Porous Electromaterials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. This will be accomplished by the engineering of multi-scale porous materials with tuneable electrical, chemical and morphological properties using earth abundant elements. The intended outcome is the establishment of a scalable methodology for the ....Porous Electromaterials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. This will be accomplished by the engineering of multi-scale porous materials with tuneable electrical, chemical and morphological properties using earth abundant elements. The intended outcome is the establishment of a scalable methodology for the structuring and effective integration of microporous materials in highly conductive scaffolds, achieving superior charge and molecular transport, as well as high surface activity. Broad social and economic benefits are anticipated providing new technological solutions for renewable energy storage and fuel production.Read moreRead less
Porous transparent conducting oxides for efficient solar fuel production. This project aims to develop highly porous, transparent and electrically conducting networks of oxide nanoparticles for artificial photosynthesis applications. The majority of hydrogen is currently produced via natural gas reforming, a process that generates a significant carbon footprint due to the use of fossil fuels. This project will develop novel materials and fabrication methods to improve the efficiency of hydrogen ....Porous transparent conducting oxides for efficient solar fuel production. This project aims to develop highly porous, transparent and electrically conducting networks of oxide nanoparticles for artificial photosynthesis applications. The majority of hydrogen is currently produced via natural gas reforming, a process that generates a significant carbon footprint due to the use of fossil fuels. This project will develop novel materials and fabrication methods to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production using clean and renewable solar energy. This project will contribute to development of technologies for the chemical storage of renewable energy, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. This will have applications in the areas of optoelectronic devices, medical biosensors, and photocatalysis, offering downstream benefits for the society, the economy and the environment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100965
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Janus nanosheets for the capture of carbon dioxide and its conversion into clean fuels. This project aims to develop advanced Janus nanosheets with organic carbon nitrides and inorganic metal phosphide semiconductors. These nanostructures offer both basic and tunable semiconducting properties that will be used for developing highly efficient devices for the conversion of carbon dioxide to clean fuels through a photoelectrochemical reduction pathway using water and sunlight. Density functional th ....Janus nanosheets for the capture of carbon dioxide and its conversion into clean fuels. This project aims to develop advanced Janus nanosheets with organic carbon nitrides and inorganic metal phosphide semiconductors. These nanostructures offer both basic and tunable semiconducting properties that will be used for developing highly efficient devices for the conversion of carbon dioxide to clean fuels through a photoelectrochemical reduction pathway using water and sunlight. Density functional theory calculation coupled with synchrotron studies will be used to investigate theoretical understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of capture and conversion of carbon dioxide over these nanosheets. These low-cost nanostructures will help address clean energy generation and benefit manufacturing industries in reducing the emission of carbon dioxide to the environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Hall effect system for detailed electrical characterisation in semiconductors. Semiconductor characterisation is crucial for research and development in optimum growth and fabrication procedures. This Hall effect measurement system is an essential carrier characterisation technique for semiconductors with potential applications in microelectronics, optoelectronics and photovoltaics.
