Improved models of nanoporous carbons for greater fundamental insight and better sustainable technology. Storage of hydrogen and energy from intermittent sources like solar and wind, and 'carbon capture' from coal-fired power stations are essential requirements for a sustainable future. A state-of-the-art computer model will be developed and demonstrated to help deliver these and other technologies for a safe and sustainable future.
Solar-thermal desalination system for parallel water-electricity generation. This project aims to develop a multi-functional solar-thermal desalination device to simultaneously produce clean water and electricity. Interfacial solar evaporation-based desalination technology has the unique advantage of using solar light as the sole energy source for affordable clean water production. However, its absolute evaporation rate is still too low for practical application and all of the latent heat releas ....Solar-thermal desalination system for parallel water-electricity generation. This project aims to develop a multi-functional solar-thermal desalination device to simultaneously produce clean water and electricity. Interfacial solar evaporation-based desalination technology has the unique advantage of using solar light as the sole energy source for affordable clean water production. However, its absolute evaporation rate is still too low for practical application and all of the latent heat released from vapor condensation during desalination is wasted. Solving these two critical issues by the study of energy nexus, design and fabrication of advanced photothermal materials and desalination devices could accelerate practical adoption of this technology and benefit millions of people who desperately need clean water. Read moreRead less
Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells with Novel Perovskite-based Cathode. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 and steam to value-added fuels in a high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is practically promising, but technologically challenging. This project aims to develop next generation SOECs using a perovskite-based cathode and scale-up engineering for rapid, bulk production of H2, CO and syngas fuels. Expected outcomes include material engineering, new knowledge on energy conversion ....Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells with Novel Perovskite-based Cathode. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 and steam to value-added fuels in a high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is practically promising, but technologically challenging. This project aims to develop next generation SOECs using a perovskite-based cathode and scale-up engineering for rapid, bulk production of H2, CO and syngas fuels. Expected outcomes include material engineering, new knowledge on energy conversion technology, and advanced manufacturing technologies. The success of the project will provide a practical solution to reduce fossil CO2 emissions and potential technology for hydrogen production. These will significantly aid Australia in important climate goals and ambitions.Read moreRead less
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
Safe and Reliable Solid-State Zinc Batteries. The project aims to design and fabricate a new-type of flexible and durable solid-state zinc-based battery with satisfactory energy density and long-term lifespan for scalable energy storage. A variety of novel electrode materials and solid-state electrolytes with desirable crystallographic and thermodynamic properties will be developed to construct flexible solid-state zinc battery systems, by combining advanced material engineering, in-situ instrum ....Safe and Reliable Solid-State Zinc Batteries. The project aims to design and fabricate a new-type of flexible and durable solid-state zinc-based battery with satisfactory energy density and long-term lifespan for scalable energy storage. A variety of novel electrode materials and solid-state electrolytes with desirable crystallographic and thermodynamic properties will be developed to construct flexible solid-state zinc battery systems, by combining advanced material engineering, in-situ instrumental techniques, and atomic-level computation - an interdisciplinary approach. The successful completion of this project will be of great significance for low-cost, safe and reliable energy storage technology – the key energy and environmental challenges facing today’s Australia and the world.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100137
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,275.00
Summary
Integrated thin film facility for catalysis and energy materials research. This project aims to establish thin film fabrication with catalytic/gas sorption characterisation needed for energy research. This project will overcome current limitations in advanced energy materials design via wet chemical methods. It will enable materials synthesis and characterisation toward thermal/photo/electro-catalytic, hydrogen storage, and battery technologies. The facility is expected to drive fundamental conc ....Integrated thin film facility for catalysis and energy materials research. This project aims to establish thin film fabrication with catalytic/gas sorption characterisation needed for energy research. This project will overcome current limitations in advanced energy materials design via wet chemical methods. It will enable materials synthesis and characterisation toward thermal/photo/electro-catalytic, hydrogen storage, and battery technologies. The facility is expected to drive fundamental concepts, and enable combinatorial search and new thin film technology. It is anticipated that this facility will increase Australia’s international competitiveness in the development of advanced energy materials.Read moreRead less
Preventing biological growth – a new generation anti-biofouling coatings. The project aims to improve anti-biofouling technology by developing a ‘smart and green’ coating that requires no toxic biocides and makes use of copper already present in the water. Biofouling is the unwanted attachment and growth on surfaces in water; it causes significant problems on ships and in drinking water systems, and damages infrastructure and capital investment. Biofouling also carries a significant risk of spre ....Preventing biological growth – a new generation anti-biofouling coatings. The project aims to improve anti-biofouling technology by developing a ‘smart and green’ coating that requires no toxic biocides and makes use of copper already present in the water. Biofouling is the unwanted attachment and growth on surfaces in water; it causes significant problems on ships and in drinking water systems, and damages infrastructure and capital investment. Biofouling also carries a significant risk of spreading diseases and environmental damage through the introduction of invasive marine species. Existing coatings release highly toxic substances into the water, causing untold environmental damage. This project offers a single, comprehensive solution for all of the above problems.Read moreRead less
Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction. This project aims to synthesise highly active electrochemical catalysts of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanostructure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen gas could generate clean energy, but the platinum catalyst’s cost and low activity make it impractical. This project will develop 2D inorganic nanosheets with tuneable pores and electronic band structures, hybridised ....Two-dimensional inorganic nanostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction. This project aims to synthesise highly active electrochemical catalysts of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanostructure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen gas could generate clean energy, but the platinum catalyst’s cost and low activity make it impractical. This project will develop 2D inorganic nanosheets with tuneable pores and electronic band structures, hybridised with organic and/or inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials for HER, and use density functional theory calculation to investigate these hybridised nanosheets’ mechanisms for HER. These highly efficient and low-cost catalysts are expected to generate clean energy and create opportunities for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefi ....An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefits, as the predictive surface-wettability model will enhance controllability and productivity of diverse manufacturing processes and lead to new applications, high-value products and economic benefits in mining, energy, electronics, biomedicine and other fields.Read moreRead less