Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites. Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film.
Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creat ....Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites. Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film.
Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creating nano-biocomposites (biopolymer plastics mixed with low levels of nano particles) will improve the properties of biopolymer plastics, giving novel materials that can be substituted for synthetic plastics in a wider range of applications.
These products will reduce our environmental impact, and also create economic benefits from novel, high-value nano-biocomposites.Read moreRead less
Development of Multilayered Packaging Materials with Controlled Barrier Properties. The project aims to develop advanced new material for multilayered packaging with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties for cost effective packaging applications. Poly Products currently imports and uses some polymer as its key component for controlling barrier property of their food packaging. However, the new nanostructured material when sandwiched between less expensive materials in a multilayered packag ....Development of Multilayered Packaging Materials with Controlled Barrier Properties. The project aims to develop advanced new material for multilayered packaging with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties for cost effective packaging applications. Poly Products currently imports and uses some polymer as its key component for controlling barrier property of their food packaging. However, the new nanostructured material when sandwiched between less expensive materials in a multilayered packaging film will yield excellent barrier properties, leading to extended shelf life of different food products. The new smart material will generate significant material saving and replace the imported polymer, and will secure export market of the product in Asia -Pacific region.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775643
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,000.00
Summary
A multiscale system for characterizing surface and subsurface properties of advanced materials. The installation of the proposed equipment will greatly strengthen the research capability and capacity of the leading Australian teams in the frontier areas of multiscale manufacturing and advanced materials technology. This will in turn lead to more significant innovations and sharpen Australia's competitive edge internationally. The facility will enable the advanced training of students and enginee ....A multiscale system for characterizing surface and subsurface properties of advanced materials. The installation of the proposed equipment will greatly strengthen the research capability and capacity of the leading Australian teams in the frontier areas of multiscale manufacturing and advanced materials technology. This will in turn lead to more significant innovations and sharpen Australia's competitive edge internationally. The facility will enable the advanced training of students and engineers most needed by the country. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100362
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Nanostructured metal hydrides for practical hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to synthesise nanostructured metal hydrides with particle size smaller than 5 nm. The practical applications of metal hydrides as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials require substantial knowledge and delicate engineering of materials on the nanoscale. Combined with controllable modification on the nanoscale, the optimised metal hydrides will enhance the performance of hydrogen storage materia ....Nanostructured metal hydrides for practical hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to synthesise nanostructured metal hydrides with particle size smaller than 5 nm. The practical applications of metal hydrides as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials require substantial knowledge and delicate engineering of materials on the nanoscale. Combined with controllable modification on the nanoscale, the optimised metal hydrides will enhance the performance of hydrogen storage materials. This project is expected to advance understanding of the technologies of metal hydrides as hydrogen storage materials and develop practical applications of metal hydrides in storage tanks for fuel cells. Hydrogen energy could also reduce carbon dioxide emissions and alleviate air pollution.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and im ....Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and implementation of advanced nanoceramics and nanocomposites created by innovative nanotechnologies. The project will also contribute to other national research priorities such as materials and frontier technologies, reduction of atmospheric pollution, and decrease in the energy dependence of our country on oil.Read moreRead less
Development of nonvolatile fast proton-transport materials. There are many problems with existing proton-transport materials for emerging fuel cell applications such as electric vehicles. A high proton conductivity and high thermal stability are some of the requirements for fuel cell electrolytes. The aims of this project are to develop nonvolatile proton-transport matrices based on zwitterionic liquids with various acids, develop polymer gel materials based on these, and characterize these ne ....Development of nonvolatile fast proton-transport materials. There are many problems with existing proton-transport materials for emerging fuel cell applications such as electric vehicles. A high proton conductivity and high thermal stability are some of the requirements for fuel cell electrolytes. The aims of this project are to develop nonvolatile proton-transport matrices based on zwitterionic liquids with various acids, develop polymer gel materials based on these, and characterize these new proton-transport materials by analyzing ionic conductivity, viscosity, thermal behaviors, and their interrelationships.Read moreRead less
