Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101472
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$454,054.00
Summary
Converting textiles waste to novel nanostructured porous carbon fibre . This project aims to develop innovative catalytic activation approaches for converting textiles waste to porous activated carbon fibre with potential application in energy storage and carbon capture. The project expects to address the key issue of textile upcycling and generate new knowledge in material science by revealing the principle of alkali metal-induced pore formation and carbon dot synthesis. Expected outcomes inclu ....Converting textiles waste to novel nanostructured porous carbon fibre . This project aims to develop innovative catalytic activation approaches for converting textiles waste to porous activated carbon fibre with potential application in energy storage and carbon capture. The project expects to address the key issue of textile upcycling and generate new knowledge in material science by revealing the principle of alkali metal-induced pore formation and carbon dot synthesis. Expected outcomes include advanced techniques to create value-added materials from recycling textiles waste and in-depth understanding of performance improvement mechanisms. Success will provide significant benefits in securing a sustainable future for Australia, ensuring valuable resources recovery and strategies for advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100114
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,554.00
Summary
Novel interlayered membrane for highly efficient separation processes. The project aims to develop high-performance membranes with excellent permeability and selectivity to allow efficient separation processes with reduced energy consumption and products with high purities that cannot be achieved by conventional membranes. By introducing the functionalized interlayer, the novel membrane can achieve up to an order of magnitude higher solvent permeance with significantly enhanced solvent-solute se ....Novel interlayered membrane for highly efficient separation processes. The project aims to develop high-performance membranes with excellent permeability and selectivity to allow efficient separation processes with reduced energy consumption and products with high purities that cannot be achieved by conventional membranes. By introducing the functionalized interlayer, the novel membrane can achieve up to an order of magnitude higher solvent permeance with significantly enhanced solvent-solute selectivity. Machine learning algorithms will be applied to search for the ideal interlayer based on a newly-launched online and comprehensive database. This project will contribute to accelerating Australia’s progress towards net-zero carbon emission and allowing a sustainable environment.Read moreRead less
Smart foliage: imparting intelligence to synthetic leaves. This project aims to develop an innovative “lab-on-a-leaf” platform technology based on smart membranes with switchable pores to enable hitherto unachievable control of gas and vapour transfer. The innovated membrane based technology can be used as a versatile platform for many important applications, such as desalination and carbon capture. This project expects to advance the knowledge in biomimetic design of synthetic leaves, and bring ....Smart foliage: imparting intelligence to synthetic leaves. This project aims to develop an innovative “lab-on-a-leaf” platform technology based on smart membranes with switchable pores to enable hitherto unachievable control of gas and vapour transfer. The innovated membrane based technology can be used as a versatile platform for many important applications, such as desalination and carbon capture. This project expects to advance the knowledge in biomimetic design of synthetic leaves, and bring new membrane technologies to applications, such as desalination, solar energy harvesting, and evaporative cooling. This project should provide significant benefits for Australian manufacturing industry by addressing energy and environmental concerns and boosting national economic growth.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100365
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,237.00
Summary
Solar-driven catalytic production of high-value product from waste glycerol. Sustainable bio-refining requires an efficient and economical way of utilising the surplus amount of glycerol generated as a by-product in biodiesel industries. This project aims to construct an industry-scale solar-driven catalytic system to generate high-value-added chemicals and green hydrogen fuel from biomass wastes simultaneously. The structure-reactivity relationship of working catalysts will be established to fi ....Solar-driven catalytic production of high-value product from waste glycerol. Sustainable bio-refining requires an efficient and economical way of utilising the surplus amount of glycerol generated as a by-product in biodiesel industries. This project aims to construct an industry-scale solar-driven catalytic system to generate high-value-added chemicals and green hydrogen fuel from biomass wastes simultaneously. The structure-reactivity relationship of working catalysts will be established to fit the up-scale applications. The gained cutting-edge knowledge and technology will significantly contribute to biomass waste utilisation and sustainable fabrication, further bringing significant economic and social benefits by creating a new competitive business for Australian chemical and fuel areas. Read moreRead less
Liquid metal solvents for high entropy and atomically configured systems. Significant challenges remain in developing high entropy alloys, which are future disruptors in metallurgy, ranging from configurational entropy to atomic ordering. To address such challenges, we will explore liquid metal solvents for synthesising high entropy and atomically configured systems from the combination of reactive and high melting point elements stabilised in metallic solvents. Molecular imprinting, mechanical ....Liquid metal solvents for high entropy and atomically configured systems. Significant challenges remain in developing high entropy alloys, which are future disruptors in metallurgy, ranging from configurational entropy to atomic ordering. To address such challenges, we will explore liquid metal solvents for synthesising high entropy and atomically configured systems from the combination of reactive and high melting point elements stabilised in metallic solvents. Molecular imprinting, mechanical and electrochemical triggers will control interfacial atomic organisation and precipitation. The growth mechanisms, both at the interface and in the bulk, will be explored by high energy probing techniques and computational simulations. We will offer new metallurgical paradigms for future catalysis and sensing concepts.Read moreRead less
