Nanostructured solid acid catalysts for sustainable chemical manufacturing. This project aims to develop next-generation solid acid catalysts for energy- and atom-efficient transformations of waste biomass and carbon dioxide to sustainable chemicals and fuels. Catalysis is a transformative technology, key to both life and lifestyle, contributing to 90% of chemical manufacturing processes and >20% of all industrial products, and will be a key enabler for the emerging Australian bioeconomy. The ex ....Nanostructured solid acid catalysts for sustainable chemical manufacturing. This project aims to develop next-generation solid acid catalysts for energy- and atom-efficient transformations of waste biomass and carbon dioxide to sustainable chemicals and fuels. Catalysis is a transformative technology, key to both life and lifestyle, contributing to 90% of chemical manufacturing processes and >20% of all industrial products, and will be a key enabler for the emerging Australian bioeconomy. The expected development of new high performance catalysts for the production of renewable transportation fuels and sustainable chemical feedstocks will underpin commercially viable low carbon technologies using waste resources, and should provide significant benefits to Australian science, industry, and the environment.
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To identify and to understand highly reactive surfaces for solar hydrogen production. This project aims to develop advanced technology to produce hydrogen - carbon-free fuel - from water with sunlight as the only energy input. Using clean energy to replace fossil fuels can help address the issues of energy supply and reduce carbon emissions, which is critically important for a sustainable Australia.
Chiral Catalysts by Rational Design. This project aims to integrate theory and experiment to design new catalysts for the synthesis of multi-stereocentre-containing molecules. Such molecules offer clear advantages in the area of drug design, owing to their potent and selective binding to biological targets, but a lack of available methods for their preparation currently limits their widespread use. This project will use theory to guide the discovery of new ways to make these molecules. It is exp ....Chiral Catalysts by Rational Design. This project aims to integrate theory and experiment to design new catalysts for the synthesis of multi-stereocentre-containing molecules. Such molecules offer clear advantages in the area of drug design, owing to their potent and selective binding to biological targets, but a lack of available methods for their preparation currently limits their widespread use. This project will use theory to guide the discovery of new ways to make these molecules. It is expected that detailed understanding of the factors that control stereocentre formation will be obtained from accurate theoretical modelling and will be applied to invent new catalysts that deliver improved performance and control over product structure.Read moreRead less
Advanced chemical recycling of mixed plastics for monomer recovery. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic routes to the chemical recycling of mixed plastics for recovery of their molecular building blocks. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the Australian ecosystem. Efficient recycling technologies are urgently needed as Australia only recycles ~4% of its 3.4 million tons of mixed waste plastics. This project expects to design highly efficient catalysts for the stepwise ....Advanced chemical recycling of mixed plastics for monomer recovery. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic routes to the chemical recycling of mixed plastics for recovery of their molecular building blocks. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the Australian ecosystem. Efficient recycling technologies are urgently needed as Australia only recycles ~4% of its 3.4 million tons of mixed waste plastics. This project expects to design highly efficient catalysts for the stepwise breakdown of mixed polyolefin plastics into monomers for the subsequent manufacturing of virgin plastics in a circular economy, and to elucidate fundamental underpinning reaction mechanisms. Outcomes will stimulate the Australian waste plastic recycling industry, and minimise plastic accumulation in the environment.Read moreRead less
Nano-engineered multi-functional materials for catalysis and sensing by an integrated chemical and electrochemical approach. This project aims to deliver a facile and cheap method to produce a class of nanostructured materials to be used in applications which will have environmental and social benefits such as: green synthesis of fine chemicals, catalyst development for clean energy fuel cells and sensor technology for the detection of potent biotoxins.