Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials . This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making nanostructured hybrid core-shell materials with exceptionally high drug loading and programmed release. Building on this research team's recent breakthrough in the precision engineering of core-shell materials, this research will revolutionise current approaches for making drug-loaded polymer and inorganic particles. Significant outcomes will include a novel sequential nanoprecipi ....Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials . This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making nanostructured hybrid core-shell materials with exceptionally high drug loading and programmed release. Building on this research team's recent breakthrough in the precision engineering of core-shell materials, this research will revolutionise current approaches for making drug-loaded polymer and inorganic particles. Significant outcomes will include a novel sequential nanoprecipitation platform technology for making drug-core polymer-shell nanoparticles, and a new bio-inspired approach for making hybrid drug-core silica-shell nanocomposites, and new materials for applications in programmed release and delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Mechanical modulation of particle-cell interactions. Mechanical forces play critical roles in many biological processes, but how particle mechanical properties modulate particle-cell interactions remains elusive. This project aims to develop new design principles for engineering nano/micromaterials with tunable mechanical properties for improved cell activation and expansion, and to advance knowledge of the role of particle stiffness in modulating receptor-mediated particle-cell interactions. Ex ....Mechanical modulation of particle-cell interactions. Mechanical forces play critical roles in many biological processes, but how particle mechanical properties modulate particle-cell interactions remains elusive. This project aims to develop new design principles for engineering nano/micromaterials with tunable mechanical properties for improved cell activation and expansion, and to advance knowledge of the role of particle stiffness in modulating receptor-mediated particle-cell interactions. Expected outcomes and benefits include new fundamental understanding of the effect of particle mechanical properties on cell function, new insights into T cell activation and expansion, and new classes of stiffness-tunable fit-for-purpose materials for various applications in cell manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Clean Fuels Production. This project aims to develop single-component and hybrid transition-metal and metal-free electrocatalysts with controllable nanostructures to efficiently and selectively catalyse carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions for clean fuels production including hydrogen and low-carbon organic molecules. By combining experimental and theoretical modelling, this project plans to reveal the origins, mechanism and pathway of the ....Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Clean Fuels Production. This project aims to develop single-component and hybrid transition-metal and metal-free electrocatalysts with controllable nanostructures to efficiently and selectively catalyse carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions for clean fuels production including hydrogen and low-carbon organic molecules. By combining experimental and theoretical modelling, this project plans to reveal the origins, mechanism and pathway of these reactions, and the effect of catalyst composition and morphology on their performance. The resulting nanostructured catalysts are of great importance for feasible clean fuel generation and carbon dioxide reduction.Read moreRead less
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
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100050
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,263,000.00
Summary
Interfacial design and engineering for high-performance batteries. This Fellowship aims to design the next generation of batteries - for use in portable devices, electric vehicles and smart grids - that will overcome the energy density, cycle life, and safety issues, and will contribute to a more sustainable future. This comprehensive and ground-breaking research program combines experiment and theory of electrode/electrolyte interfacial behaviour with materials engineering, to develop a toolkit ....Interfacial design and engineering for high-performance batteries. This Fellowship aims to design the next generation of batteries - for use in portable devices, electric vehicles and smart grids - that will overcome the energy density, cycle life, and safety issues, and will contribute to a more sustainable future. This comprehensive and ground-breaking research program combines experiment and theory of electrode/electrolyte interfacial behaviour with materials engineering, to develop a toolkit of new battery design principles. The program expects to deliver high energy-density batteries with outstanding safety profiles and extended cycle lives. These outcomes would revolutionise battery technologies and position Australia as a global leader in the critical transition to a decarbonised economy.
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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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100253
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,948.00
Summary
Functional carbon hybrids for green catalysis and clean water. This project aims to develop a family of structure-tailored, robust and metal-free carbon hybrids and environmental-benign processes for catalytic degradation of emerging microcontaminants in water. Innovations are expected in the design of reaction-oriented nanocarbons, new concept in atomic level carbocatalysis from computation and in-situ characterisation, advanced purification technology, and breakthroughs in material engineering ....Functional carbon hybrids for green catalysis and clean water. This project aims to develop a family of structure-tailored, robust and metal-free carbon hybrids and environmental-benign processes for catalytic degradation of emerging microcontaminants in water. Innovations are expected in the design of reaction-oriented nanocarbons, new concept in atomic level carbocatalysis from computation and in-situ characterisation, advanced purification technology, and breakthroughs in material engineering. The anticipated outcomes will be the scientific basis for functional nanomaterials, nanotechnology, and green remediation technologies. Success will provide significant benefits in securing a sustainable future for Australia, with clean water and strategies for advanced manufacturing in related areas. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101074
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,500.00
Summary
Conversion of biowastes to porous carbon materials for green catalysis. This project aims to develop a family of biowaste-derived porous carbon and single-atom-anchored porous carbon catalysts for the degradation of emerging microcontaminants in water. Innovations are expected in systematically developing affordable, facile, productive, and sustainable approaches. Via reaction-oriented structure design, new concept will be defined at the atomic level using calculations and in situ characterisati ....Conversion of biowastes to porous carbon materials for green catalysis. This project aims to develop a family of biowaste-derived porous carbon and single-atom-anchored porous carbon catalysts for the degradation of emerging microcontaminants in water. Innovations are expected in systematically developing affordable, facile, productive, and sustainable approaches. Via reaction-oriented structure design, new concept will be defined at the atomic level using calculations and in situ characterisations in material engineering and advanced purification technology. The anticipated outcomes will provide fundamental knowledge in green nanotechnologies for water remediation. Success will secure a sustainable future for Australia with clean water and strategies for advanced manufacturing in relevant areas.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