2D vertical heterostructures for multi-functional energy applications. This project aims to develop multi-functional 2D vertical heterostructures for sustainable energy applications. A key challenge in fabricating 2D vertical heterostructures is the re-stacking of layered materials. This project will utilize edge-rich vertical graphene to unleash the full potential of 2D vertical heterostructures by combining the advantages of individual building blocks while mitigating the associated shortcomin ....2D vertical heterostructures for multi-functional energy applications. This project aims to develop multi-functional 2D vertical heterostructures for sustainable energy applications. A key challenge in fabricating 2D vertical heterostructures is the re-stacking of layered materials. This project will utilize edge-rich vertical graphene to unleash the full potential of 2D vertical heterostructures by combining the advantages of individual building blocks while mitigating the associated shortcomings. Expected outcomes will include improved electrochemical performance of materials and an integrated energy system utilizing these multi-functional materials to produce green hydrogen at low cost and high efficiency. The project should contribute largely to Australia’s transition to robust and affordable clean energy.Read moreRead less
Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcome ....Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcomes include the development of a new instrument and fundamental knowledge leading to improved designs with higher efficiencies in power generation and transport, resulting in significant benefits such as increased energy security, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved quality of life for individuals and society.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101396
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,218.00
Summary
Designing Single-atom catalysts for Renewable Waste Conversion to Urea. This DECRA aims to realise the direct electrochemical conversion of waste resources using renewable energy to generate urea at ambient conditions. By designing impurity-tolerant single atom catalysts and unearthing their structure-activity relationships, the utilisation of flue gas and wastewater will be materialised. This will advance our understanding in the field as current energy conversion reactions require pure feedsto ....Designing Single-atom catalysts for Renewable Waste Conversion to Urea. This DECRA aims to realise the direct electrochemical conversion of waste resources using renewable energy to generate urea at ambient conditions. By designing impurity-tolerant single atom catalysts and unearthing their structure-activity relationships, the utilisation of flue gas and wastewater will be materialised. This will advance our understanding in the field as current energy conversion reactions require pure feedstocks. Expected outcomes from the program is envisioned to lead to deployment of scalable decentralised modes of green urea production (substituting imports), and the knowledge transferrable to other areas of Australia’s emerging hydrogen economy, extending the scope of renewable Power-to-X to realise a circular economy.Read moreRead less
2D oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation. This project aims to develop two-dimensional oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation from water and CO2 using combined theoretical and experimental investigations. The outcomes of this project will offer atomic and electronic level principles in designing high-performance catalysts and provide novel approaches on green fuel generations for emerging energy technologies. The success of this proj ....2D oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation. This project aims to develop two-dimensional oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation from water and CO2 using combined theoretical and experimental investigations. The outcomes of this project will offer atomic and electronic level principles in designing high-performance catalysts and provide novel approaches on green fuel generations for emerging energy technologies. The success of this project will meet the knowledge gap between advanced materials and practical sustainable energy technologies, and contribute to the development of sustainable society of Australia and international community by supplying low-cost and green fuels.Read moreRead less
Nitride materials: In the “bond ionicity Goldilocks zone” for solar energy. Progress towards commercial devices for solar-driven hydrogen generation as well as in-situ electricity generation for vehicles is currently hampered by a lack of earth-abundant, stable, non-toxic semiconductor materials that can be fabricated by scalable methods. This project aims to develop the first scalable solution synthesis methods for a new class of earth-abundant Zn-based nitride semiconductor nanocrystals that h ....Nitride materials: In the “bond ionicity Goldilocks zone” for solar energy. Progress towards commercial devices for solar-driven hydrogen generation as well as in-situ electricity generation for vehicles is currently hampered by a lack of earth-abundant, stable, non-toxic semiconductor materials that can be fabricated by scalable methods. This project aims to develop the first scalable solution synthesis methods for a new class of earth-abundant Zn-based nitride semiconductor nanocrystals that have favourable bond ionicity and establish their optoelectronic properties for renewable energy devices for the first time. Flexible solution processing methods will be exploited to tune surface composition, remove defects and create devices to achieve optimised performance in these challenging new nitride material systems.Read moreRead less
