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
Photonic chip inertial movement sensors. This project aims to create a new class of optical inertial movement sensors using integrated photonic chip technology. By replacing optical fibre coils with compact waveguides, integrating light sources on-chip and by harnessing smart sensing approaches, we intend to reduce the required power from watts to milliwatts and reduce the dimensions from meters to centimetres. The expected project outcomes are sensors with military grade precision but with the ....Photonic chip inertial movement sensors. This project aims to create a new class of optical inertial movement sensors using integrated photonic chip technology. By replacing optical fibre coils with compact waveguides, integrating light sources on-chip and by harnessing smart sensing approaches, we intend to reduce the required power from watts to milliwatts and reduce the dimensions from meters to centimetres. The expected project outcomes are sensors with military grade precision but with the size, cost and manufacturability of consumer electronics. This technology will fill a strategic gap in the movement sensor market enabling applications ranging from robotic infrastructure monitoring, manufacture and surgery to guiding satellites and other space craft.Read moreRead less
Oscillating water column efficiency improvement through impedance matching and active latching control techniques. The coastline of southern Australia is recognised as a world-class wave energy resource. This project will play a crucial role in seeing this resource exploited whilst simultaneously keeping Australia at the forefront of wave energy technology. Specifically, this project will develop a high-efficiency turbine technology for wave
energy.
The development of inexpensive negatively charged films to increase the efficiency of commercial solar cells. This project aims to reduce the cost of solar electricity by developing inexpensive, negatively charged dielectric films. When deposited on the surfaces of commercial solar cells, these films will significantly increase cell efficiency, thereby producing more power from a given area.
High power density, low cogging torque and low-cost micro-scale wind turbine generator system utilising soft magnetic composite materials. This project will develop a low-cost, high-performance and high-ef?ciency micro-scale wind turbine generator using a new magnetic material consisting of iron powder, which can be easily pressed into any desirable shape. This allows considerably simpli?ed manufacturing, greater design ?exibility and ease of scaling to higher output powers.
Thermodynamics inversion for mineral systems. This project aims to provide a newly developed science approach to the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP). AusLAMP provides unparalleled geophysical information aimed at unravelling the tectonic history of the Australian continent and its mineral potential. The project will use thermodynamically based geodynamic simulators to jointly analyse and quantify intraplate deformation. This will illuminate the cause of dri ....Thermodynamics inversion for mineral systems. This project aims to provide a newly developed science approach to the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP). AusLAMP provides unparalleled geophysical information aimed at unravelling the tectonic history of the Australian continent and its mineral potential. The project will use thermodynamically based geodynamic simulators to jointly analyse and quantify intraplate deformation. This will illuminate the cause of driving fluid flow thorough the lithosphere, mineralisation phenomena, their datasets and geometries, and dynamic aspects of the processes driving mineral systems.Read moreRead less
Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fu ....Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fundamentally understand the relationship between physical-chemical properties and efficacy. Completion of this project aims to produce potent nanoparticle-based adjuvants underpinned by novel manufacturing technology, to ultimately facilitate the development of more effective and protective vaccines for animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Deciphering interactions of conducting polymers in agricultural soils. The project aims to improve agricultural efficiency, productivity and yield by advancing the understanding of polymer materials interacting with fertiliser. This project will test the key assumptions behind a new sensor for real-time in-ground monitoring of fertiliser. The expected outcome from this is the rapid synthesis of conducting polymers for stable sensing of fertiliser in a range of soil types and conditions. This sho ....Deciphering interactions of conducting polymers in agricultural soils. The project aims to improve agricultural efficiency, productivity and yield by advancing the understanding of polymer materials interacting with fertiliser. This project will test the key assumptions behind a new sensor for real-time in-ground monitoring of fertiliser. The expected outcome from this is the rapid synthesis of conducting polymers for stable sensing of fertiliser in a range of soil types and conditions. This should provide the pathway to a world first real-time in-ground fertiliser sensor, providing benefit for the sensor manufacturers, farmers, consumers and the environment.Read moreRead less
Evaluating 21st century learning environments. As yet there is little rigorous evidence attesting to the efficacy of which learning environments are the most appropriate for 21st century learning in a digital and knowledge age. This project will evaluate technology-enhanced learning environments, which will determine how effective they are in the senior secondary and higher education sectors.
Realisation of an ultra-stable local oscillator using an ultra-low vibration pulse-tube cryocooler. This project will complete the development of a new type of ultra-low-noise ultra-stable microwave oscillator cooled with an ultra-low vibration cryostat and cryocooler. The resulting oscillator will have wide application, but especially to atomic fountain clocks and to very high frequency Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio astronomy.