Fill it, Squeeze it, Crush it: Extreme Gas Uptake in Microporous Materials . Porous materials have the potential to be used as exceptional carbon capture materials, as well as for trapping and releasing other useful gases, such as those used in medical applications. They work, because they contain small holes where these gases can be trapped. Unfortunately, finding gas inside these holes experimentally is incredibly difficult, making it challenging to make better porous materials. In this pro ....Fill it, Squeeze it, Crush it: Extreme Gas Uptake in Microporous Materials . Porous materials have the potential to be used as exceptional carbon capture materials, as well as for trapping and releasing other useful gases, such as those used in medical applications. They work, because they contain small holes where these gases can be trapped. Unfortunately, finding gas inside these holes experimentally is incredibly difficult, making it challenging to make better porous materials. In this project, I will use extreme pressures to saturate these holes with gas molecules, allowing us to ‘see’ them. Not only will this mean that better porous materials can be designed and made, but will provide a unique approach to storing and trapping gases to be used in a variety of applications, from the energy to medical sectors.Read moreRead less
Solid-State Battery Interface Design (SS-BID). This research project aims to use the world’s best performing solid-state ion conductors to develop next generation solid-state batteries. Boron-rich electrolytes will be paired with lithium metal anodes to construct batteries that are more energy dense, safer, have wider operational temperature windows, and aim to be lower cost than existing Li-ion batteries. The current roadblock for these batteries lies in the poorly performing interfaces between ....Solid-State Battery Interface Design (SS-BID). This research project aims to use the world’s best performing solid-state ion conductors to develop next generation solid-state batteries. Boron-rich electrolytes will be paired with lithium metal anodes to construct batteries that are more energy dense, safer, have wider operational temperature windows, and aim to be lower cost than existing Li-ion batteries. The current roadblock for these batteries lies in the poorly performing interfaces between anode, electrolyte and cathode. This research aims to develop new strategies to overcome these barriers and perform world-class measurement techniques to understand and optimise solid-state batteries to provide a commercially viable energy storage solution.Read moreRead less
Anomalous Structural Response in Porous Framework Materials. This project targets a key missing link in understanding the host-guest properties of porous framework materials, namely, the dynamic response of host lattices to their external environment and to the inclusion of molecular guests. By combining advanced chemical, physical and structural measurements the project expects to provide the first concerted picture of materials behaviour across an array of scientific and technological settings ....Anomalous Structural Response in Porous Framework Materials. This project targets a key missing link in understanding the host-guest properties of porous framework materials, namely, the dynamic response of host lattices to their external environment and to the inclusion of molecular guests. By combining advanced chemical, physical and structural measurements the project expects to provide the first concerted picture of materials behaviour across an array of scientific and technological settings, with particular focus given to industrially relevant ‘real world’ conditions. This promises to greatly inform the on-going chemical design, formulation and process engineering of these materials, in turn accelerating their development in gas separation, energy storage and device componentry applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100124
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,590.00
Summary
An Advanced Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility in Queensland. The project aims to establish a world-class ultrafast laser spectroscopy facility to investigate how molecules interact with visible or ultraviolet light. Light-matter interactions are key to energy generation in nature through photosynthesis as well as everyday technologies including optical communications and displays. This project expects to generate new knowledge in on how light interacts with matter at the molecular level. Exp ....An Advanced Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility in Queensland. The project aims to establish a world-class ultrafast laser spectroscopy facility to investigate how molecules interact with visible or ultraviolet light. Light-matter interactions are key to energy generation in nature through photosynthesis as well as everyday technologies including optical communications and displays. This project expects to generate new knowledge in on how light interacts with matter at the molecular level. Expected outcomes of the ultrafast spectroscopic measurements will be understanding the fate of light absorbed by or generated in different materials. Application of the knowledge gained will enable the design of materials for more efficient technologies such as solar cells, lighting, and sensors.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface act ....Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface active ionic liquids in the bulk and at electrode surfaces, and use this to elucidate rules for the rational design of new surface active ionic liquids with fast dynamics at low temperature, towards their use at room temperature in diverse areas; this project will target capacitors and gas sensors. Read moreRead less
