Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101044
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,318.00
Summary
Bio-inspired nanomaterials with tunable drug loading and controlled release. This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making bio-inspired nanomaterials with tunable drug loading and controlled release. This project will revolutionise current approaches to make lipid nanoparticles camouflaged with natural cell membranes for delivery of both insoluble and soluble drugs. Significant outcomes will include a novel commercially relevant salt-induced nanoprecipitation platform technol ....Bio-inspired nanomaterials with tunable drug loading and controlled release. This project aims to develop new platform technologies for making bio-inspired nanomaterials with tunable drug loading and controlled release. This project will revolutionise current approaches to make lipid nanoparticles camouflaged with natural cell membranes for delivery of both insoluble and soluble drugs. Significant outcomes will include a novel commercially relevant salt-induced nanoprecipitation platform technology for making precisely engineered nanomaterials with tailored functions for applications in controlled release and targeted delivery. Benefits include securing a sustainable future for Australia, with new nanotechnology strategies for advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Integrated nonmetal-metal single-atom catalysis for selective synthesis. Single atom catalysts can achieve the maximum efficiency of active sites for a reaction. This project will develop integrated nonmetal and metal single atom-based catalysts for selective oxidation towards clean production and organic waste conversion to value-added polymers for carbon recycle. The project will result in new functional materials and green catalytic processes for chemical synthesis and waste reduction, and ad ....Integrated nonmetal-metal single-atom catalysis for selective synthesis. Single atom catalysts can achieve the maximum efficiency of active sites for a reaction. This project will develop integrated nonmetal and metal single atom-based catalysts for selective oxidation towards clean production and organic waste conversion to value-added polymers for carbon recycle. The project will result in new functional materials and green catalytic processes for chemical synthesis and waste reduction, and advance fundamental understanding of molecular structure of materials for catalyst design and process engineering for industrial applications. The outcomes will promote the development of chemical industry, waste recycle and green environment in Australia, making significant benefits to economics and society.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100048
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,097.00
Summary
Ammonium-selective membranes to shift water industry into circular economy. The project aims to develop ammonium-selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for sustainable ammonia recovery. The project expects to construct the membranes to achieve desirable pore size and surface functionality for fast and selective ammonia transport. The developed membranes should make ammonia recovery from wastewater more effective and sustainable, leading to the healthy waterway ....Ammonium-selective membranes to shift water industry into circular economy. The project aims to develop ammonium-selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for sustainable ammonia recovery. The project expects to construct the membranes to achieve desirable pore size and surface functionality for fast and selective ammonia transport. The developed membranes should make ammonia recovery from wastewater more effective and sustainable, leading to the healthy waterway and reduced energy for both ammonia production and removal. Recovered ammonia expects to produce valuable products, supporting agriculture industry and hydrogen economy. The developed membranes should enable water industry's shift into circular economy, providing significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100660
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,117.00
Summary
A Solar Photoelectrochemical Cell for Unbiased Hydrogen Production. This project aims to develop a photoelectrochemical cell for photoelectric conversion and green hydrogen production by using solar power as the only energy input. This project expects to generate new knowledge in photoelectrode material design by combining low-cost semiconductors with natural or synthetic molecular catalysts. Expected outcomes are to generate a sustainable solar hydrogen technique with no electricity consumption ....A Solar Photoelectrochemical Cell for Unbiased Hydrogen Production. This project aims to develop a photoelectrochemical cell for photoelectric conversion and green hydrogen production by using solar power as the only energy input. This project expects to generate new knowledge in photoelectrode material design by combining low-cost semiconductors with natural or synthetic molecular catalysts. Expected outcomes are to generate a sustainable solar hydrogen technique with no electricity consumption, high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency and long-term stability, promoting the development of green hydrogen industries in Australia with zero carbon emissions. This should provide significant benefits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve environmental sustainability and meet renewable energy demand.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100471
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,318.00
Summary
Designing advanced Zn-ion batteries towards practical applications. Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are much safer and cheaper than current Li-ion batteries due to the water-based electrolyte and abundant Zn reserves. However, the state-of-the-art ZIB technique faces huge challenges for practical applications due to the low cathode capacity and poor Zn anode reversibility. This project aims to design novel cathodes with a new-type mechanism and highly reversible Zn anodes. Accordingly, on-demand ....Designing advanced Zn-ion batteries towards practical applications. Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are much safer and cheaper than current Li-ion batteries due to the water-based electrolyte and abundant Zn reserves. However, the state-of-the-art ZIB technique faces huge challenges for practical applications due to the low cathode capacity and poor Zn anode reversibility. This project aims to design novel cathodes with a new-type mechanism and highly reversible Zn anodes. Accordingly, on-demand large-size ZIBs and flexible devices under industrial parameters will also be developed. The success of this project will place Australia at the forefront of implementing safe and low-cost batteries in largescale smart grid systems, household markets, and wearable medical devices.Read moreRead less
