Advanced adsorbents for gas separations. Efficient purification of natural gas and separation of similarly-sized molecules in gas mixtures is increasingly important in our drive to develop a more sustainable way of living in an energy-constrained world. This project will develop a new class of adsorbents to deliver a level of separation efficiency much higher than that currently in use.
Efficient ionic liquid-based reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. This project aims to develop a hybrid ionic liquid-nanostructured electrode platform to electrochemically convert nitrogen gas to ammonia. Ammonia production, mostly for fertilisers, consumes more than 1% of the global energy supply and contributes 1.6 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. A process that could convert nitrogen to ammonia using renewable energy would be an important alternative approach. This project will develop a pl ....Efficient ionic liquid-based reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. This project aims to develop a hybrid ionic liquid-nanostructured electrode platform to electrochemically convert nitrogen gas to ammonia. Ammonia production, mostly for fertilisers, consumes more than 1% of the global energy supply and contributes 1.6 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. A process that could convert nitrogen to ammonia using renewable energy would be an important alternative approach. This project will develop a platform for electrochemical conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia and optimise it for use with surplus renewable energy supplies. The project is expected to contribute to mitigation of greenhouse emissions and create a technology for distributed production of ammonia and ammonium fertilisers.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101562
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Gas diffusion electrodes for conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels. This project aims to address the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the limited nature of fossil fuel reserves, by accelerating the development of technologies capable of producing liquid fuels from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced materials for renewable energy applications. It will use an innovative experimental material optimisa ....Gas diffusion electrodes for conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels. This project aims to address the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the limited nature of fossil fuel reserves, by accelerating the development of technologies capable of producing liquid fuels from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced materials for renewable energy applications. It will use an innovative experimental material optimisation approach, coupled to mathematical modelling techniques. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to develop electrochemical devices that transform carbon dioxide into liquid alcohol fuels, which could reduce the carbon footprint of transport activities without the need for further extensive infrastructure. Technologies to convert carbon dioxide into a valuable product will provide an economic incentive to reduce emissions, and will increase the commercial value of carbon capture systems currently under development in Australia.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL120100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,879,582.00
Summary
Protonic materials for green chemical futures. By emulating the structures that nature has evolved this project will create novel materials that will be used to develop new sustainable chemical technologies. Working with local and international collaborators, outcomes will include new approaches to the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals and for renewable energy generation and storage.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
High performance analytical tools to strengthen clean energy research. High performance analytical tools are vital to the success of emerging research fields of national priority. By filling a gap in materials routine characterisation capabilities, the equipment requested will lead to major advances in fundamental and applied research aimed at carbon abatement and clean energy technologies. This includes technologies for clean energy generation by solar means and from decarbonised fossil fuels, ....High performance analytical tools to strengthen clean energy research. High performance analytical tools are vital to the success of emerging research fields of national priority. By filling a gap in materials routine characterisation capabilities, the equipment requested will lead to major advances in fundamental and applied research aimed at carbon abatement and clean energy technologies. This includes technologies for clean energy generation by solar means and from decarbonised fossil fuels, efficient energy storage systems, advanced fuel cells for electricity generation, and hydrogen as the universal energy vector. Advancement of these technologies will bring solutions to the grand challenges facing Australia and in turn benefit industry and society.
Read moreRead less
High-productivity ammonia electrosynthesis. The aim of this project is to develop and demonstrate high-performance devices for ammonia production from renewables by a scalable electrolysis method. This will be achieved by experimental and modelling investigations of the nitrogen reduction reaction to guide the design of tailor-made cathodes. New knowledge in catalysis and materials science is expected to be generated. The target outcome of the project is a sustainable and affordable ammonia synt ....High-productivity ammonia electrosynthesis. The aim of this project is to develop and demonstrate high-performance devices for ammonia production from renewables by a scalable electrolysis method. This will be achieved by experimental and modelling investigations of the nitrogen reduction reaction to guide the design of tailor-made cathodes. New knowledge in catalysis and materials science is expected to be generated. The target outcome of the project is a sustainable and affordable ammonia synthesis method as an alternative to the current fossil-fuels-based and excessively greenhouse-emitting process. The technology to be developed in this project is anticipated to be of significant benefit to the Australian agriculture sector as a local, on-demand source of low-cost fertilisers.Read moreRead less
Phase Change Materials for Wind and Solar Energy Storage. This project aims to develop and demonstrate new phase change materials to advance the technology of thermal energy storage. The project will focus on new materials that store thermal energy in the temperature range between 100 - 220°C that is optimal for distributed storage of solar and wind energy. The utility and economics of renewable energy sources are strongly limited by their intermittent nature and inexpensive means of storage are ....Phase Change Materials for Wind and Solar Energy Storage. This project aims to develop and demonstrate new phase change materials to advance the technology of thermal energy storage. The project will focus on new materials that store thermal energy in the temperature range between 100 - 220°C that is optimal for distributed storage of solar and wind energy. The utility and economics of renewable energy sources are strongly limited by their intermittent nature and inexpensive means of storage are urgently required. Expected outcomes of this project include a practical technology, which can be implemented at household and industry level, providing cheap energy from zero-carbon sources. The project aims to provide significant benefits to energy users and support further development of renewables.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
Small molecule X-ray molecular structure elucidation facility. X-ray diffraction plays a key role in identification and molecular characterisation. X-ray techniques are the single most widely used analytical resource in structure determination and provide invaluable information for scientists working in the fields of synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and protein chemistry, amongst many others. The facility brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and provides state-of-t ....Small molecule X-ray molecular structure elucidation facility. X-ray diffraction plays a key role in identification and molecular characterisation. X-ray techniques are the single most widely used analytical resource in structure determination and provide invaluable information for scientists working in the fields of synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and protein chemistry, amongst many others. The facility brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and provides state-of-the-art research and training facilities for these techniques.Read moreRead less
Smart materials from semi-soft particles. This project will combine precision polymer chemistry to material science to develop structured nanoparticles for applications in photonics and shape memory materials.
Designing disorder into ionic materials for clean energy applications. . This project aims to develop new materials designed to possess optimum properties for targeted clean energy technologies. By the design of specific ion chemistries, we aim to produce materials that absorb large amounts of thermal energy, as needed in energy storage and refrigeration applications. Their large internal free volume will offer unique properties for energy-consuming gas separation applications. Expected outcomes ....Designing disorder into ionic materials for clean energy applications. . This project aims to develop new materials designed to possess optimum properties for targeted clean energy technologies. By the design of specific ion chemistries, we aim to produce materials that absorb large amounts of thermal energy, as needed in energy storage and refrigeration applications. Their large internal free volume will offer unique properties for energy-consuming gas separation applications. Expected outcomes from the project include (i) fundamental understanding of ion design, (ii) a suite of new materials with advantageous properties for energy application. The expected benefits include advancement of technologies that support renewable energy storage and a reduction in energy costs and harmful emissions from refrigeration.Read moreRead less