Energy transforming polymers: from single molecules to devices. Climate control and the rapidly increasing demand for energy is driving the search for alternative sustainable energy sources. Flexible plastics will be a primary component of the new generation of solar harvesting and energy conversion materials. The objective of this project is to gain an understanding of the way polymers interact with light and can convert absorbed solar energy into electrical power and other useful forms of ene ....Energy transforming polymers: from single molecules to devices. Climate control and the rapidly increasing demand for energy is driving the search for alternative sustainable energy sources. Flexible plastics will be a primary component of the new generation of solar harvesting and energy conversion materials. The objective of this project is to gain an understanding of the way polymers interact with light and can convert absorbed solar energy into electrical power and other useful forms of energy. The outcomes of the project will allow the improved design of plastics for applications in solar energy conversion.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured materials for development of advanced lithium energy storage systems. This project is expected to bring several national benefits. Novel nanostructured electro-active materials and high energy density rechargeable lithium batteries will be developed. The application of advanced lithium batteries as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) will realise nearly zero emission transportation. The widespread usage of EVs and HEVs could significantly ....Nanostructured materials for development of advanced lithium energy storage systems. This project is expected to bring several national benefits. Novel nanostructured electro-active materials and high energy density rechargeable lithium batteries will be developed. The application of advanced lithium batteries as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) will realise nearly zero emission transportation. The widespread usage of EVs and HEVs could significantly reduce air pollution, improve urban environment and increase national energy security and energy independence.Read moreRead less
Supercritical Highly-Integrated and Modular, Continuous Solid-Catalysed Biodiesel Production from Plant and Animal Feedstocks. We propose to revolutionise biodiesel production by creating a new reactor type and associated process that allows the production of 160,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year in a supercritical reactor volume of one cubic metre after scale-up. In this project, we propose to design the appropriate catalysts and pilot plant to study our ideas which should lead to a highly effici ....Supercritical Highly-Integrated and Modular, Continuous Solid-Catalysed Biodiesel Production from Plant and Animal Feedstocks. We propose to revolutionise biodiesel production by creating a new reactor type and associated process that allows the production of 160,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year in a supercritical reactor volume of one cubic metre after scale-up. In this project, we propose to design the appropriate catalysts and pilot plant to study our ideas which should lead to a highly efficient and sustainable system that offers a real alternative to current mineral oil-based technologies.Read moreRead less
Dual Geothermal System for Fresh Water Production and Power Generation. The dual geothermal system for fresh water production and power generation developed in this project will use relatively low-temperature geothermal resources and assist in supplying domestic fresh water as well as electricity to small communities remote from the main electricity grid without any associated greenhouse gas emissions. The technology developed will provide an opportunity for industry development, employment crea ....Dual Geothermal System for Fresh Water Production and Power Generation. The dual geothermal system for fresh water production and power generation developed in this project will use relatively low-temperature geothermal resources and assist in supplying domestic fresh water as well as electricity to small communities remote from the main electricity grid without any associated greenhouse gas emissions. The technology developed will provide an opportunity for industry development, employment creation and export potential through commercial manufacture in Australia of small to medium scale dual geothermal systems (e.g., 0.1 MW, 75000 litres fresh water per day).Read moreRead less
Development and Modellling of Advanced Coagulation and Oxidation Processes. The success of this program will help place Australia at the forefront of water quality control and management research. It will address concerns with managing and treating waters of changing characteristics due to climate change. In addition to the socio benefits, project success will also impart economic benefits to the nation through (i) fabricating new hybrid coagulants, that are versatile with enhanced performance ....Development and Modellling of Advanced Coagulation and Oxidation Processes. The success of this program will help place Australia at the forefront of water quality control and management research. It will address concerns with managing and treating waters of changing characteristics due to climate change. In addition to the socio benefits, project success will also impart economic benefits to the nation through (i) fabricating new hybrid coagulants, that are versatile with enhanced performance for removing NOM, and possess antimicrobial properties (ii) developing a new energy efficient photocatalysis technology.The proposed research will expand the knowledge base in this area and increase Australia’s international profile as a global leader in developing cutting-edge cost effective water resource technologies.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of silent discharge plasma systems through an effective high voltage power converter design match. The proposal seeks to develop important new technologies which will have an impact on our environment. Australia suffers from water resource scarcity and SDPSs represents an accepted solution for waste-water treatment. The project has significant implications for improving the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems. Improved operation of SDPSs will enab ....Improving the efficiency of silent discharge plasma systems through an effective high voltage power converter design match. The proposal seeks to develop important new technologies which will have an impact on our environment. Australia suffers from water resource scarcity and SDPSs represents an accepted solution for waste-water treatment. The project has significant implications for improving the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems. Improved operation of SDPSs will enable better filtering of vehicle exhaust emissions and through the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide which reduces green gas emission. This will improve the efficiency of ozoniser systems which has many benefits as ozone is one of the most useful and environmentally friendly oxidising agents.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454172
