Characterization and design of new soft electrolyte materials. The use of fossil fuels for energy generation contributes heavily to global warming. The development of new types of energy sources (e.g. fuel cells) and energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) is of crucial importance to ease this pressure on the environment. The search for new, high energy-density electrolyte materials for these applications is intense. Recently, plastic crystal materials have been identified as potential electroly ....Characterization and design of new soft electrolyte materials. The use of fossil fuels for energy generation contributes heavily to global warming. The development of new types of energy sources (e.g. fuel cells) and energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) is of crucial importance to ease this pressure on the environment. The search for new, high energy-density electrolyte materials for these applications is intense. Recently, plastic crystal materials have been identified as potential electrolytes in a variety of electrochemical devices. These materials show high conductivity at ambient temperatures in their plastic (or soft) phase. This project aims to further investigate and develop these novel materials.Read moreRead less
Fabrication of High Performance Nanocomposite Photoanodes with Built-in Electron Transport Superhighway for Photoelectrocatalysis Applications. Worldwide, huge fresh water shortage problems force us to recycle/reuse water. For Australia, this is an urgent issue due to our limited fresh water resources. In recent years, rapidly diminishing fossil fuel supplies and dramatically accelerated global warming gives society no alternative but adopt renewable, clean energies. Globally, there is a united ....Fabrication of High Performance Nanocomposite Photoanodes with Built-in Electron Transport Superhighway for Photoelectrocatalysis Applications. Worldwide, huge fresh water shortage problems force us to recycle/reuse water. For Australia, this is an urgent issue due to our limited fresh water resources. In recent years, rapidly diminishing fossil fuel supplies and dramatically accelerated global warming gives society no alternative but adopt renewable, clean energies. Globally, there is a united front calling for action to address these problems. However, a practical solution to the issues can only be found when economically viable alternative technologies are developed. This project aims to tackle the biggest obstacle - the low sunlight conversion efficiency. The success of the project will result in economically viable water treatment and solar energy conversion technologies. Read moreRead less
New concepts with multidisciplinary approach: novel functionalised nanostructures for hydrogen storage. This project addresses National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies and advanced materials. Developing new methodologies to fabricate novel functionalised nanostructured materials with tailored properties has great potential in areas including energy storage, novel catalysts, novel sensors, micro/nano-electronics, etc. This project will enhance the i ....New concepts with multidisciplinary approach: novel functionalised nanostructures for hydrogen storage. This project addresses National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies and advanced materials. Developing new methodologies to fabricate novel functionalised nanostructured materials with tailored properties has great potential in areas including energy storage, novel catalysts, novel sensors, micro/nano-electronics, etc. This project will enhance the international reputation and impact of Australian research in the internationally focused fields of nanotechnology and hydrogen energy technology. Applying innovative nanotechnology to the area of hydrogen energy will add to Australia's export potential and reduce Australia's reliance on foreign fuel sources.
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Novel Materials for Dye Sensitised Solar Cells. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to alternative devices. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Novel surface modification approaches and microwave processing will be employed to fabricate the ....Novel Materials for Dye Sensitised Solar Cells. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to alternative devices. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Novel surface modification approaches and microwave processing will be employed to fabricate the nanporous semiconductor electrodes on polymer substrates and to improve cell efficiency. Improved dyes and new electrolyte systems, such as plastic crystals, will be incorporated into the cell to improve efficiency, durability and stability.Read moreRead less
MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF FLEXIBLE DYE SENSITISED SOLAR CELLS. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable and environmentally sustainable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to silicon-based solar cells. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Microwave processing will be employed to fabr ....MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF FLEXIBLE DYE SENSITISED SOLAR CELLS. Solar energy is the most attractive renewable and environmentally sustainable energy source. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are one type of device that can harvest this energy, offering advantages of low materials cost and ease of fabrication when compared to silicon-based solar cells. This project aims to develop efficient, flexible DSSCs by using polymer substrates in place of glass. Microwave processing will be employed to fabricate the semiconductor layers on polymer substrates. Novel surface modification approaches will be examined to facilitate microwave processing and improve cell efficienRead moreRead less