Rechargeable lithium carbon dioxide battery - catalyst design to prototype . This project aims to develop a new concept of rechargeable lithium carbon dioxide batteries and scaled-up prototypes. Such a battery will be first of its kind to show high power comparable to gasoline and superior rechargeability over existing gas-involved batteries, ensuring realistic use for industrial purposes. Expected outcomes include 2-dimensional catalysts made from earth-abundant elements lowering large-scale pr ....Rechargeable lithium carbon dioxide battery - catalyst design to prototype . This project aims to develop a new concept of rechargeable lithium carbon dioxide batteries and scaled-up prototypes. Such a battery will be first of its kind to show high power comparable to gasoline and superior rechargeability over existing gas-involved batteries, ensuring realistic use for industrial purposes. Expected outcomes include 2-dimensional catalysts made from earth-abundant elements lowering large-scale production cost, a novel but reliable working principle based on reversible carbon dioxide/oxalate conversion, and prototypes featuring high specific capacity, large energy density and excellent durability. Via industrial pilot trials, commercial benefits will be fast tracked for energy security and carbon dioxide utilisation.Read moreRead less
Scale-up of catalytic furandicarboxylic acid production at room temperature. This project will use new knowledge acquired from our laboratory-scale discoveries to develop a new process feasible for industrial-scale production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The method makes FDCA, a platform chemical for future chemical industry, from a completely renewable source derived from plant sugars, 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural. This is an essential process for production of biodegradable plastic from s ....Scale-up of catalytic furandicarboxylic acid production at room temperature. This project will use new knowledge acquired from our laboratory-scale discoveries to develop a new process feasible for industrial-scale production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The method makes FDCA, a platform chemical for future chemical industry, from a completely renewable source derived from plant sugars, 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural. This is an essential process for production of biodegradable plastic from sugar that has not been commercialised. This technology will realise sizeable industrial-scale production of FDCA at low costs and without heating. The production development of this valuable commodity from renewable plant sugars will provide high-quality postgraduate training in future green chemical production methods.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101259
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
A predictive, ab initio design of enhanced plasmonic photocatalysts. Plasmonic catalysis is a promising platform for sunlight-driven chemical reactions that employs optically absorptive plasmonic-metal/semiconductor nanostructures. However, it suffers from poor external quantum efficiencies. The aim of this project is to rationally design an efficient plasmonic photocatalyst utilizing state-of-the-art ab initio computations. The project is expected to provide insights on various atomic-level rea ....A predictive, ab initio design of enhanced plasmonic photocatalysts. Plasmonic catalysis is a promising platform for sunlight-driven chemical reactions that employs optically absorptive plasmonic-metal/semiconductor nanostructures. However, it suffers from poor external quantum efficiencies. The aim of this project is to rationally design an efficient plasmonic photocatalyst utilizing state-of-the-art ab initio computations. The project is expected to provide insights on various atomic-level reaction steps involved and consequently develop a set of catalyst design principles to guide experiments. The project will largely benefit Australia’s and international renewable energy sector and chemical industries by generating knowledge in catalysis relevant for hydrogen production and greenhouse gas reduction. Read moreRead less