An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefi ....An account of wetting phenomena on nano-engineered surfaces. This project aims to provide researchers and industry with a toolbox to predict wetting behaviour on surfaces with nanoscale topography. A combined experimental and numerical study will lead to the discovery of the mechanisms by which topographical and chemical properties of the surface trigger the formation of nanostructure-induced air pockets and how these phenomena determine surface wettability. This will provide significant benefits, as the predictive surface-wettability model will enhance controllability and productivity of diverse manufacturing processes and lead to new applications, high-value products and economic benefits in mining, energy, electronics, biomedicine and other fields.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100136
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,100,000.00
Summary
High Performance Solid State NMR Spectroscopy for Materials Research. The project will support research in a diverse set of fields such as biomedical engineering catalysis, energy storage and waste recovery, with cutting edge next-generation solid state (400 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance capabilities and research expertise. The system enabling high sensitivity, high throughput analysis over extended temperature range will enable addressing of fundamental questions regarding the structure-prope ....High Performance Solid State NMR Spectroscopy for Materials Research. The project will support research in a diverse set of fields such as biomedical engineering catalysis, energy storage and waste recovery, with cutting edge next-generation solid state (400 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance capabilities and research expertise. The system enabling high sensitivity, high throughput analysis over extended temperature range will enable addressing of fundamental questions regarding the structure-property relationships of advanced functional materials. Accessible to a wide user base in fundamental and applied research, in medicine, energy, catalysis and recycling of waste, the project will extend the current facilities to develop Sydney as regional centre for advanced solid state nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101113
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,000.00
Summary
Optimal reaction pathways towards advanced energy technology. This project aims to develop a novel lithium-ion battery (LIB) system that delivers high energy-density, a long cycle life, low-cost, and high safety based on conversion-type lithium oxide cathodes. Expected outcomes of this project will address the preliminary challenges for the practical use of lithium-oxide, which requires innovative designs of reaction pathways to lithium oxide cathode and lithium metal anode architectures as well ....Optimal reaction pathways towards advanced energy technology. This project aims to develop a novel lithium-ion battery (LIB) system that delivers high energy-density, a long cycle life, low-cost, and high safety based on conversion-type lithium oxide cathodes. Expected outcomes of this project will address the preliminary challenges for the practical use of lithium-oxide, which requires innovative designs of reaction pathways to lithium oxide cathode and lithium metal anode architectures as well as a fundamental in-depth understanding of the electrochemical and growing mechanisms. This project will establish a manufacturing road-map for a novel lithium-ion battery system in Australia with practical reliability by integrating active lithium oxide cathode, optimized electrolyte, and lithium metal anode.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL170100014
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,275,680.00
Summary
Light-Induced chemical modularity: a new frontier in macromolecular design. This project aims to develop powerful light-driven chemistries for the modular construction of advanced macromolecular materials. The expected outcome is a versatile, light-based precision macromolecular synthetic technology platform, enabling critical advances in soft matter material design and synthesis, ranging from selectivity control of chemical reactions and information-coded and biomimetic light-responsive macromo ....Light-Induced chemical modularity: a new frontier in macromolecular design. This project aims to develop powerful light-driven chemistries for the modular construction of advanced macromolecular materials. The expected outcome is a versatile, light-based precision macromolecular synthetic technology platform, enabling critical advances in soft matter material design and synthesis, ranging from selectivity control of chemical reactions and information-coded and biomimetic light-responsive macromolecules to advanced functional photoresists for 3D laser lithography as well as materials that self-report structural transformations by light or are reprogrammable in their properties by photonic fields. Harnessing the power of light as a precision tool for the construction of advanced macromolecular materials will provide technology outcomes for Australian manufacturing industries from electronics to health. This includes laser-driven 3D printing technology at the nano-level, light-adaptive smart reprogrammable coatings and materials, synthetic proteins responsive to light as well as tailor-made single cell niches.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Advanced Multifunctional Electro-Opto-Magneto-Mechanical Analysis Platform. This project aims to build an advanced multi-functional Electro-Opto-Magneto-Mechanical analysis platform for characterizing nanomaterials and micro-/nano-scale devices. This platform expects to provide rich and unique characterization capabilities (electrical, optical, magnetic and mechanical) for hybrid devices with low temperature and high vacuum environment. The expected outcomes include multidisciplinary research co ....Advanced Multifunctional Electro-Opto-Magneto-Mechanical Analysis Platform. This project aims to build an advanced multi-functional Electro-Opto-Magneto-Mechanical analysis platform for characterizing nanomaterials and micro-/nano-scale devices. This platform expects to provide rich and unique characterization capabilities (electrical, optical, magnetic and mechanical) for hybrid devices with low temperature and high vacuum environment. The expected outcomes include multidisciplinary research collaborations and a wide range of next-generation technologies including non-invasive medical instruments, wearable devices, communication, quantum information systems and energy storage solutions. This should enable local design and construction of hybrid devices and advance the growth of local high-technology industries.Read moreRead less
