Molecular Thermoelectric Materials: A New Hot Topic. This project aims to use the principles of chemistry and molecular electronics to synthesize and study molecules able to directly convert waste heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect. This project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the wire-like properties of molecules and conditions that lead to a high Seebeck coefficient, together with interference effects to suppress thermal conductance. Expected outcomes of this project ....Molecular Thermoelectric Materials: A New Hot Topic. This project aims to use the principles of chemistry and molecular electronics to synthesize and study molecules able to directly convert waste heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect. This project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the wire-like properties of molecules and conditions that lead to a high Seebeck coefficient, together with interference effects to suppress thermal conductance. Expected outcomes of this project include a deeper understanding of chemical structure - molecular electronic property relationships, and enhanced international collaboration with the UK. This should provide benefits in terms of low-cost conversion of waste heat to electrical energy. Read moreRead less
Electrostatic catalysis from single-molecule events to macroscopic systems. Electrostatics has important applications in day-to-day technologies, from recycling plastics to photocopying, but the exploration of how static charges affect chemical bonds and bonding is still in its infancy. This project aims to demonstrate the experimental links between the magnitude and polarity of an external electric field and chemical rates, expanding our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our ....Electrostatic catalysis from single-molecule events to macroscopic systems. Electrostatics has important applications in day-to-day technologies, from recycling plastics to photocopying, but the exploration of how static charges affect chemical bonds and bonding is still in its infancy. This project aims to demonstrate the experimental links between the magnitude and polarity of an external electric field and chemical rates, expanding our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our view of catalysis. By investigating the role of static electricity over systems selected from different sub-disciplines of chemistry, the project will derive the ground and selection rules for reactivity and selectivity by electrostatics. The project is expected to show that for chemical reactions of practical and conceptual value a specific catalyst can be replaced by a generic electric field stimulus, an invisible catalyst, enabling cleaner and cheaper opportunities that current technologies cannot fulfil.Read moreRead less
Physics-based equivalent circuit models for nanoporous electrodes. This project aims to develop new physics-based equivalent circuit models for ion/electron coupled dynamics in electrified porous nanomaterials via fusing latest simulation advances with machine learning approach. This project expects to meet the challenge of high-efficient and accurate dynamic models for accelerated design, accurate diagnosis, and optimal operation of electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies. Th ....Physics-based equivalent circuit models for nanoporous electrodes. This project aims to develop new physics-based equivalent circuit models for ion/electron coupled dynamics in electrified porous nanomaterials via fusing latest simulation advances with machine learning approach. This project expects to meet the challenge of high-efficient and accurate dynamic models for accelerated design, accurate diagnosis, and optimal operation of electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies. The outcome will be a paradigm shift of how equivalent circuit models are developed and used, informed by new scientific knowledge and data. The proliferation of the new models will allow design and operation of more efficient and durable technologies in energy industry, benefitting Australian economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,000.00
Summary
Ultrastable perovskite nanocrystals for high quality optoelectronic devices. This project aims to investigate novel highly efficient luminescent nanomaterials; by utilising perovskite nanocrystals with enhanced stability by coating or mesoporous materials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of energy conversion using interdisciplinary approaches of chemistry, physics, engineering and machine learning. Expected outcomes of this project include higher efficiency display and ....Ultrastable perovskite nanocrystals for high quality optoelectronic devices. This project aims to investigate novel highly efficient luminescent nanomaterials; by utilising perovskite nanocrystals with enhanced stability by coating or mesoporous materials. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of energy conversion using interdisciplinary approaches of chemistry, physics, engineering and machine learning. Expected outcomes of this project include higher efficiency display and lighting, better performance of energy harvesting. The cross disciplinary collaborations pave the way to achieve the objectives of this project. This should provide significant benefits, such as better ways to convert energy from renewable sources and more efficient ways to use electrical power for lighting and display.