Oxide-semiconductor epitaxy: towards next generation nanoelectronics. This project aims to integrate high quality functional oxide heterostructures with semiconductor platforms and address the fundamental obstacles in oxides for highly efficient and high-speed transistor applications by engineering their electronic band structures. The project aims to establish a bridge between the diverse electronic properties of oxides and the established semiconductor platform, and generate new devices and fu ....Oxide-semiconductor epitaxy: towards next generation nanoelectronics. This project aims to integrate high quality functional oxide heterostructures with semiconductor platforms and address the fundamental obstacles in oxides for highly efficient and high-speed transistor applications by engineering their electronic band structures. The project aims to establish a bridge between the diverse electronic properties of oxides and the established semiconductor platform, and generate new devices and functionalities. Expected outcomes include epitaxial functional oxides on Gallium arsenide with ultrahigh, room-temperature sheet electron mobility and a comprehensive understanding of its microscopic origin. This will fundamentally change the route toward novel transistors based on high speed and low energy oxide electronics.Read moreRead less
Development of room temperature diluted magnetic semiconductors for spintronics devices application. Semiconductor spintronics is very likely to have a significant impact on future generations of devices. Until recently, Australian research groups have played a minor role in the field. The proposed program will lead to new discoveries or fundamental advances within semiconductor spintronics or have substantial impact on the progress in this field. The accomplishments of this project can great ....Development of room temperature diluted magnetic semiconductors for spintronics devices application. Semiconductor spintronics is very likely to have a significant impact on future generations of devices. Until recently, Australian research groups have played a minor role in the field. The proposed program will lead to new discoveries or fundamental advances within semiconductor spintronics or have substantial impact on the progress in this field. The accomplishments of this project can greatly increase the scientific understanding of diluted magnetic semiconductors and expand Australia's knowledge base in research in these materials. This program can also be an education platform to provide a number of scientific talents for Australia by intensively training high quality postgraduates at the international level.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100188
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
Epitaxial growth facility for advanced materials. An advanced materials fabrication facility accessible to all Australian researchers will be established. This will allow crystal growth at the atomic level for novel materials with applications including fundamental physics, nanocomposites, energy storage and conversion systems, and solar cells.
Layered and scrolled carbon materials for advancing energy storage systems. This project aims to reveal the structure–property relations in carbon electrodes through the design of model carbon systems that allow the simultaneous control of graphitic interlayer distance, ion diffusion pathway length, and surface functional group density. The project is expected to generate new knowledge on the charging mechanisms of micro-supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries and technologies for emerging port ....Layered and scrolled carbon materials for advancing energy storage systems. This project aims to reveal the structure–property relations in carbon electrodes through the design of model carbon systems that allow the simultaneous control of graphitic interlayer distance, ion diffusion pathway length, and surface functional group density. The project is expected to generate new knowledge on the charging mechanisms of micro-supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries and technologies for emerging portable electronics and renewable energy storage applications. The demonstration of high-performance and sustainable energy storage devices is anticipated. This will help to advance the prominence of Australia in the global renewable energy market and the move towards more sustainable economies and lifestyles.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0239650
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging and analysis. It is widely accepted that the emerging fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering will dominate research activity in a wide range of disciplines over the next decade. Progress in nanoscience and technology requires parallel development in nanocharacterisation and nanofabrication techniques. This proposal seeks to enhance the level of research infrastructure support for nano-scale microscopy and microanalysis at UTS and the Univer ....Advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging and analysis. It is widely accepted that the emerging fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering will dominate research activity in a wide range of disciplines over the next decade. Progress in nanoscience and technology requires parallel development in nanocharacterisation and nanofabrication techniques. This proposal seeks to enhance the level of research infrastructure support for nano-scale microscopy and microanalysis at UTS and the University of Sydney by providing the following advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging, analysis and manipulation of materials:
- A Schottky field emission gun environmental scanning electron microscope
- Equipment kit for the rapid preparation of high quality transmission electron microscope specimens.Read moreRead less
High-resolution in situ annealing studies of sub-micron grain structures. The proposed research is an extension of considerable ongoing collaboration between the applicants and will utilise advanced characterisation techniques to provide a more fundamental understanding than that presently available of the thermal stability of particle-containing nanocrystalline alloys. The project will reinforce the strong collaboration between our research groups and will expose Australian researchers to cutti ....High-resolution in situ annealing studies of sub-micron grain structures. The proposed research is an extension of considerable ongoing collaboration between the applicants and will utilise advanced characterisation techniques to provide a more fundamental understanding than that presently available of the thermal stability of particle-containing nanocrystalline alloys. The project will reinforce the strong collaboration between our research groups and will expose Australian researchers to cutting-edge research techniques, with particular emphasis on broadening the training experience of early career researchers. Several joint journal papers are expected from this work.
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