Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101407
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,446.00
Summary
Three-dimensional metal printing based on controlled removal of self-assembled monolayers. This project aims to develop a unique approach for three-dimensional metal micro-printing based on controlled removal of self-assembled monolayers. The application of electro-deposition for three-dimensional metal printing is currently hindered by the incapacity of site-selective control of the deposition area. The project expects to produce a new three dimensional metal microprinting technology, with bene ....Three-dimensional metal printing based on controlled removal of self-assembled monolayers. This project aims to develop a unique approach for three-dimensional metal micro-printing based on controlled removal of self-assembled monolayers. The application of electro-deposition for three-dimensional metal printing is currently hindered by the incapacity of site-selective control of the deposition area. The project expects to produce a new three dimensional metal microprinting technology, with benefits to manufacturing industries, particularly those requiring production of micro/nano metallic components.Read moreRead less
Development of Nanocrystalline Transition Metal Oxide and Polymer-Transition Metal Oxide Composite Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Battery Applications. Recent work by the applicants has shown that nanocrystalline titanates and aluminates hold considerable promise as lithium battery electrodes. Nanocrystalline anatase materials showed considerably greater lithium intercalation ratios compared with their microcrystalline counterparts, and doping with vanadium showed further improvements in ....Development of Nanocrystalline Transition Metal Oxide and Polymer-Transition Metal Oxide Composite Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Battery Applications. Recent work by the applicants has shown that nanocrystalline titanates and aluminates hold considerable promise as lithium battery electrodes. Nanocrystalline anatase materials showed considerably greater lithium intercalation ratios compared with their microcrystalline counterparts, and doping with vanadium showed further improvements in capacity. Sol-gel synthesised V-doped anatase materials produced an initial discharge capacity of 428 Ah/kg compared with only 280 mAh/kg for the undoped anatase electrode in the same Li test cell.In this project different dopants and preparation conditions will be investigated to produce nanocrystalline rutile and aluminate materials as potential candidates for high capacity lithium battery applications.Read moreRead less
Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction o ....Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction of greenhouse emission.Read moreRead less
Manipulation of Nano-Scale Assembly, Structure and Interaction: New Drug Delivery Vehicles and Energy Storage Devices for Miniaturised Portable Electronic Products. Nano-scale molecular and surface interactions will be manipulated to develop new nano-structured products. There will be two themes of research activity. In the first theme, newly discovered ionic liquids will be employed to better elucidate the role of hydrophobic interaction in molecular assembly processes. These findings wil ....Manipulation of Nano-Scale Assembly, Structure and Interaction: New Drug Delivery Vehicles and Energy Storage Devices for Miniaturised Portable Electronic Products. Nano-scale molecular and surface interactions will be manipulated to develop new nano-structured products. There will be two themes of research activity. In the first theme, newly discovered ionic liquids will be employed to better elucidate the role of hydrophobic interaction in molecular assembly processes. These findings will assist in the development of surfactant-drug conjugates that can self-assemble and can converge therapeutic, drug delivery and controlled release functions; allowing drugs to be administered in the therapeutic concentration range for prolonged periods of time with reduced side-effects. In the second theme, nano-materials will be used to converge capacitor and battery technologies to provide a dramatic performance boost to miniaturised portable electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Electrocatalytic Generation of Ammonia from Air and Water. The aim is to directly convert nitrogen under mild conditions, using renewable power, to form ammonia for fertilisers and fuels, enabled by new, nanostructured, electrocatalysts based on single-sheet and composite materials. Unlike nitrogen fixation using a three-electrode system, the project will use a novel mixed gas- and liquid-phase electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction two-electrode reactor. Based on fuel cells, it is designed to acce ....Electrocatalytic Generation of Ammonia from Air and Water. The aim is to directly convert nitrogen under mild conditions, using renewable power, to form ammonia for fertilisers and fuels, enabled by new, nanostructured, electrocatalysts based on single-sheet and composite materials. Unlike nitrogen fixation using a three-electrode system, the project will use a novel mixed gas- and liquid-phase electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction two-electrode reactor. Based on fuel cells, it is designed to accelerate the naturally sluggish nitrogen reduction reaction, NRR, significantly improving the reaction rate and selectivity. The project will also gain atomic-level understanding of the mechanism of NRR, based on in-situ spectroscopies used under operando conditions, e.g., Raman or X-ray absorption.Read moreRead less