Sodium-Metal-Free, Safe and Sustainable Sodium-Ion Sulfur Batteries. This project aims to develop sodium sulfide cathodes via effective single-atom catalysts and elaborately regulate the solid-electrolyte interphase on the anode by using a new class of electrolytes. Thus, the obtained low-cost, high-energy, safe sodium-ion sulfur batteries can serve as a novel technique for large-scale stationary energy storage, especially for intermittent solar and wind energy storage in Australia. Expected out ....Sodium-Metal-Free, Safe and Sustainable Sodium-Ion Sulfur Batteries. This project aims to develop sodium sulfide cathodes via effective single-atom catalysts and elaborately regulate the solid-electrolyte interphase on the anode by using a new class of electrolytes. Thus, the obtained low-cost, high-energy, safe sodium-ion sulfur batteries can serve as a novel technique for large-scale stationary energy storage, especially for intermittent solar and wind energy storage in Australia. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive understanding and a breakthrough in advances of innovative and affordable battery storage technology, leading to significant scientific, economic, environmental, and social benefits to Australia by integrating this battery system with renewable energy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100504
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,000.00
Summary
Interphases and interfaces of nanomaterials in potassium-ion batteries. This project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of interfacial interactions in multicomponent materials, which is a critical precursor to successfully designing and experimentally validating novel layered sulphide systems for potassium-ion batteries. A new layered structure construction technique will be employed to enhance the intrinsic electronic and ionic conductivities in the anode by controllable interphase a ....Interphases and interfaces of nanomaterials in potassium-ion batteries. This project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of interfacial interactions in multicomponent materials, which is a critical precursor to successfully designing and experimentally validating novel layered sulphide systems for potassium-ion batteries. A new layered structure construction technique will be employed to enhance the intrinsic electronic and ionic conductivities in the anode by controllable interphase and interface engineering. The expected outcomes of this project are to generate potassiumion batteries with high energy density, high safety, and long cycle life for next generation energy storage. This project should give Australia a competitive edge in the globally emerging sustainable manufacturing and energy-storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Engineering Nanoionic Interfaces towards High Performance Cathode Coatings. This project aims to develop novel cathode coating materials towards more durable and powerful energy storage devices. Lithium ion battery will be constructed based on perovskite oxides to provide high capacity and stability for potential applications in electric cars, mobile phones and internet of things. The project will address fundamental challenges in this field by developing high voltage cathode coated with nanoion ....Engineering Nanoionic Interfaces towards High Performance Cathode Coatings. This project aims to develop novel cathode coating materials towards more durable and powerful energy storage devices. Lithium ion battery will be constructed based on perovskite oxides to provide high capacity and stability for potential applications in electric cars, mobile phones and internet of things. The project will address fundamental challenges in this field by developing high voltage cathode coated with nanoionic thin layers. Combined with new materials fabrication techniques and innovative strain engineering, the expected outcome is high performance cathodes with enhanced rate capability and cycling life, low fabrication cost and production scalability.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101103
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,286.00
Summary
Stable Lithium-Sodium Metal Anodes for Rechargeable Alkali Metal Batteries. The project aims to address the safety issues derived from the dendritic growth and volume variation of alkali metal anodes, which are a challenge for the practical application of rechargeable alkali metal batteries. This project seeks to design a novel 3D lithium/sodium host featuring a lithiophilic-lithiophobic gradient interfacial layer to achieve uniform deposition and structural stability. The expected outcome of th ....Stable Lithium-Sodium Metal Anodes for Rechargeable Alkali Metal Batteries. The project aims to address the safety issues derived from the dendritic growth and volume variation of alkali metal anodes, which are a challenge for the practical application of rechargeable alkali metal batteries. This project seeks to design a novel 3D lithium/sodium host featuring a lithiophilic-lithiophobic gradient interfacial layer to achieve uniform deposition and structural stability. The expected outcome of this project is to successfully develop alkali metal batteries that are stable, safe and have high energy density. This project should have significant benefits such as the advancement of knowledge in alkali metal batteries and strengthen Australia’s competitiveness in the area of next-generation energy storage technologies.Read moreRead less