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,127.00
Summary
Facility for Analysis of Thermal Decomposition of Solid Materials at High Pressures. This submission aims to establish an integrated facility for studying the kinetics of solid and gas-solid reactions at elevated temperatures and high pressures; a piece of infrastructure that is urgently needed in Australia. The facility will consist of a high-pressure thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA) able to operate at up to 5 MPa, which will be coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) for identification and quan ....Facility for Analysis of Thermal Decomposition of Solid Materials at High Pressures. This submission aims to establish an integrated facility for studying the kinetics of solid and gas-solid reactions at elevated temperatures and high pressures; a piece of infrastructure that is urgently needed in Australia. The facility will consist of a high-pressure thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA) able to operate at up to 5 MPa, which will be coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) for identification and quantification of gaseous reaction products. The facility constitutes unique and significant national research infrastructure for the simultaneous acquisition of mass loss kinetic measurements together with characterisation and quantification of emission rates of gaseous fragments generated in the reaction. As a major outcome, the facility will provide a means for consistent investigation of kinetics of elemental reactions occurring in solids, or on solid surfaces during pyrolysis and gasification processes at high pressure.Read moreRead less
Developing an Essential Research Platform for the Molecular Engineering of Photosystem II. Sunlight reaching the earth is used by plants and algae to drive photosynthesis and to store chemical energy. Possibly the most fundamental contribution photosynthesis makes to earth is to generate gaseous oxygen, the result of solar driven water-splitting chemistry. However, the mechanism behind water-splitting is not exactly known. In this proposal we will construct a new model cyanobacteria host to stu ....Developing an Essential Research Platform for the Molecular Engineering of Photosystem II. Sunlight reaching the earth is used by plants and algae to drive photosynthesis and to store chemical energy. Possibly the most fundamental contribution photosynthesis makes to earth is to generate gaseous oxygen, the result of solar driven water-splitting chemistry. However, the mechanism behind water-splitting is not exactly known. In this proposal we will construct a new model cyanobacteria host to study water splitting. The host organism will be genetically modified to enable mechanistic questions of water oxidation to be tested and will provide new and pure forms of isolated protein. This model organism will provide team of international researchers with a remarkable tool new to study photosynthesis.Read moreRead less
Designing integrated photocatalytic systems for simultaneous clean energy generation and water remediation. The proposal addresses the core issues of energy and water, two highly critical resources in Australia as well as worldwide. Utilising our geographically-abundant solar energy and through designing novel photocatalytic systems, the proposed research provides an ultimately clean solution by efficiently harnessing and converting the solar energy to hydrogen while remediating wastewater. Give ....Designing integrated photocatalytic systems for simultaneous clean energy generation and water remediation. The proposal addresses the core issues of energy and water, two highly critical resources in Australia as well as worldwide. Utilising our geographically-abundant solar energy and through designing novel photocatalytic systems, the proposed research provides an ultimately clean solution by efficiently harnessing and converting the solar energy to hydrogen while remediating wastewater. Given the high intensity and consistent solar output in Australia, such technology provides an almost ideal and sustainable outcome in terms of clean energy and water supply. Success in this area will place Australian researchers at the forefront of practical and functional photocatalytic technologiesRead moreRead less
Bio-oil from woody biomass - a sustainable fuel for Australia. At present many alternative energy supply systems suffer from factors like high costs, inefficiency and in some cases inappropriate application of immature technology and so are unsustainable. To overcome these problems, this research proposes the development of an integrated biomass solution to energy supply as well as dry land salinity. By doing so a sustainable and cost effective industry can be developed. Furthermore, if such an ....Bio-oil from woody biomass - a sustainable fuel for Australia. At present many alternative energy supply systems suffer from factors like high costs, inefficiency and in some cases inappropriate application of immature technology and so are unsustainable. To overcome these problems, this research proposes the development of an integrated biomass solution to energy supply as well as dry land salinity. By doing so a sustainable and cost effective industry can be developed. Furthermore, if such an industry is based on advances in Australian research and development, exporting this to other countries with similar problems, will further enhance its economic and social benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less