Nanostructured Carbon Electrodes. The development of higher capacity energy storage devices is critical to the efficient use of energy. The fundamental knowledge gained in this project will enable the production of the next generation advanced electrode materials for this purpose and hence provide many new commercial opportunities for Australian industry. The project brings together world leaders in their own fields to address a highly multidisciplinary area of research and will provide an excel ....Nanostructured Carbon Electrodes. The development of higher capacity energy storage devices is critical to the efficient use of energy. The fundamental knowledge gained in this project will enable the production of the next generation advanced electrode materials for this purpose and hence provide many new commercial opportunities for Australian industry. The project brings together world leaders in their own fields to address a highly multidisciplinary area of research and will provide an excellent training for PhD students and post doctoral Research Fellows, enabling them to work in and contribute to the development of new nanotechnology industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Novel 3D Carbon Architectures for Fuel Cell Applications. The implementation of clean energy technologies has clear economic, environmental and social benefits for Australia, its industries and population. This project has the potential to make a significant impact on fuel cell research as an alternative means of energy production. We aim to remove some of the technical and economic barriers through product and process innovation at the nanoscale. Building on a strong track record in advanced ma ....Novel 3D Carbon Architectures for Fuel Cell Applications. The implementation of clean energy technologies has clear economic, environmental and social benefits for Australia, its industries and population. This project has the potential to make a significant impact on fuel cell research as an alternative means of energy production. We aim to remove some of the technical and economic barriers through product and process innovation at the nanoscale. Building on a strong track record in advanced materials research, this project investigates the integration of novel carbon nanostructures with extraordinary properties to produce high performance electrodes, that should lead to significant improvement in fuel cell performance.Read moreRead less
Energy Dissipation and Nanoscale Processes at Moving Contact Lines. The dynamic process of liquids wetting and dewetting, as moving contact lines pass over solid surfaces is central to many industrial operations and natural phenomena. Contact line motion plays a key role in micro and nanofluidics, the foundation of an emergent technology called process intensification, where large industrial processes can be reduced to Lilliputian in size. Substantial energy reduction and other benefits are exp ....Energy Dissipation and Nanoscale Processes at Moving Contact Lines. The dynamic process of liquids wetting and dewetting, as moving contact lines pass over solid surfaces is central to many industrial operations and natural phenomena. Contact line motion plays a key role in micro and nanofluidics, the foundation of an emergent technology called process intensification, where large industrial processes can be reduced to Lilliputian in size. Substantial energy reduction and other benefits are expected from this project, including the transformation of coarse particle flotation. Young PhD scientists and engineers will be educated in a rich research environment, with strong international research collaboration in areas of national priority.Read moreRead less
Development of Carbon Nanotube Nanothermometers and Their Application for Temperature Measurement in the Catalytic Layers of Fuel Cells. The project encompasses cutting-edge work in nanotechnology and advanced materials, covering aspects of carbon nanotubes and their applications, along with fuel cell technology. It will provide unique insights into the phenomena of the nanoworld, including manipulation of nanotubes, and nanoscale oxidation behaviour and temperature measurement. The scientific a ....Development of Carbon Nanotube Nanothermometers and Their Application for Temperature Measurement in the Catalytic Layers of Fuel Cells. The project encompasses cutting-edge work in nanotechnology and advanced materials, covering aspects of carbon nanotubes and their applications, along with fuel cell technology. It will provide unique insights into the phenomena of the nanoworld, including manipulation of nanotubes, and nanoscale oxidation behaviour and temperature measurement. The scientific and engineering understanding acquired through this project is vital for solving the problems that limit the wide application of fuel cells. Ultimately, full commercialisation of fuel cells will provide significant environmental benefits by increasing the use of renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of Unique Mesoporous Graphitic Carbons and their Application to Fundamental Problems in Adsorption Science. The development of synthesis techniques to create porous graphitic carbons with highly ordered pore structures, easily accessible pore volume and good electrical conductivity can underpin technological advancements in many industrial applications such as energy storage, removal of pollutants from exhaust streams, direct-methanol fuel cells and lithium ion batteries. Techniques de ....Synthesis of Unique Mesoporous Graphitic Carbons and their Application to Fundamental Problems in Adsorption Science. The development of synthesis techniques to create porous graphitic carbons with highly ordered pore structures, easily accessible pore volume and good electrical conductivity can underpin technological advancements in many industrial applications such as energy storage, removal of pollutants from exhaust streams, direct-methanol fuel cells and lithium ion batteries. Techniques developed in this project are also applicable to creating other materials important to advanced sensors and optoelectronics. The fundamental study of water adsorption and hysteresis using these carbons will help us create better models for adsorption. This will underpin theoretical studies, characterisation and optimisation of carbon materials into the future. Read moreRead less
Burning Plasmas: resolving energetic particle physics for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Fusion power is a zero greenhouse gas emitting technology, which if realised, offers millions of years of base-load electricity. This promise has prompted the international community to accelerate fusion energy development, principally via support of the next-step technology-enabling experiment, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Our project addresses a gr ....Burning Plasmas: resolving energetic particle physics for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Fusion power is a zero greenhouse gas emitting technology, which if realised, offers millions of years of base-load electricity. This promise has prompted the international community to accelerate fusion energy development, principally via support of the next-step technology-enabling experiment, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Our project addresses a grand science challenge facing ITER and fusion power: can the products of reaction be kept confined and therefore self-heat the plasma? The answer will affect both the ITER program, and the viability of fusion power. This project provides a low-cost high-impact contribution to the science base for the $16 billion ITER project, whilst growing Australian capability in this strategically important technology.Read moreRead less
Improvement of critical current density in MgB2 wires and tapes and Y-Ba-Cu-O coated conductors. The technology of superconducting wires and tapes has emerged as one of the most important basic engineering technologies, which can create technical innovation and improvement in the quality of life in the fields of electric power, energy, machinery, transportation and the environment in the 21st century. The aim of the proposed program is to develop magnesium diboride superconductor and YBCO coated ....Improvement of critical current density in MgB2 wires and tapes and Y-Ba-Cu-O coated conductors. The technology of superconducting wires and tapes has emerged as one of the most important basic engineering technologies, which can create technical innovation and improvement in the quality of life in the fields of electric power, energy, machinery, transportation and the environment in the 21st century. The aim of the proposed program is to develop magnesium diboride superconductor and YBCO coated conductors by using novel nano-precursor powders. Superconducting tapes doped with nano-sized powders are expected to show enhancement in flux pinning properties. The expected outcome is the capability to produce a new generation of superconductors having high performance at low cost.Read moreRead less