CO2-coupled photothermal catalysis on superlattice structures. This project aims to develop a structure-tailored platform of superlattice materials for photothermal catalytic conversion of natural gases to valuable fuels and chemicals. Innovations lie in engineered atomic and bulk scale nanocrystals for high-efficiency sunlight harvesting to drive CO2-coupled catalysis of C-H bond activation. Advanced characterisations and multiscale computations will enable mechanistic insights into the synergy ....CO2-coupled photothermal catalysis on superlattice structures. This project aims to develop a structure-tailored platform of superlattice materials for photothermal catalytic conversion of natural gases to valuable fuels and chemicals. Innovations lie in engineered atomic and bulk scale nanocrystals for high-efficiency sunlight harvesting to drive CO2-coupled catalysis of C-H bond activation. Advanced characterisations and multiscale computations will enable mechanistic insights into the synergy of photo and thermal catalysis in hydrocarbon conversions. The projects will result in next-generation intelligent materials and clean technologies for solar fuels production and CO2 recycling. Outcomes will benefit Australia’s long-term energy security and sustainability toward a carbon-neutral society. Read moreRead less
Engineered redox polymers for catalytic water purification. This project aims to develop a novel family of chemically and structurally controlled redox polymer as metal-free catalysts for wastewater micropollutant treatment. Innovations lie in the synthesis of high-performance and nanostructured carbon-based materials, multiscale modeling, and in situ characterizations for understanding structure-property relationship in carbon catalysis. Expected outcomes will deliver innovations in functional ....Engineered redox polymers for catalytic water purification. This project aims to develop a novel family of chemically and structurally controlled redox polymer as metal-free catalysts for wastewater micropollutant treatment. Innovations lie in the synthesis of high-performance and nanostructured carbon-based materials, multiscale modeling, and in situ characterizations for understanding structure-property relationship in carbon catalysis. Expected outcomes will deliver innovations in functional materials, mechanism, catalytic engineering, and sustainable separation processes. This project will provide significant benefits in renovating smart nanomaterials in advanced manufacturing and clean environmental technologies, promoting Australia’s economic development and environment protection.Read moreRead less
Engineered topological nanostructures – a new frontier in materials design. The aim of engineering and utilising topological defects such as domain walls and and skyrmions in functional materials is currently receiving tremendous attention. Their significance lies in a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics. One frontier area of research is negative capacitance nanoelectronics using such materials, carrying the prospect ....Engineered topological nanostructures – a new frontier in materials design. The aim of engineering and utilising topological defects such as domain walls and and skyrmions in functional materials is currently receiving tremendous attention. Their significance lies in a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics. One frontier area of research is negative capacitance nanoelectronics using such materials, carrying the prospect of revolutionizing ultralow energy electronics, which will be developed here. The project's expected outcomes are new concepts for the synthesis and design of topological nanostructures for such applications. The utilization of these materials will benefit efficient controllable functionality for future nanoelectronics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100159
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,847.00
Summary
Developing Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Batteries for Safe Energy Storage. To overcome safety issues intrinsic to the prevalent solid metal anodes in battery technology, this project aims to develop room-temperature liquid metal batteries by employing liquid Sodium-Potassium alloy. Innovations will span the development of the electrode concept, interface-oriented electrolyte design guided by theory and experiment, and prototype battery cell examples to illustrate how high round-trip efficiencie ....Developing Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Batteries for Safe Energy Storage. To overcome safety issues intrinsic to the prevalent solid metal anodes in battery technology, this project aims to develop room-temperature liquid metal batteries by employing liquid Sodium-Potassium alloy. Innovations will span the development of the electrode concept, interface-oriented electrolyte design guided by theory and experiment, and prototype battery cell examples to illustrate how high round-trip efficiencies at fast charging can be achieved over a prolonged time. The anticipated outcomes would transform battery technology concepts while providing a critical scientific basis for commercialisation. Further, the success of this project would help Australia realise its shift from traditional to emerging sustainable energy systems.Read moreRead less
Programmable Ferroelectric Nanoelectronics for In-memory Computing. The project aims to explore and develop the next-generation ferroelectric memory addressing the energy and speed issues of computers. Modern digital computers are notoriously energy consuming and slow, especially, when performing data-intensive tasks, e.g. identifying images and making decisions. This gap will be bridged by advancing novel ferroelectric quantum memory concepts and prototypes. Expected outcomes include new memory ....Programmable Ferroelectric Nanoelectronics for In-memory Computing. The project aims to explore and develop the next-generation ferroelectric memory addressing the energy and speed issues of computers. Modern digital computers are notoriously energy consuming and slow, especially, when performing data-intensive tasks, e.g. identifying images and making decisions. This gap will be bridged by advancing novel ferroelectric quantum memory concepts and prototypes. Expected outcomes include new memory design, material principles and ferroelectric devices capable of not only storing huge amounts of data but also instant fast processing and brain like learning. Project benefits include high performance hardware solutions for Artificial Intelligence and Big data boosting Australian quantum technology and industries.Read moreRead less