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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100421
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,116.00
Summary
A New Breed of Metallosupramolecular Assembly. Self-assembly is the ready formation of complex structures from simple components. Nature uses this to generate its most impressive molecular machinery to carry out complex tasks. Metallosupramolecular chemists combine simple components (metal ions and organic ligands) to create synthetic variants to fulfil similar roles. Current methods have limitations, and this project aims to create a new structural type: large and controllably variable metallo- ....A New Breed of Metallosupramolecular Assembly. Self-assembly is the ready formation of complex structures from simple components. Nature uses this to generate its most impressive molecular machinery to carry out complex tasks. Metallosupramolecular chemists combine simple components (metal ions and organic ligands) to create synthetic variants to fulfil similar roles. Current methods have limitations, and this project aims to create a new structural type: large and controllably variable metallo-foldamers (structures consisting of metal ions and ligands that coil like DNA). As well as benefiting fundamental knowledge, these molecules will be functional. They are expected to improve performance with enhanced outcomes in photophysical, photochemical, catalytic, and sensing applications.Read moreRead less
Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both a ....Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both academia and industry. The expected outcomes from this project include the creation of opportunities to explore the manufacture and commercialisation of high-value products with Australian industry. This will provide significant benefits, such as reduction in the carbon footprint of homes, businesses and other applicable structures due to passive power generation, while creating jobs and up-skilling the workforce.Read moreRead less
Designing reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous water-splitting catalysts using muti-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies. New classes of heterogeneous manganese-calcium water splitting catalysts analogous to the unique biological water splitting cofactor have recently emerged but with far lower catalytic rates than seen for the biological system. These new materials are promising targets for large-scale hydrogen fuel production with low cost, high efficiency and ease of manufacture. ....Designing reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous water-splitting catalysts using muti-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies. New classes of heterogeneous manganese-calcium water splitting catalysts analogous to the unique biological water splitting cofactor have recently emerged but with far lower catalytic rates than seen for the biological system. These new materials are promising targets for large-scale hydrogen fuel production with low cost, high efficiency and ease of manufacture. To achieve this, the performance gap between these materials and the homogenous biological catalyst must be bridged. Multi-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies, including magneto/optical resonance methods which are aimed to be developed in this project are expected to provide new, atomic level understanding of properties needed to achieve high catalytic efficiency, thus guiding rational catalyst design.Read moreRead less