High entropy metal organic frameworks for sustainable hydrogen production. The ultimate critical core for green hydrogen fuel generation is efficient and cost-effective catalysts. This project aims to design novel high entropy metal organic frameworks (HE-MOFs) using advanced high throughput computational screening integrated with experimental validation for sustainable hydrogen production. The outcome of this project will discover a new class of HE-MOFs materials with superior hydrogen generati ....High entropy metal organic frameworks for sustainable hydrogen production. The ultimate critical core for green hydrogen fuel generation is efficient and cost-effective catalysts. This project aims to design novel high entropy metal organic frameworks (HE-MOFs) using advanced high throughput computational screening integrated with experimental validation for sustainable hydrogen production. The outcome of this project will discover a new class of HE-MOFs materials with superior hydrogen generation efficiency, while also provide rational design principles for the exploration of high-efficient catalysts in sustainable fuel generation. The success of this project will help to achieve the zero-carbon target and contribute to the development of a sustainable society with low-cost and renewable energy supply.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100952
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,237.00
Summary
Developing aluminium-sulfur batteries with high voltage and low cost. As use of renewable energy sources increases, so too does the need for suitable storage systems for the energy produced. Aluminium-Sulfur (Al-S) batteries provide a reliable energy storage option, but suffer from a low voltage output and despite aluminium and sulfur being two of the world’s most abundant and low-cost materials, other components in batteries are prohibitively expensive. This project aims to address these challe ....Developing aluminium-sulfur batteries with high voltage and low cost. As use of renewable energy sources increases, so too does the need for suitable storage systems for the energy produced. Aluminium-Sulfur (Al-S) batteries provide a reliable energy storage option, but suffer from a low voltage output and despite aluminium and sulfur being two of the world’s most abundant and low-cost materials, other components in batteries are prohibitively expensive. This project aims to address these challenges by designing an Al-S battery technology with efficient electrode materials and low-cost electrolytes, making them both cost effective and capable of high levels of energy storage. The outcome will place Australia as a world leader in battery technology and support our future renewable energy storage needs.Read moreRead less
Developing lithium metal batteries – a game-changer for renewable energy. This project aims to develop nanostructured lithium metal anodes for rechargeable lithium metal batteries with high energy density and excellent cycle life. Lithium metal batteries such as lithium-sulfur batteries and lithium carbon-dioxide batteries present great opportunities for long-range electric vehicles and high-efficient renewable energy storage. Through the rational structure design and advanced interface engineer ....Developing lithium metal batteries – a game-changer for renewable energy. This project aims to develop nanostructured lithium metal anodes for rechargeable lithium metal batteries with high energy density and excellent cycle life. Lithium metal batteries such as lithium-sulfur batteries and lithium carbon-dioxide batteries present great opportunities for long-range electric vehicles and high-efficient renewable energy storage. Through the rational structure design and advanced interface engineering, the developed lithium metal anodes are expected to overcome the critical issues that hindered their practical application for high-energy batteries. The success of this project will provide new technological solutions for next-generation energy storage devices.Read moreRead less
Harnessing the Power of Wind: Revolutionising Wind Farm Optimisation. This project aims to develop a rigorous, efficient and accurate framework for optimisation of control policies for complete wind farms. It expects to generate new knowledge in data-driven physics informed transient aerodynamic and structural modelling of entire wind farms, generation of low order yet sufficiently accurate models using machine learning, and game-theoretic and model predictive control techniques for operation of ....Harnessing the Power of Wind: Revolutionising Wind Farm Optimisation. This project aims to develop a rigorous, efficient and accurate framework for optimisation of control policies for complete wind farms. It expects to generate new knowledge in data-driven physics informed transient aerodynamic and structural modelling of entire wind farms, generation of low order yet sufficiently accurate models using machine learning, and game-theoretic and model predictive control techniques for operation of an entire wind farm. Expected outcomes are engineering tools to tackle wind farm inefficiencies totalling $700m/year in Australia alone, contributing to energy stability, security and lowered emissions aligned to the National Science and Research Priority ‘Energy’.Read moreRead less
Rational Electrolyte Design and Engineering for Next-Generation Batteries. The fast-growing energy storage market demands new battery technologies with high energy density. Lithium (Li) metal batteries are an ideal solution, although instability of the Li metal/electrolyte interface remains a challenge. The project aims to drive key advancements in electrolyte engineering for Li metal batteries with long life and high safety. Advanced characterisation and computation will reveal the structure-pr ....Rational Electrolyte Design and Engineering for Next-Generation Batteries. The fast-growing energy storage market demands new battery technologies with high energy density. Lithium (Li) metal batteries are an ideal solution, although instability of the Li metal/electrolyte interface remains a challenge. The project aims to drive key advancements in electrolyte engineering for Li metal batteries with long life and high safety. Advanced characterisation and computation will reveal the structure-property relationship of electrolyte to build electrolyte design principles. This will contribute to ground-breaking knowledge, commercialisation, and boost Australia’s capability to design and manufacture next-generation energy storage devices for billion-dollar markets in smart grids, portable devices and electric vehicles.Read moreRead less