Developing a new nano-surfacing and micro-fabrication technology for complex part features using micro-abrasive jet. Ultra-precision fabrication such as nano-surfacing, micro-channelling and micro-texturing is crucial for the development of high-integrity, high-density systems for engineering, communication, computing, photovoltaic, electric and optical devices and systems. This project will gain a fundamental understanding of the physics in nano-surface formation using a micro-abrasive jet, and ....Developing a new nano-surfacing and micro-fabrication technology for complex part features using micro-abrasive jet. Ultra-precision fabrication such as nano-surfacing, micro-channelling and micro-texturing is crucial for the development of high-integrity, high-density systems for engineering, communication, computing, photovoltaic, electric and optical devices and systems. This project will gain a fundamental understanding of the physics in nano-surface formation using a micro-abrasive jet, and make a significant impact to the ultra-precision engineering discipline. It will also develop a frontier technology that will increase the competitiveness of the Australian fabrication industry in developing leading edge technologies and products.Read moreRead less
Pushing the limits: fabricating micro and nano actuators. This project will result in significant advances in micro/nano fabrication, that is the cornerstone of nanotechnology, and an understanding of the performance of micro/nano actuators produced from electroactive materials. The project outcomes will provide a technology platform to establish micro/nano robotic systems for vaccine and gene delivery, intelligent drug delivery systems, microfluidic systems for disease monitoring and treatment, ....Pushing the limits: fabricating micro and nano actuators. This project will result in significant advances in micro/nano fabrication, that is the cornerstone of nanotechnology, and an understanding of the performance of micro/nano actuators produced from electroactive materials. The project outcomes will provide a technology platform to establish micro/nano robotic systems for vaccine and gene delivery, intelligent drug delivery systems, microfluidic systems for disease monitoring and treatment, water treatment and pollution control kits, microrobotic systems for pipeline inspection and maintenance, and minimally invasive surgery. National benefits will be in the areas of human health, sustainable environment and frontier technologies to stimulate the growth of world-class Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Advanced products through multiscale microstructure engineering. The metals manufacturing industry is one of the most important in Australia. Future growth and sustainability of the sector is critically dependent on the development of innovative metal products and materials.. In this program Australia's leading research group in metal manufacturing will develop new products and processes through the controlled manipulation of the microstructure at a number of levels: from nano scale to macro s ....Advanced products through multiscale microstructure engineering. The metals manufacturing industry is one of the most important in Australia. Future growth and sustainability of the sector is critically dependent on the development of innovative metal products and materials.. In this program Australia's leading research group in metal manufacturing will develop new products and processes through the controlled manipulation of the microstructure at a number of levels: from nano scale to macro scale. The areas of application include the automotive industry, biomaterials, surface engineering and the emerging area of microforming technologiesRead moreRead less
Hybrid cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop molten carbonate-perovskite hybrid cathode materials for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) possessing both high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high tolerance to carbon dioxide poisoning. Carbon dioxide in air can poison nearly all the perovskite cathode materials developed for LT-SOFCs (below 600 degrees C) so far. These materials will not be practically useful ....Hybrid cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop molten carbonate-perovskite hybrid cathode materials for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) possessing both high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high tolerance to carbon dioxide poisoning. Carbon dioxide in air can poison nearly all the perovskite cathode materials developed for LT-SOFCs (below 600 degrees C) so far. These materials will not be practically useful until carbon dioxide poisoning can be prevented. This project expects to make these LT-SOFC cathode materials commercially viable, solving a problem for the widespread use of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.Read moreRead less
High Performance Anode for Direct Ammonia Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Solid oxygen fuel cells are a clean energy generation device with very high energy efficiency and if with hydrogen as fuel, the emission is zero. However, the utilisation of hydrogen is limited by on-board storage. Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier and can be directly fed to solid oxide fuel cells without fuel storage problem, and the products are just hydrogen and nitrogen. For direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells, the key ....High Performance Anode for Direct Ammonia Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Solid oxygen fuel cells are a clean energy generation device with very high energy efficiency and if with hydrogen as fuel, the emission is zero. However, the utilisation of hydrogen is limited by on-board storage. Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier and can be directly fed to solid oxide fuel cells without fuel storage problem, and the products are just hydrogen and nitrogen. For direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells, the key challenge is the anode. This project aims to develop a high performance anode for direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells with both high activity and high stability at low temperature (below 600 degree C), thus addressing a key issue to make the direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells commercially viable.Read moreRead less