Experimental mapping of electron densities in nano-structured materials. This project aims to map electrons in nano-structured materials using a new technique combining the latest solid-state theory with electron scattering experiments in one of the world’s most advanced electron microscopes. It is expected that by revealing the electronic structure of nano-scale features in bulk materials for the first time, their functions will become fully explainable. Aside from this new capability, other ....Experimental mapping of electron densities in nano-structured materials. This project aims to map electrons in nano-structured materials using a new technique combining the latest solid-state theory with electron scattering experiments in one of the world’s most advanced electron microscopes. It is expected that by revealing the electronic structure of nano-scale features in bulk materials for the first time, their functions will become fully explainable. Aside from this new capability, other expected outcomes include discovering how heat is converted into electricity in thermoelectric materials and how precipitates affect alloy strength. The benefits may include more informed materials design, more efficient thermoelectrics for sustainable energy technologies, and higher strength-to-weight ratio alloys.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100816
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Liquid Metal Nano Metallurgy by Controlled Phase Transition Thermodynamics. The phase transformation thermodynamics of post-transition metals, which form low-melting-point alloys, remain largely unknown. This project aims to explore low-energy metallurgy pathways enabled by liquid metals to discover such dynamics. The strategy is to harvest structured/crystalline materials by incorporating target metal species into liquid metal solvents and stimulating autonomous phase separation and pattern for ....Liquid Metal Nano Metallurgy by Controlled Phase Transition Thermodynamics. The phase transformation thermodynamics of post-transition metals, which form low-melting-point alloys, remain largely unknown. This project aims to explore low-energy metallurgy pathways enabled by liquid metals to discover such dynamics. The strategy is to harvest structured/crystalline materials by incorporating target metal species into liquid metal solvents and stimulating autonomous phase separation and pattern formation during phase transition. Contemporary instruments and technologies will be employed to achieve active control of these fundamental processes at different scales. The expected outcomes will reveal new insights in traditional metallurgy as well as extend metallurgical concepts to electronics, optics, and catalysis.Read moreRead less
Understand ion-specific effects under nanoconfinement by multiscale models. Different types of ions with the same charge can behave distinctively in many ionic applications. This so-called ion-specific effect is essential to ion separation, ion sensing, electrochemical energy storage, chemical and biomedical processes and many other industrial applications. Confining ions in nanopores and modulating them via surface electric potential can give rise to new ion-specific effects, enabling novel app ....Understand ion-specific effects under nanoconfinement by multiscale models. Different types of ions with the same charge can behave distinctively in many ionic applications. This so-called ion-specific effect is essential to ion separation, ion sensing, electrochemical energy storage, chemical and biomedical processes and many other industrial applications. Confining ions in nanopores and modulating them via surface electric potential can give rise to new ion-specific effects, enabling novel applications. Capitalising on our recent experimental discoveries, this project aims to integrate new multiscale models to understand ion-specific effects in electroconductive nanoporous materials. The new models will be used to quantitatively predict ion-specific effects in supercapacitor design.Read moreRead less
Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide d ....Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide directly from seawater. The electrolyser can also be used to treat desalination brine while produce hydrogen and chemicals. The success of the project will set a firm technological foundation for seawater utilisation, which will add to Australian capability to meet future energy and environment challenges.Read moreRead less
Advanced electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis with validated analysis. Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals worldwide but current manufacturing industries consume massive amounts of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases. This project aims to develop a sustainable electrochemical system for ammonia synthesis using electricity and atmospheric nitrogen. A family of porous catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids will be developed to drive nitrogen reduction by enhancing the reaction ....Advanced electrocatalysts for ammonia synthesis with validated analysis. Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals worldwide but current manufacturing industries consume massive amounts of energy and emit harmful greenhouse gases. This project aims to develop a sustainable electrochemical system for ammonia synthesis using electricity and atmospheric nitrogen. A family of porous catalysts with nanoconfined ionic liquids will be developed to drive nitrogen reduction by enhancing the reaction kinetics. Rigorous experimental protocols and novel analytical methods will be developed for quantification of electro-synthesised ammonia. A prototype gas diffusion layer-assisted electrolyser will be demonstrated by coupling with oxygen evolution reactions for selective ammonia synthesis at a reasonable production rate.Read moreRead less