The role of water uptake in novel all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. This research will enable the development of robust all solid-state polymeric ion sensors based on unplasticized copolymers. Significantly, the physical and chemical robustness of these copolymer ion sensors will allow their widespread use in new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., in-situ analysis of environmental samples in submersible instruments, clinical analysis of whole blood, in-vivo use of miniaturized ele ....The role of water uptake in novel all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. This research will enable the development of robust all solid-state polymeric ion sensors based on unplasticized copolymers. Significantly, the physical and chemical robustness of these copolymer ion sensors will allow their widespread use in new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., in-situ analysis of environmental samples in submersible instruments, clinical analysis of whole blood, in-vivo use of miniaturized electrodes in biological media, especially single cells and minute samples in biology and forensic science, etc. Extensive use of neutron characterization techniques aligns strongly this project with the new OPAL reactor to be commissioned in 2007.Read moreRead less
Probing the internal contacts of all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. The results of this research will enable the development of robust and reliable all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. These sensors will enable solutions to significant environmental problems such as soil salinity and acidity, and may pave the way for new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., miniaturized implantable sensors for in-vivo use, microfluidics and Forensic Science, single blood droplet clinical analyzers, ....Probing the internal contacts of all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. The results of this research will enable the development of robust and reliable all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. These sensors will enable solutions to significant environmental problems such as soil salinity and acidity, and may pave the way for new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., miniaturized implantable sensors for in-vivo use, microfluidics and Forensic Science, single blood droplet clinical analyzers, rugged solid contact ion sensors for use in submersible oceanographic analyzers, etc. The research will develop a unique in-situ neutron reflectometry technique for the study of electrochemical interfaces, providing scientific opportunities for the new Australian Replacement Research Reactor.Read moreRead less
Probing the interfaces of electrochemical sensors. The nanostructured surfaces of electrochemical sensors for iron, mercury and cadmium will be characterised by using a range of state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques. Whilst electrochemical sensors are extremely valuable in monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic environment, a knowledge of the surface chemical physics of the systems is vital in order to widen their use in analytical/environmental chemistry. This project will derive a u ....Probing the interfaces of electrochemical sensors. The nanostructured surfaces of electrochemical sensors for iron, mercury and cadmium will be characterised by using a range of state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques. Whilst electrochemical sensors are extremely valuable in monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic environment, a knowledge of the surface chemical physics of the systems is vital in order to widen their use in analytical/environmental chemistry. This project will derive a universal model for the surface chemistry and physics of electrochemical sensors, enabling environmental scientists to develop unique sensor methods for studying the speciation of environmentally important trace metals such as those mentioned above.Read moreRead less
Overcoming the Barriers in the Development of Solid State Materials. A major impact of this proposal shall be in terms of researcher training. By synergistically combining materials chemistry, fundamental physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and electrochemistry, this basic program will provide high level training to a new generation of Australian and Irish scientists thus helping to safeguard the economic competitiveness of the countries. Beyond the impact of the fundamental insight into t ....Overcoming the Barriers in the Development of Solid State Materials. A major impact of this proposal shall be in terms of researcher training. By synergistically combining materials chemistry, fundamental physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and electrochemistry, this basic program will provide high level training to a new generation of Australian and Irish scientists thus helping to safeguard the economic competitiveness of the countries. Beyond the impact of the fundamental insight into the rational design, structure and behaviour of a new class of solid materials, success in this program will have widespread applications for a variety of strategically important industries and should place Australia and Ireland at the forefront of this technologyRead moreRead less
Ionic Liquids and Solids - New Designs, Insights and Applications. Ionic Materials in the form of liquid salts and plastic crystals are of interest in a wide range of applications including environmentally benign synthesis of chemicals and high stability electrolytes for batteries, capacitors and other devices. These materials represent some of the most stable chemicals known, making them attractive for any application where complete stability and recycling are issues. Building on our recent wor ....Ionic Liquids and Solids - New Designs, Insights and Applications. Ionic Materials in the form of liquid salts and plastic crystals are of interest in a wide range of applications including environmentally benign synthesis of chemicals and high stability electrolytes for batteries, capacitors and other devices. These materials represent some of the most stable chemicals known, making them attractive for any application where complete stability and recycling are issues. Building on our recent work, this project will design, prepare and characterize novel materials of this type for a number of target applications. Collaborators in Europe and USA will be involved in the analysis and testing of the materials.Read moreRead less