Promoting transition metal complex catalysis with plasmonic antennae. This project aims to apply visible light photocatalysis to a wide range of chemical reactions by utilizing the intriguing effects of intense light absorption by plasmonic metal nanoparticles, such as generating energetic electrons, changing reactant adsorption and the chemical binding of reactant with the catalyst. These effects will promote catalysis at surface-bound metal complex reaction sites under mild reaction conditions ....Promoting transition metal complex catalysis with plasmonic antennae. This project aims to apply visible light photocatalysis to a wide range of chemical reactions by utilizing the intriguing effects of intense light absorption by plasmonic metal nanoparticles, such as generating energetic electrons, changing reactant adsorption and the chemical binding of reactant with the catalyst. These effects will promote catalysis at surface-bound metal complex reaction sites under mild reaction conditions. This is a part of our long-term effort to transform chemical production by heating into green photocatalytic process. This project expects to generate knowledge crucial for developing theories for catalysis, the design of efficient catalysts, green chemical synthesis methods, and enhance international collaboration.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,054.00
Summary
Remediation of PFAS in current and legacy biosolids application sites. This project aims to develop novel immobilisation, adsorption and/or thermal destruction methods for biosolids, soil and groundwater in current and legacy per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) sites receiving biosolids. Biosolids generated during waste water treatment carry an unknown potential risk of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination, through their application in agriculture and rehabilitation sites. This project ....Remediation of PFAS in current and legacy biosolids application sites. This project aims to develop novel immobilisation, adsorption and/or thermal destruction methods for biosolids, soil and groundwater in current and legacy per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) sites receiving biosolids. Biosolids generated during waste water treatment carry an unknown potential risk of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination, through their application in agriculture and rehabilitation sites. This project will provide the first major investigation of the release, fate and remediation of perfluorinated compounds in relation to their environmental pathways through wastewater treatment plants in Australia. The data will be evaluated to determine if perfluorinated compounds should be further incorporated into Australian soil and water quality monitoring programs. The project will provide evidence of research advice and methodologies being successfully adopted by water industry end-users, government regulatory agencies and private remediation industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
High performance analytical tools to strengthen clean energy research. High performance analytical tools are vital to the success of emerging research fields of national priority. By filling a gap in materials routine characterisation capabilities, the equipment requested will lead to major advances in fundamental and applied research aimed at carbon abatement and clean energy technologies. This includes technologies for clean energy generation by solar means and from decarbonised fossil fuels, ....High performance analytical tools to strengthen clean energy research. High performance analytical tools are vital to the success of emerging research fields of national priority. By filling a gap in materials routine characterisation capabilities, the equipment requested will lead to major advances in fundamental and applied research aimed at carbon abatement and clean energy technologies. This includes technologies for clean energy generation by solar means and from decarbonised fossil fuels, efficient energy storage systems, advanced fuel cells for electricity generation, and hydrogen as the universal energy vector. Advancement of these technologies will bring solutions to the grand challenges facing Australia and in turn benefit industry and society.
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To identify and to understand highly reactive surfaces for solar hydrogen production. This project aims to develop advanced technology to produce hydrogen - carbon-free fuel - from water with sunlight as the only energy input. Using clean energy to replace fossil fuels can help address the issues of energy supply and reduce carbon emissions, which is critically important for a sustainable Australia.
Selective photocatalytic lignin biomass conversion. If the prospective ‘hydrogen economy’ is to use hydrogen as a fuel and energy carrier to replace fossil sources, vast amounts of renewable cheap hydrogen must be available. A likely candidate is catalytic water splitting by sunlight. The hydrogen can be made affordable, by coupling hydrogen production to a higher value-added stream. The aim of this project is to produce a stable, hybrid heterogenous catalyst system able to oxidise organic subst ....Selective photocatalytic lignin biomass conversion. If the prospective ‘hydrogen economy’ is to use hydrogen as a fuel and energy carrier to replace fossil sources, vast amounts of renewable cheap hydrogen must be available. A likely candidate is catalytic water splitting by sunlight. The hydrogen can be made affordable, by coupling hydrogen production to a higher value-added stream. The aim of this project is to produce a stable, hybrid heterogenous catalyst system able to oxidise organic substrates derived from lignin biomass as an adjunct to visible light hydrogen generation from water. The significance will be to provide fuels and organic chemicals for industry from biomass, water and sunlight and catalytically remediate waste water with sunlight.Read moreRead less
Solar-driven thermochemical dissociation of carbon dioxide and water to produce carbon-neutral fuels. The biggest challenge to humanity of the century is to develop enabling clean energy resources to encounter rapidly diminished fossil fuel and accelerated global warming conditions. This project will offer a solution by developing a unique solar-driven thermochemical system capable of cleaving carbon dioxide and water to produce artificial syngas.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: De140101330
Funder
Australian Research Council
Summary
Electron Density - Reactivity Correlation through Experimental Quantum Crystallography. X-ray wavefunction refinement provides a novel approach to the determination of reliable chemical properties through an amalgamation of x-ray diffraction data and ab initio calculations. Detailed knowledge of these properties will greatly improve our understanding of reactivity and selectivity control in chemical processes, two of the most important and challenging questions in chemistry. This project involve ....Electron Density - Reactivity Correlation through Experimental Quantum Crystallography. X-ray wavefunction refinement provides a novel approach to the determination of reliable chemical properties through an amalgamation of x-ray diffraction data and ab initio calculations. Detailed knowledge of these properties will greatly improve our understanding of reactivity and selectivity control in chemical processes, two of the most important and challenging questions in chemistry. This project involves the synthesis of hypercoordinated molecules that serve as sterically frozen intermediates along the pathways of nucleophilic substitution reactions. Comparison of their properties with those of textbook compounds will provide a direct link to the classical Lewis notion of bonding and show that the concept of hypervalency is obsolete.Read moreRead less
Coinage metal nanoclusters: synthesis, structure and reactivity. Metal catalysts play important roles in the multi-billion dollar production of many industrial and fine chemicals used in wide-ranging applications including pharmaceuticals, insecticides and polymers. Despite the importance of metal catalysed reactions, the molecular details of such processes remain poorly understood. Breakthrough studies highlight that reactions previously thought to be catalysed by discrete metal catalysts are i ....Coinage metal nanoclusters: synthesis, structure and reactivity. Metal catalysts play important roles in the multi-billion dollar production of many industrial and fine chemicals used in wide-ranging applications including pharmaceuticals, insecticides and polymers. Despite the importance of metal catalysed reactions, the molecular details of such processes remain poorly understood. Breakthrough studies highlight that reactions previously thought to be catalysed by discrete metal catalysts are in fact catalysed by metal nanoclusters. This project involves the application of advanced mass spectrometric and computational methods to explore the formation and reactivity of copper, silver and gold nanoclusters. Identification of key reactive intermediates will inform the design of next generation catalysts.Read moreRead less
Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, impro ....Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, improve energy efficiency, and utilise CO2 rich gas resources.Read moreRead less