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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100147
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,154.00
Summary
Glassy metal-organic framework membranes for CO2 separation and conversion. This project aims to develop a new class of glassy metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes for CO2 separation and conversion. By constructing membrane reactors, it is expected to simultaneously separate CO2 from gas mixture and subsequently convert it into value-added chemicals in a continuous single operating unit. The expected outcomes include fabrication techniques for ultrathin MOF glass membranes, cutting-edge knowl ....Glassy metal-organic framework membranes for CO2 separation and conversion. This project aims to develop a new class of glassy metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes for CO2 separation and conversion. By constructing membrane reactors, it is expected to simultaneously separate CO2 from gas mixture and subsequently convert it into value-added chemicals in a continuous single operating unit. The expected outcomes include fabrication techniques for ultrathin MOF glass membranes, cutting-edge knowledge in advanced MOF membrane design, a new generation of MOF devices, and efficient membrane reactors for CO2 conversion with mixed gas feed. This project expects to accelerate the development of low-carbon technologies and provide significant benefits in mitigating the adverse effects of anthropogenic CO2 emissions.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$433,217.00
Summary
In-depth Investigation of Lithium Dendrite Formation Processes. Battery failure is mainly derived from uncontrollable lithium dendrite formation. This project aims to investigate fundamental lithium dendrite formation mechanism by utilizing a novel in-situ transmission electron microscopy cell. This project expects to build a new set up which is capable of simultaneous in-situ electrical and nanomechanical measurements of lithium dendrite growth. This project aims to reveal how lithium dendrite ....In-depth Investigation of Lithium Dendrite Formation Processes. Battery failure is mainly derived from uncontrollable lithium dendrite formation. This project aims to investigate fundamental lithium dendrite formation mechanism by utilizing a novel in-situ transmission electron microscopy cell. This project expects to build a new set up which is capable of simultaneous in-situ electrical and nanomechanical measurements of lithium dendrite growth. This project aims to reveal how lithium dendrite growth is affected by different surface modifications on the commercial graphite electrodes. The success of the project will lead to a fundamental understanding of the lithium dendrite formation mechanism, enabling the construction of significantly safer batteries.Read moreRead less
Electrodeposited Cathodes with Tunable Stoichiometry for Alkaline Batteries. The growing dependency on intermittently-available renewable energy sources has resulted in metal-ion batteries being adopted as the most common solution; yet its fabrication requires multi-stage high-temperature processing leading to high costs, quality issues, and reduced service life. Thus, the present project targets the room-temperature fabrication of binary and ternary oxide cathodes by a single-step, high-yield, ....Electrodeposited Cathodes with Tunable Stoichiometry for Alkaline Batteries. The growing dependency on intermittently-available renewable energy sources has resulted in metal-ion batteries being adopted as the most common solution; yet its fabrication requires multi-stage high-temperature processing leading to high costs, quality issues, and reduced service life. Thus, the present project targets the room-temperature fabrication of binary and ternary oxide cathodes by a single-step, high-yield, cost-effective technique and their integration into Na-ion batteries with minimal and no processing. The expected outcomes from this novel and efficient device fabrication can lead to significant commercial, social, and environmental benefits owing to the advancement of the battery industry and associated job creation.
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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
Interfacial engineering of multilayered metal organic framework membranes . Metal-organic frameworks are a popular class of microporous materials with tunable structural properties and functionalities. This project aims to investigate the designed synthesis of thin, hierarchically structured films of this material on membranes, which displays extraordinary ion selectivity and ion rectification properties. A better understanding of the interfacial properties will be gained through advanced charac ....Interfacial engineering of multilayered metal organic framework membranes . Metal-organic frameworks are a popular class of microporous materials with tunable structural properties and functionalities. This project aims to investigate the designed synthesis of thin, hierarchically structured films of this material on membranes, which displays extraordinary ion selectivity and ion rectification properties. A better understanding of the interfacial properties will be gained through advanced characterisation, and with proper design and tuning of the film, will ultimately lead to the development of high performing ion-selective membranes that will be applied for energy storage and separation applications. This project is expected to benefit Australia’s renewable energy and resource sectors.Read moreRead less
Design of Nanoporous BCN with Tunable Pores for CO2 Capture and Conversion. This project aims to design and develop advanced boron carbon nitride-based materials with high specific surface areas, tunable pores and functional groups, guided by theoretical calculations for the capture of CO2 at ambient conditions. By introducing single metal atoms in the above nanostructures, we also aim to design a novel catalytic system for the effective conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals. This project will o ....Design of Nanoporous BCN with Tunable Pores for CO2 Capture and Conversion. This project aims to design and develop advanced boron carbon nitride-based materials with high specific surface areas, tunable pores and functional groups, guided by theoretical calculations for the capture of CO2 at ambient conditions. By introducing single metal atoms in the above nanostructures, we also aim to design a novel catalytic system for the effective conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals. This project will offer new knowledge on the design of low-cost advanced materials with specific functionalities for the simultaneous capture and conversion of CO2. This project will make a significant impact on Australian industries and further offer job opportunities and economic benefits by offering new technologies for a clean environment.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