Composites for thermal expansion matched oxygen electrodes. This project aims to develop high performance composite oxygen electrodes by using both negative thermal expansion materials and electrolyte materials to tailor the thermal expansion and activities of the perovskite-based electrodes for use in reduced temperature solid oxide cells. Such composite electrodes will show highly matched thermal expansion with electrolyte without sacrificing high activity at reduced temperatures. This project ....Composites for thermal expansion matched oxygen electrodes. This project aims to develop high performance composite oxygen electrodes by using both negative thermal expansion materials and electrolyte materials to tailor the thermal expansion and activities of the perovskite-based electrodes for use in reduced temperature solid oxide cells. Such composite electrodes will show highly matched thermal expansion with electrolyte without sacrificing high activity at reduced temperatures. This project seeks to address an important practical issue in the operation of solid oxide power cells - thermal expansion compatibility, which causes poor efficiency outside a narrow temperature band.Read moreRead less
Field-Enhanced Electrospinning for Fine and Uniform Nanofibres. This project will result in a new platform technology to produce very fine and uniform nanofibres that can be used in a range of advanced applications. It will further strengthen our leading position in the field of nanofibre technology, and contribute to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. Australia already has niche expertise in nanomaterials. This proje ....Field-Enhanced Electrospinning for Fine and Uniform Nanofibres. This project will result in a new platform technology to produce very fine and uniform nanofibres that can be used in a range of advanced applications. It will further strengthen our leading position in the field of nanofibre technology, and contribute to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. Australia already has niche expertise in nanomaterials. This project will significantly enhance our international standing in the field. There is a growing list of local companies that are interested in exploring the production and application of nanofibrous materials also.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100215
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Nature-inspired electrochemical conversion of nitrogen to ammonia. This project aims to achieve a highly active electrochemical catalytic system for ammonia production from atmospheric nitrogen under ambient conditions. Ammonia is essential for plant growth and food production but its synthesis is energy intensive, eco-destructive and costly. The project will design a functional device featuring a catalyst that will not only provide insights into the fundamentals of nitrogen reduction but also a ....Nature-inspired electrochemical conversion of nitrogen to ammonia. This project aims to achieve a highly active electrochemical catalytic system for ammonia production from atmospheric nitrogen under ambient conditions. Ammonia is essential for plant growth and food production but its synthesis is energy intensive, eco-destructive and costly. The project will design a functional device featuring a catalyst that will not only provide insights into the fundamentals of nitrogen reduction but also a sustainable and cost effective production of ammonia, a potential key to future world food supply and renewable energy.Read moreRead less
A new design strategy for supercapacitors. This project aims to build a new equivalent electric circuit model using structurally tuneable graphene-based porous electrodes to establish a quantitative structure-property-performance relationship for super-capacitors. The new model will then be used to design novel electrode and device architectures to realise new energy storage devices with high usable storage capacity at high operation rates. This new computer-aided strategy will greatly accelerat ....A new design strategy for supercapacitors. This project aims to build a new equivalent electric circuit model using structurally tuneable graphene-based porous electrodes to establish a quantitative structure-property-performance relationship for super-capacitors. The new model will then be used to design novel electrode and device architectures to realise new energy storage devices with high usable storage capacity at high operation rates. This new computer-aided strategy will greatly accelerate the design of next-generation high-performance super-capacitors, and bring significant benefit to Australia's emerging knowledge-based manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Nano/micro grinding mechanisms and technologies for brittle materials. The successful completion of the project will solve a long standing problem, that is, the ductile removal mechanism in the machining of brittle materials and create a strong knowledge base for the development of technology and characterization techniques for nano/micro mechanical machining of such materials. This will strengthen UWA's research capability and international competitiveness in the field of nano/micro manufacturi ....Nano/micro grinding mechanisms and technologies for brittle materials. The successful completion of the project will solve a long standing problem, that is, the ductile removal mechanism in the machining of brittle materials and create a strong knowledge base for the development of technology and characterization techniques for nano/micro mechanical machining of such materials. This will strengthen UWA's research capability and international competitiveness in the field of nano/micro manufacturing. The pragmatic grinding technology developed for fabricating micro aspherical mould inserts and lenses will directly benefit the optics/photonics, microelectronics and biomedical industries in Australia. This will help to position Australia in the forefront of emerging industries in the new millenniumRead moreRead less