Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge ....Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge behaviours. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise battery electrode performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in low-cost, large-scale battery applications.Read moreRead less
All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic i ....All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic interfacial layers that change smoothly from hard ceramic to flexible glass and back again, through rigorous chemical design and synthetic control. This will reduce the stress that causes mechanical failure, while increasing chemical stability so that the latest generation of high-power electrodes can be brought into service.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
Electronic-vibrational spectroscopy: A new probe for structure and function. This project aims to solve a major challenge in ultrafast spectroscopy: to identify and quantify competing reaction pathways in complex photochemical systems. Ultrafast Spectroscopy provides information on excited-state processes of photochemical reactions, however, unravelling heterogeneous systems with competing parallel processes remains difficult. Multidimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopy, sensitive to el ....Electronic-vibrational spectroscopy: A new probe for structure and function. This project aims to solve a major challenge in ultrafast spectroscopy: to identify and quantify competing reaction pathways in complex photochemical systems. Ultrafast Spectroscopy provides information on excited-state processes of photochemical reactions, however, unravelling heterogeneous systems with competing parallel processes remains difficult. Multidimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopy, sensitive to electronic dynamics and molecular structure, is expected to overcome this barrier. This new level of detail will profoundly enhance our understanding of energy and chemical conversion in complex systems and will reveal design targets for optimising next-generation light-energy harvesting, conducting, and emitting materials.Read moreRead less
New laser and mass spectrometry methods for detecting protonation isomers. Mass spectrometry is a major tool for the detection of molecules for understanding disease, pollution control and chemical synthesis. However, intricate differences in molecular structure - vital to chemical function - can confuse detection methods leading to false negatives. This is especially problematic for complex biological samples. Recent breakthroughs in laser-based mass spectrometry methods, combined with ion mobi ....New laser and mass spectrometry methods for detecting protonation isomers. Mass spectrometry is a major tool for the detection of molecules for understanding disease, pollution control and chemical synthesis. However, intricate differences in molecular structure - vital to chemical function - can confuse detection methods leading to false negatives. This is especially problematic for complex biological samples. Recent breakthroughs in laser-based mass spectrometry methods, combined with ion mobility, now allow detection of subtle yet important structural features. This project aims to exploit these advances by developing new instrumentation and protocols with these enhanced capabilities thus accelerating advances in automated mass spectrometry, improved antibiotic detection and complex biomolecule screening.Read moreRead less
Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Sign ....Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of the highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of two classes of molecular material this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of how hydrogen gas uptake relates to the chemical and physical attributes of porous molecular systems. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development, spanning small scale mobile to large scale stationary storage applications.Read moreRead less
Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for ....Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for nanodevices or advanced materials. As well as achieving important advances in fundamental chemistry, this project is anticipated to help lay the foundations for development of novel materials for high density data storage, quantum computing, molecular electronics/spintronics, optical displays or temperature/solvent sensors.Read moreRead less
Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising ....Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising for molecular electronics, spintronics and colour-based sensing and display devices. Their fast response time and small component size imply less heat to dissipate and therefore less electricity required for cooling upon implementation in information communications and other technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100065
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,808.00
Summary
Designing Organocatalysts to Achieve Hyperpolarised Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic resonance techniques (such as MRI scans) suffer from an inherent insensitivity problem. In medical imaging, this can hamper diagnosis and mean long scan times for patients. This project aims to chemically develop catalysts which dramatically increase sensitivity, producing a signal that is thousands of times more visible. This project is significant as these catalysts can turn common, harmless molecules in the body ....Designing Organocatalysts to Achieve Hyperpolarised Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic resonance techniques (such as MRI scans) suffer from an inherent insensitivity problem. In medical imaging, this can hamper diagnosis and mean long scan times for patients. This project aims to chemically develop catalysts which dramatically increase sensitivity, producing a signal that is thousands of times more visible. This project is significant as these catalysts can turn common, harmless molecules in the body - even water - into visible tracers. The expected outcomes of this project include the synthesis and understanding of these catalysts which will be chemically fine-tuned to maximise their effectiveness. Potential benefits include translation to MRI applications to improve diagnosis and treatment, or chemical monitoring.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101627
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,625.00
Summary
Developing ultra adsorbent MOF composites as high performance materials. This project aims to improve the adsorption properties of porous materials through enhancing their selectivity and also creating new composites. This research expects to extend application opportunities to encompass real-life scenarios, in particular hydrogen transfer and carbon capture. Expected outcomes is the enhancement of the adsorbent properties of these porous materials, and an improvement of their selectivity and m ....Developing ultra adsorbent MOF composites as high performance materials. This project aims to improve the adsorption properties of porous materials through enhancing their selectivity and also creating new composites. This research expects to extend application opportunities to encompass real-life scenarios, in particular hydrogen transfer and carbon capture. Expected outcomes is the enhancement of the adsorbent properties of these porous materials, and an improvement of their selectivity and mechanical robustness. This is due to the synergistic strengthening effects of new graphene and nanodiamond composites. The benefit of this research is in bridging the gap between porous material synthesis and industrial application, contributing to Australia's becoming a world leader in clean energy research.Read moreRead less