Tandem Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to High Value Hydrocarbon Products. Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into hydrocarbon products is ideal for combating anthropogenic emissions whilst reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Despite the significant advantages, CO2 valorisation is hindered by barriers such as high energy requirements and low-value products (methane and carbon monoxide). This project will establish a sustainable approach to CO2 valorisation using a unique tandem solar-driven hie ....Tandem Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to High Value Hydrocarbon Products. Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into hydrocarbon products is ideal for combating anthropogenic emissions whilst reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Despite the significant advantages, CO2 valorisation is hindered by barriers such as high energy requirements and low-value products (methane and carbon monoxide). This project will establish a sustainable approach to CO2 valorisation using a unique tandem solar-driven hierarchical catalyst array to offset energy requirements and directly yield high-value hydrocarbon products, such as ethane (C2H6) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH), from captured CO2.Read moreRead less
Physics-based equivalent circuit models for nanoporous electrodes. This project aims to develop new physics-based equivalent circuit models for ion/electron coupled dynamics in electrified porous nanomaterials via fusing latest simulation advances with machine learning approach. This project expects to meet the challenge of high-efficient and accurate dynamic models for accelerated design, accurate diagnosis, and optimal operation of electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies. Th ....Physics-based equivalent circuit models for nanoporous electrodes. This project aims to develop new physics-based equivalent circuit models for ion/electron coupled dynamics in electrified porous nanomaterials via fusing latest simulation advances with machine learning approach. This project expects to meet the challenge of high-efficient and accurate dynamic models for accelerated design, accurate diagnosis, and optimal operation of electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies. The outcome will be a paradigm shift of how equivalent circuit models are developed and used, informed by new scientific knowledge and data. The proliferation of the new models will allow design and operation of more efficient and durable technologies in energy industry, benefitting Australian economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Empowering Wearable Smart Devices with 3D Printed Energy Storage. This project aims to design and develop functional nanomaterials and nanocomposites for high-performance wearable energy storage devices. A functional materials approach, together with precise control of device architecture through multi-materials additive manufacturing will be used to achieve maximum device performance. The expected outcomes include (i) fundamental understanding the structural-property relationships of materials ....Empowering Wearable Smart Devices with 3D Printed Energy Storage. This project aims to design and develop functional nanomaterials and nanocomposites for high-performance wearable energy storage devices. A functional materials approach, together with precise control of device architecture through multi-materials additive manufacturing will be used to achieve maximum device performance. The expected outcomes include (i) fundamental understanding the structural-property relationships of materials and devices and (ii) the establishment of the fundamental principles on the microfabrication of flexible energy storage devices. The project secures Australia’s leading position in materials chemistry and advanced manufacturing, bringing economic benefit through the commercialisation of wearable devices.Read moreRead less
Nano-engineering of hierarchical catalysts for renewable chemicals. Producing high-value chemicals based on renewable alternatives -biomass resources is vital for the climate and a sustainable economy. This project will develop a unique nano-engineering approach to design hierarchical catalysts for the selective conversion of biomass into tailor-made products. Advanced in situ spectroscopic techniques will be employed to establish the structure-reactivity relationship of working catalysts and th ....Nano-engineering of hierarchical catalysts for renewable chemicals. Producing high-value chemicals based on renewable alternatives -biomass resources is vital for the climate and a sustainable economy. This project will develop a unique nano-engineering approach to design hierarchical catalysts for the selective conversion of biomass into tailor-made products. Advanced in situ spectroscopic techniques will be employed to establish the structure-reactivity relationship of working catalysts and thereby manipulate the key factors governing the activity/selectivity. Such cutting-edge knowledge gained is crucial for optimising process efficiency and resource utilisation, which is essential for the success of the biorefining industry and a more environmentally-friendly chemical economy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Accessing Liquid Noble Metals for Low Temperature Chemical Reactions. We will explore noble metals in liquid form at low temperatures. We will show that while noble metals melting points are above 1000°C, a gallium matrix will allow their existence in liquid form at low temperatures (<75°C). A variety of noble metal gallium alloy combinations will be investigated for their catalytic activities which are expected to show very high kinetics. We will study both bulk and low dimensional analogues to ....Accessing Liquid Noble Metals for Low Temperature Chemical Reactions. We will explore noble metals in liquid form at low temperatures. We will show that while noble metals melting points are above 1000°C, a gallium matrix will allow their existence in liquid form at low temperatures (<75°C). A variety of noble metal gallium alloy combinations will be investigated for their catalytic activities which are expected to show very high kinetics. We will study both bulk and low dimensional analogues to understand the atomic dispersion of noble metals on interface and in the core of the alloys, for discoveries regarding the liquid state catalytic properties of the mixes. Subsequently, model chemical reactions will reveal the enhancement of the kinetics and what the project can offer to industrial innovations. Read moreRead less