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic surface coatings for drag and fouling reduction. This project aims to provide new insights into liquid flow and adsorption at liquid/solid and liquid/liquid interfaces, by using a combination of theoretical predictions, nanoscale techniques and nanofabrication approaches. Expected outcomes are the development of liquid-repellent slippery surface coatings that reduce hydrodynamic drag and inhibit marine fouling. This will benefit the fields of advanced manufacturing and smart coatings, ....Biomimetic surface coatings for drag and fouling reduction. This project aims to provide new insights into liquid flow and adsorption at liquid/solid and liquid/liquid interfaces, by using a combination of theoretical predictions, nanoscale techniques and nanofabrication approaches. Expected outcomes are the development of liquid-repellent slippery surface coatings that reduce hydrodynamic drag and inhibit marine fouling. This will benefit the fields of advanced manufacturing and smart coatings, and will underpin a wide range of energy efficient processes and products. Slippery coatings will solve urgent environmental problems of social value by improving the energy and chemical efficiency in fluid flow, heat transfer, secondary oil recovery, microfluidics, and anti-fouling.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
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100564
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,258.00
Summary
On-Site, Reponsive and Less Invasive Drug Testing In Corrective Services. This project aims to develop a new drug screening system using nanomaterials interfaced with advanced mass spectrometry to improve testing speed, cost, and accuracy, and minimise the distress associated with current drug testing programs within corrective services. Currently, testing programs are costly, with confirmation taking multiple weeks, preventing appropriate responses to drug use and support service recommendation ....On-Site, Reponsive and Less Invasive Drug Testing In Corrective Services. This project aims to develop a new drug screening system using nanomaterials interfaced with advanced mass spectrometry to improve testing speed, cost, and accuracy, and minimise the distress associated with current drug testing programs within corrective services. Currently, testing programs are costly, with confirmation taking multiple weeks, preventing appropriate responses to drug use and support service recommendations. Additionally, vulnerable people in custody or on corrective orders find conventional urine testing distressing, especially when previously exposed to sexual violence. New accurate, rapid saliva testing on-site will revolutionise drug monitoring and provide an Australian designed solution for correctional jurisdictions. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101105
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,000.00
Summary
Developing Sustainable and Reliable Anode-free Lithium Metal Batteries. This project aims to investigate and optimise the functional properties of anode-free lithium metal battery electrodes. The project expects to develop a novel, high-throughput electrochemistry platform that can rapidly screen new materials and chemistries across length scales, from single atoms to entire battery cells. Understanding battery performance in such detail is expected to enhance our capability to design and manufa ....Developing Sustainable and Reliable Anode-free Lithium Metal Batteries. This project aims to investigate and optimise the functional properties of anode-free lithium metal battery electrodes. The project expects to develop a novel, high-throughput electrochemistry platform that can rapidly screen new materials and chemistries across length scales, from single atoms to entire battery cells. Understanding battery performance in such detail is expected to enhance our capability to design and manufacture smart battery materials that are higher performing, safer and longer lasting than current technologies. This should provide significant socio-economic and environmental benefits, through the development of commercially-feasible next-generation devices, used by households or businesses to store renewable energy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101514
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,473.00
Summary
Nanodroplet platforms for engineering novel nanocarbon structures. This project aims to exploit surface nanodroplet array platforms to construct multi-scale level assembly of nanometer-scale carbon materials. The project expects to advance knowledge on the interactions between droplets and carbon nanomaterials to enable controlled construction of nanocarbon based optoelectric devices. Successful adoption of nanocarbon material-based optoelectronic devices by the energy conversion industry has th ....Nanodroplet platforms for engineering novel nanocarbon structures. This project aims to exploit surface nanodroplet array platforms to construct multi-scale level assembly of nanometer-scale carbon materials. The project expects to advance knowledge on the interactions between droplets and carbon nanomaterials to enable controlled construction of nanocarbon based optoelectric devices. Successful adoption of nanocarbon material-based optoelectronic devices by the energy conversion industry has the potential to increase efficiency of conversion and reduce the cost of manufacture. The expected outcomes are large scale and well-ordered nanocarbon structures with excellent electronic and optical properties.Read moreRead less