Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100596
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to de ....Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to develop novel Li2S-rich cathode materials with high lithium-ion conductivity, which will form the basis of all-solid-state Li–S batteries with high energy density. The new battery is expected to have wide applications in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable energy storage.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
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,115,000.00
Summary
Nanoscale-interactions making future functional materials more powerful . Traditional crystal chemistry can no longer meet the demands for development of new functional materials - the foundation of modern industry. The program aims to overcome this challenge by introducing a new strategy into experimental and theoretical research to transform our understanding and application of nanoscale structural and chemical features in materials. The program expects to build new crystal chemistry that incl ....Nanoscale-interactions making future functional materials more powerful . Traditional crystal chemistry can no longer meet the demands for development of new functional materials - the foundation of modern industry. The program aims to overcome this challenge by introducing a new strategy into experimental and theoretical research to transform our understanding and application of nanoscale structural and chemical features in materials. The program expects to build new crystal chemistry that includes nanoscale-interaction information and deep machine-learning to improve the predictability of material properties. Potential outcomes of the program include enhanced capacity for revolutionary materials development thus keeping Australia's leading position in innovative technology, benefiting academia and industry.Read moreRead less
Understanding and controlling of photoferroelectricity for photoenergy uses. The project seeks to develop high performance photoferroelectric materials for a wide range of photoenergy conversion technologies like photovoltaics and photocatalytics. For the past 50 years, ferroelectric photovoltaics have only been an academic curiosity due to their low energy conversion efficiency relative to the popular semiconductor photovoltaics. This project aims to unlock the potential of ferroelectric photov ....Understanding and controlling of photoferroelectricity for photoenergy uses. The project seeks to develop high performance photoferroelectric materials for a wide range of photoenergy conversion technologies like photovoltaics and photocatalytics. For the past 50 years, ferroelectric photovoltaics have only been an academic curiosity due to their low energy conversion efficiency relative to the popular semiconductor photovoltaics. This project aims to unlock the potential of ferroelectric photovoltaics by introducing an ion co-substitution, which is coupled with electron-pinning, into promising ferroelectric materials and investigating the resultant photo-excited electronic and electrical properties. It is anticipated that the outcomes from this proposed project will provide a solution for optimal ferroelectric visible light absorption to achieve high power conversion efficiency in ferroelectric materials for practical photoenergy applications.Read moreRead less
Ferroelectric piezoelectric materials and key problems associated with their applications in mechanical, electrical and optical energy transformations. This project aims to investigate the dynamic microstructure of ferroelectric piezoelectric materials in response to electrical fields or mechanical stresses, and therefore identify the factors enhancing the mechanical, electrical and optical couplings for intentional improvement and development of these materials for use in energy transformations ....Ferroelectric piezoelectric materials and key problems associated with their applications in mechanical, electrical and optical energy transformations. This project aims to investigate the dynamic microstructure of ferroelectric piezoelectric materials in response to electrical fields or mechanical stresses, and therefore identify the factors enhancing the mechanical, electrical and optical couplings for intentional improvement and development of these materials for use in energy transformations.Read moreRead less
Probing anti-ferroelectric to ferroelectric structural phase transitions: towards high power energy transformation devices. Materials which can be rapidly switched from anti-ferroelectric to ferroelectric states exhibit a wide range of exploitable properties. This project will identify the factors enabling such materials to respond to applied electric fields and mechanical stresses and use them to enhance the ability of industry to develop new advanced materials.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100197
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A magnetic property measurement facility for the development of advanced materials and biomedical technologies in the Sydney basin. The measurement of magnetic properties is important in the study both of magnetic and electronic materials and biological systems. This new equipment will support a diverse array of high impact research, spanning the fundamental to the applied, and will bring together complementary expertise from multiple disciplines and institutions.
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
Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis for Clean Hydrogen Production. Low-cost and robust water electrolysis technology is a cornerstone towards the success of the hydrogen economy. This project aims to develop next generation anion exchange membrane water electrolyser technologies for low-cost and high-efficiency clean hydrogen production and renewable energy storage. Novel non-precious transition metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity, large surface area and super-hydrophilic s ....Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis for Clean Hydrogen Production. Low-cost and robust water electrolysis technology is a cornerstone towards the success of the hydrogen economy. This project aims to develop next generation anion exchange membrane water electrolyser technologies for low-cost and high-efficiency clean hydrogen production and renewable energy storage. Novel non-precious transition metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity, large surface area and super-hydrophilic surfaces will be developed, and their mechanism and stability within membrane electrode assemblies understood by using operando spectroscopy, electrochemistry and 3D X-ray imaging characterisations. An efficient anion exchange membrane water electrolyser prototype made entirely of non-precious materials is to be devised. Read moreRead less
Nanostructured non-precious metal and metal-free catalysts for sustainable clean energy generation. The innovative technologies for substitution of precious metal catalysts will be developed and used in fuel cells for clean energy generation in a highly efficient and sustainable form. This effort will lead to the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and the alleviation of environmental and climate change problems.