Pathways for performance improvements of organic light emitting diodes . Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) represent the next generation technology for displays and lighting. Despite their rapid uptake, one of the factors limiting their application in lighting is the efficiency roll-off at high brightness. This project aims to work towards solutions for this problem using an innovative combination of simulation studies and experimental work. Expected outcomes include improved theoretical and ....Pathways for performance improvements of organic light emitting diodes . Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) represent the next generation technology for displays and lighting. Despite their rapid uptake, one of the factors limiting their application in lighting is the efficiency roll-off at high brightness. This project aims to work towards solutions for this problem using an innovative combination of simulation studies and experimental work. Expected outcomes include improved theoretical and experimental approaches leading to new design rules for OLEDs. This should provide significant benefits such as a pathway for development of improved efficient, high brightness OLEDs for applications in low energy consumption lighting and long-lasting, bright displays.Read moreRead less
On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and ....On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and selectivities increase on water’s surface rather than in its bulk will remove fundamental constraints on the viability of aqueous electro-synthesis – moving beyond current reactor designs to transform our view of electrochemistry and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry.Read moreRead less
Sliding diodes: harvesting triboelectricity with surface chemistry. This project aims to create new methods for the conversion of friction at vibrating metal–semiconductor contacts into a continuous source of electricity; an autonomous technology to power miniature electronics in applications spanning health management to environmental sensing. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of new surface chemistry and miniature semiconductor technologies, with benefits for the de ....Sliding diodes: harvesting triboelectricity with surface chemistry. This project aims to create new methods for the conversion of friction at vibrating metal–semiconductor contacts into a continuous source of electricity; an autonomous technology to power miniature electronics in applications spanning health management to environmental sensing. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of new surface chemistry and miniature semiconductor technologies, with benefits for the design and function of silicon-based devices such as life-critical pacemakers, and self-powered monitors in remote/dangerous places.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Ionic-Molecular Hybrid Liquids. This project aims to produce a new class of green, economical, non-toxic, low volatility, designer solvents from mixtures of one or more molecular components, and ionic liquid-inspired salts. By manipulating the intermolecular forces between components of these nanostructured ionic molecular "hybrid liquids" (HLs), we will develop new understanding of how liquid structure arises from the nano- to the colloidal and even micro-scale. HLs will enable ....Nanostructured Ionic-Molecular Hybrid Liquids. This project aims to produce a new class of green, economical, non-toxic, low volatility, designer solvents from mixtures of one or more molecular components, and ionic liquid-inspired salts. By manipulating the intermolecular forces between components of these nanostructured ionic molecular "hybrid liquids" (HLs), we will develop new understanding of how liquid structure arises from the nano- to the colloidal and even micro-scale. HLs will enable the development novel complex fluids, which are liquids containing interacting particles, polymers, and/or surfactants. Lubricants developed from HL based complex fluids will act as a “test-bed” application for the new understanding this project will engender, towards use of HLs in diverse areas.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100087
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,539,442.00
Summary
Predictive simulation of crystallisation. This project aims to create new methodologies for quantitatively predicting the result of crystallisation processes, which are central to industries from pharmaceutical and food manufacture through to minerals processing. The outcomes will include the commercialisation of new technologies for computer modelling, economic impact in several key industries, and capacity building in analytical skills. Target project applications includes accelerating the dev ....Predictive simulation of crystallisation. This project aims to create new methodologies for quantitatively predicting the result of crystallisation processes, which are central to industries from pharmaceutical and food manufacture through to minerals processing. The outcomes will include the commercialisation of new technologies for computer modelling, economic impact in several key industries, and capacity building in analytical skills. Target project applications includes accelerating the development cycle for pharmaceuticals and reducing scale formation within both oil/gas pipelines and desalination plants.Read moreRead less