platform, supplying a highly-trained workforce for the advanced manufacturing sector, particularly in separation technology–a growth area in which Australia can lead the world. The advancement ....ARC Research Hub for Energy-efficient Separation. The ARC Research Hub for Energy-efficient Separation aims to develop advanced separation materials, innovative products and smart processes to reduce the energy consumption of separation processes. The Research Hub will create a multi-disciplinary training platform, supplying a highly-trained workforce for the advanced manufacturing sector, particularly in separation technology–a growth area in which Australia can lead the world. The advancement of Australia’s capability as a world-leading technology provider in manufacturing advanced separation materials and equipment will enable Australian industry to become more energy-efficient and cost-competitive in a global economy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101176
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,000.00
Summary
High-performance flame retardant polymer foams by bioinspired nanocoating. This project aims to develop high-performance flame retardant polymer foams by creating a flame-retardant nanocoating on their surfaces based utilising layer-by-layer assembly. Polymer foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials for modern buildings because of their low density and excellent heat insulation. However they are highly flammable, which poses a great fire threat to life and property. The flame retard ....High-performance flame retardant polymer foams by bioinspired nanocoating. This project aims to develop high-performance flame retardant polymer foams by creating a flame-retardant nanocoating on their surfaces based utilising layer-by-layer assembly. Polymer foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials for modern buildings because of their low density and excellent heat insulation. However they are highly flammable, which poses a great fire threat to life and property. The flame retardancy, durability and wear-resistance of the resultant polymer foams will be tailored by manipulating the layer-by-layer construction parameters. The flame retardant polymer foams developed in this project will not only contribute to saving energy, but also to minimise the potential of fire hazards to life, property and the environment.Read moreRead less
Novel microwave processing of carbon nanotube/thermoplastic composites. This project aims to develop a novel fabrication process for carbon nano-tube (CNT) / thermoplastic composites. The method, with lab based ‘proof of concept’, uses microwaves and overcomes problems of dispersion and aggregation of CNTs, which limit properties of the nano-composites. At lab scale, a 50 per cent increase in stiffness of polypropylene and an increase in electrical conductivity with the addition of 0.5 weight pe ....Novel microwave processing of carbon nanotube/thermoplastic composites. This project aims to develop a novel fabrication process for carbon nano-tube (CNT) / thermoplastic composites. The method, with lab based ‘proof of concept’, uses microwaves and overcomes problems of dispersion and aggregation of CNTs, which limit properties of the nano-composites. At lab scale, a 50 per cent increase in stiffness of polypropylene and an increase in electrical conductivity with the addition of 0.5 weight percent CNT has been demonstrated. This project should unravel mechanisms by which these outstanding property improvements are achieved and will scale up the process to industrial level. Expected outcomes will be economical, lighter and stronger plastics for manufacturing applications such as rotational molding, transport and electronic packaging.Read moreRead less
High performance polymer fibres for recyclable composites . The project aims to develop novel drawn polymer fibres with aligned carbon nanotubes incorporated inside and also grafted nanotubes on their surface. Such polymer fibres can be used to reinforce thermoplastics to make high performance composites with effective recyclability. This is important as the existing thermosetting composites are not recyclable and significant property enhancement require high loading (>30%) of reinforcing fibres ....High performance polymer fibres for recyclable composites . The project aims to develop novel drawn polymer fibres with aligned carbon nanotubes incorporated inside and also grafted nanotubes on their surface. Such polymer fibres can be used to reinforce thermoplastics to make high performance composites with effective recyclability. This is important as the existing thermosetting composites are not recyclable and significant property enhancement require high loading (>30%) of reinforcing fibres. The outcomes of this project will be novel technology for making high stiffness polymer fibres and their use in thermoplastic composites. The benefits will be to allow easy processing and recycling. They will be used in down-sizing of high volume products and high value automotive or aerospace products.Read moreRead less
Engineered nanoassmblies for energy conversion. This research will lead to development of clean energy technology that can compete with the traditional energy sources without subsidies, and facilitate long-term solution to the energy crisis and global warming. It will also bring significant benefit to Australian industries and economy and assist achievement of renewable energy target.
Precision-Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials. Designing polymer nanoparticles that interact with or mimic biological systems represents a challenge in the field of polymer science. The project will address this challenge to deliver a quantitative and qualitative understanding linking synthetic materials and biological systems. Structurally perfect polymeric dendrimers, prepared using break through synthetic approaches and kinetic and computer modelling, are the ideal structure to introduce this fu ....Precision-Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials. Designing polymer nanoparticles that interact with or mimic biological systems represents a challenge in the field of polymer science. The project will address this challenge to deliver a quantitative and qualitative understanding linking synthetic materials and biological systems. Structurally perfect polymeric dendrimers, prepared using break through synthetic approaches and kinetic and computer modelling, are the ideal structure to introduce this function with predictable behaviour. The project will achieve tangible impacts for global communities and industries including the development of biomimetic nanodevices for smart drug delivery devices and peptide mimics.Read moreRead less
Directional fluid-transfer in thin porous materials with gradient wettability through thickness. This project will further strengthen Australia's world leading position in advanced fibrous materials research. It will provide a new platform technology to develop self-driven unidirectional fluid-transfer fabrics and porous membranes for diverse applications in daily life, healthcare, defence and a number of industrial processes.
Functionalised biopolymers - a new class of renewable nano-engineered materials. Licella is an Australian start-up company, focusing on developing uses for the renewable resource lignocellulosic biomass; a fibrous material sourced principally from waste, such as that generated by forestry and agricultural operations. It is possible to use such waste and process it to separate the biomass components. This project proposes to modify these biomass fractions with living radical polymerisation (LPR) ....Functionalised biopolymers - a new class of renewable nano-engineered materials. Licella is an Australian start-up company, focusing on developing uses for the renewable resource lignocellulosic biomass; a fibrous material sourced principally from waste, such as that generated by forestry and agricultural operations. It is possible to use such waste and process it to separate the biomass components. This project proposes to modify these biomass fractions with living radical polymerisation (LPR) polymers to impart functionalities, such as antimicrobial properties, high tensile strengths and/or in-built photodegrability. New, high-performance sustainable materials like these will be the back-bone of the polymer/plastics industry of the future, replacing common plastics, sourced from non-renewable petrochemicals, with benign, sustainable plastics.Read moreRead less