Engineering nanostructured graphene-based semiconductor photocatalysts. Harnessing solar energy and converting it into useful chemical energy efficiently is the expected outcome of the project. Given the strategic solar-geographical position of Australia, solar photocatalysis is a leading option for utilising our renewable energy resources to applications relating to energy conversion and environmental remediation.
Flow process and visible-light driven reactions for polymer manufacturing. This project aims to develop rapid, scalable light-driven continuous flow processing techniques that allow the production of value-added synthetic polymers that cannot be achieved by existing technologies. The project will take advantage of the spatio-temporal control of the light mediated polymerisation with flow process to achieve control over the primary structure, the sequential arrangement of monomer units in a polym ....Flow process and visible-light driven reactions for polymer manufacturing. This project aims to develop rapid, scalable light-driven continuous flow processing techniques that allow the production of value-added synthetic polymers that cannot be achieved by existing technologies. The project will take advantage of the spatio-temporal control of the light mediated polymerisation with flow process to achieve control over the primary structure, the sequential arrangement of monomer units in a polymer chain and the molecular weight distribution. The project will result in the preparation of functional polymers containing a specific arrangement of monomers in the polymer chain and a precise distribution of polymer chains. The development of such process will result in the development of advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Advanced electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis with validated analysis. Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals worldwide but current manufacturing industries consume massive amounts of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases. This project aims to develop a sustainable electrochemical system for ammonia synthesis using electricity and atmospheric nitrogen. A family of porous catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids will be developed to drive nitrogen reduction by enhancing the reaction ....Advanced electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis with validated analysis. Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals worldwide but current manufacturing industries consume massive amounts of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases. This project aims to develop a sustainable electrochemical system for ammonia synthesis using electricity and atmospheric nitrogen. A family of porous catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids will be developed to drive nitrogen reduction by enhancing the reaction kinetics. Rigorous experimental protocols and novel analytical methods will be developed for quantification of electro-synthesised ammonia. A prototype gas diffusion layer-assisted electrolyser will be demonstrated by coupling with oxygen evolution reactions for selective ammonia synthesis at a reasonable production rate.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100170
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A tuneable femtosecond light source for materials and biological sciences. Researchers at The Australian National University, Monash University and The University of Technology, Sydney are involved in a range of projects where new molecules are synthesised or discovered in nature. Molecules like these have applications in new photonics or energy technologies. This integrated facility will afford intense light of varying pulse durations to investigate the behaviour and performance of such molecul ....A tuneable femtosecond light source for materials and biological sciences. Researchers at The Australian National University, Monash University and The University of Technology, Sydney are involved in a range of projects where new molecules are synthesised or discovered in nature. Molecules like these have applications in new photonics or energy technologies. This integrated facility will afford intense light of varying pulse durations to investigate the behaviour and performance of such molecules.Read moreRead less
All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts for water treatment. The project aims to develop high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts by using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as building blocks for low-cost, highly-efficient pathogen inactivation and emerging pollutant degradation in stormwater treatment. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of photocatalyst design and Z-scheme photocatalytic system, and advance the application of photocatalytic oxidation in wate ....All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts for water treatment. The project aims to develop high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts by using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as building blocks for low-cost, highly-efficient pathogen inactivation and emerging pollutant degradation in stormwater treatment. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of photocatalyst design and Z-scheme photocatalytic system, and advance the application of photocatalytic oxidation in water treatment. The expected outcomes of the project include novel 2D Z-scheme photocatalysts and enhanced capacity in stormwater management.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101056
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,156.00
Summary
Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoassemblies for Rapid and Multiplexed Point-of-Care Diagnosis by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The central aim of this project is to develop a novel technology/sensor platform for rapid, quantitative, multiplexed and highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as the read-out approach. Three-dimensional plasmonic superstructures as novel SERS labels will be synthesised and characterised at single-partic ....Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoassemblies for Rapid and Multiplexed Point-of-Care Diagnosis by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The central aim of this project is to develop a novel technology/sensor platform for rapid, quantitative, multiplexed and highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as the read-out approach. Three-dimensional plasmonic superstructures as novel SERS labels will be synthesised and characterised at single-particle level and the choice of optimal SERS-active three-dimensional superstructures for use will be guided by empirical structure-activity correlations in combination with computer simulations. Tumour biomarkers for breast cancer will be employed as the model target for establishing the detection platform in a portable configuration for point-of-care diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Room Temperature Rechargeable Sulphur Batteries. The project will lead to the development of low cost sulphur rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles and will contribute to the national priority goal of reducing and capturing emissions in transport to improve our environment. The project will take the incentive in establishing a leading national position in the development of low cost energy storage technology. The Partner Organisation, Nipress, has a close con ....Room Temperature Rechargeable Sulphur Batteries. The project will lead to the development of low cost sulphur rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles and will contribute to the national priority goal of reducing and capturing emissions in transport to improve our environment. The project will take the incentive in establishing a leading national position in the development of low cost energy storage technology. The Partner Organisation, Nipress, has a close connection to Australia. The company has imported raw materials (metal lead, 8000 tons) from Australia every year. The success of sulphur batteries technology will increase the opportunity of Nipress using more Australian raw materials.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100131
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,000.00
Summary
Photo-electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in gas phase. This project aims to develop a highly efficient gas-phase photo-electrocatalytic process for converting carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals or fuels, through an integrated dual-chamber system. The project expects to use this new system to simplify the catalysis process and precisely control the reaction conditions, in order to investigate the reaction mechanism of carbon dioxide reduction and develop innovative photocatalysts ....Photo-electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in gas phase. This project aims to develop a highly efficient gas-phase photo-electrocatalytic process for converting carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals or fuels, through an integrated dual-chamber system. The project expects to use this new system to simplify the catalysis process and precisely control the reaction conditions, in order to investigate the reaction mechanism of carbon dioxide reduction and develop innovative photocatalysts and electrocatalysts. Successful implementation of this project should yield fundamental new knowledge in catalysis and material areas, promote the study of carbon dioxide recycle use to confront the worldwide environmental issues and energy crisis.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100676
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,582.00
Summary
Realising highly selective catalysts for continuous chlorine production. The aim is to directly electrocatalytic low concentration NaCl solution under mild conditions, to form chlorine gas for the polymers and pharmaceuticals production, enabled by the low dimensional metal-organic framework based catalysts. The project will also gain an atomic-level understanding of the mechanism of CER, based on in-situ spectroscopies e.g., X-ray absorption and Raman. Unlike electrocatalytic chlorine evolution ....Realising highly selective catalysts for continuous chlorine production. The aim is to directly electrocatalytic low concentration NaCl solution under mild conditions, to form chlorine gas for the polymers and pharmaceuticals production, enabled by the low dimensional metal-organic framework based catalysts. The project will also gain an atomic-level understanding of the mechanism of CER, based on in-situ spectroscopies e.g., X-ray absorption and Raman. Unlike electrocatalytic chlorine evolution using membrane cell with one membrane only, the project will design a novel integrated reactor system to alleviate the naturally sluggish chlorine evolution reaction, CER, significantly improving the yield and selectivity. 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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