CO2 Utilisation for Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel technology that can convert carbon dioxide into useful products while storing intermittent renewable energy as green stable chemical energy. The project plans to focus on the development of a robust cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide with optimum physical and chemical structure to achieve long-term stable performance. This technology would make a significant contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable e ....CO2 Utilisation for Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel technology that can convert carbon dioxide into useful products while storing intermittent renewable energy as green stable chemical energy. The project plans to focus on the development of a robust cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide with optimum physical and chemical structure to achieve long-term stable performance. This technology would make a significant contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable energy in our energy supply and reducing our carbon dioxide emissions.Read moreRead less
All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts for water treatment. The project aims to develop high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts by using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as building blocks for low-cost, highly-efficient pathogen inactivation and emerging pollutant degradation in stormwater treatment. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of photocatalyst design and Z-scheme photocatalytic system, and advance the application of photocatalytic oxidation in wate ....All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts for water treatment. The project aims to develop high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts by using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as building blocks for low-cost, highly-efficient pathogen inactivation and emerging pollutant degradation in stormwater treatment. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of photocatalyst design and Z-scheme photocatalytic system, and advance the application of photocatalytic oxidation in water treatment. The expected outcomes of the project include novel 2D Z-scheme photocatalysts and enhanced capacity in stormwater management.Read moreRead less
A defect mechanism for oxygen reduction reaction. This project aims to use defective carbon to replace expensive platinum as a catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. Defective carbons incorporating non-precious metals are better than platinum in terms of over-potential, current density and number of electron transfer. They reduce the overall fuel cell cost but their better stability and higher open voltage and power density promise huge commercial benefit. This project is ex ....A defect mechanism for oxygen reduction reaction. This project aims to use defective carbon to replace expensive platinum as a catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. Defective carbons incorporating non-precious metals are better than platinum in terms of over-potential, current density and number of electron transfer. They reduce the overall fuel cell cost but their better stability and higher open voltage and power density promise huge commercial benefit. This project is expected to be important for large-scale implementation of fuel cells.Read moreRead less
A New Photocatalytic System for Solar-to-Chemical Energy Conversion. The expected outcomes of this program are a new class of photocatalyst systems for converting waste products into valuable chemicals using solar energy. Using advanced materials and photocatalysis, the project aims to develop a new class of bi-functional photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems for application in waste brine treatment and valuable chemical generation. The key concept lies in the innovative design of layered semicondu ....A New Photocatalytic System for Solar-to-Chemical Energy Conversion. The expected outcomes of this program are a new class of photocatalyst systems for converting waste products into valuable chemicals using solar energy. Using advanced materials and photocatalysis, the project aims to develop a new class of bi-functional photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems for application in waste brine treatment and valuable chemical generation. The key concept lies in the innovative design of layered semiconductors as efficient and stable photocatalysts and their integration into PEC reaction systems for simultaneous solar hydrogen and valuable chemicals (eg bromine) generation from brine. The project aims to advance fundamental understanding of the photocatalytic water-splitting concept to other waste product splitting.Read moreRead less
Doped metal perovskites for electrocatalysis. This project aims to discover and design perovskite metal-oxide electrocatalyst materials and develop electrocatalytic methods for efficiently driving the oxygen evolution reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction. These are the two most crucial reactions in sustainable energy cycles involving water, hydrogen and oxygen. The project’s anticipated advances in electrocatalysis efficiency for these two reactions will benefit sustainable energy technolo ....Doped metal perovskites for electrocatalysis. This project aims to discover and design perovskite metal-oxide electrocatalyst materials and develop electrocatalytic methods for efficiently driving the oxygen evolution reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction. These are the two most crucial reactions in sustainable energy cycles involving water, hydrogen and oxygen. The project’s anticipated advances in electrocatalysis efficiency for these two reactions will benefit sustainable energy technologies such as fuel cells, metal air batteries and water splitting.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101618
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,000.00
Summary
Tailoring multifunctional single site catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion. This project aims to develop multifunctional single site catalysts and collaborative surface sites to complete multi-step reactions using carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to higher alcohols with enhanced selectivity for large-chain alcohols. CO2 is an abundant and renewable carbon source for use as a feedstock, and closing the carbon cycle in an energy efficient manner has the potential for significant environmental ....Tailoring multifunctional single site catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion. This project aims to develop multifunctional single site catalysts and collaborative surface sites to complete multi-step reactions using carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to higher alcohols with enhanced selectivity for large-chain alcohols. CO2 is an abundant and renewable carbon source for use as a feedstock, and closing the carbon cycle in an energy efficient manner has the potential for significant environmental benefits. The project is expected to advance the knowledge in rational design of new catalysts for CO2 conversion and understanding the catalyst structure-property induced reaction mechanism. This will result in an improved understanding of the reaction kinetics of utilising CO2 as a feedstock.Read moreRead less
Metal-support interactions: single atoms Vs nanoclusters. This project aims to fundamentally understand the catalytic mechanism at an atomic level through metal-metal and metal-metal/support interactions. The optimised configuration of active sites for a specific reaction is consequently identified, providing the design principles of novel catalysts. The precisely control of synthesis for such active sites and assembly of the target active sites into a catalyst will deliver a completely new meth ....Metal-support interactions: single atoms Vs nanoclusters. This project aims to fundamentally understand the catalytic mechanism at an atomic level through metal-metal and metal-metal/support interactions. The optimised configuration of active sites for a specific reaction is consequently identified, providing the design principles of novel catalysts. The precisely control of synthesis for such active sites and assembly of the target active sites into a catalyst will deliver a completely new methodology for catalyst development. The expected outcomes from this project include new science and knowledge of Chemistry, new design philosophy and strategies for catalysts, and the highly efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic reactions, benefiting Australian renewable energy research and industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100523
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,446.00
Summary
Tailoring efficient photo-thermal catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction. This project aims to develop a highly solar-efficient and environmentally-friendly approach to reducing greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels that will be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. New multifunctional catalysts will be constructed by combining various catalytic active centres and optical promoters, for optimising energy efficiency and reaction activity. ....Tailoring efficient photo-thermal catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction. This project aims to develop a highly solar-efficient and environmentally-friendly approach to reducing greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels that will be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. New multifunctional catalysts will be constructed by combining various catalytic active centres and optical promoters, for optimising energy efficiency and reaction activity. Such knowledge gained is essential for the success of the low-carbon industry and a more environmentally-friendly energy economy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100137
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,275.00
Summary
Integrated thin film facility for catalysis and energy materials research. This project aims to establish thin film fabrication with catalytic/gas sorption characterisation needed for energy research. This project will overcome current limitations in advanced energy materials design via wet chemical methods. It will enable materials synthesis and characterisation toward thermal/photo/electro-catalytic, hydrogen storage, and battery technologies. The facility is expected to drive fundamental conc ....Integrated thin film facility for catalysis and energy materials research. This project aims to establish thin film fabrication with catalytic/gas sorption characterisation needed for energy research. This project will overcome current limitations in advanced energy materials design via wet chemical methods. It will enable materials synthesis and characterisation toward thermal/photo/electro-catalytic, hydrogen storage, and battery technologies. The facility is expected to drive fundamental concepts, and enable combinatorial search and new thin film technology. It is anticipated that this facility will increase Australia’s international competitiveness in the development of advanced energy materials.Read moreRead less
Assembling multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by hybrid catalytic and photochemical approach. The overall aim of this project is to assemble multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by an integrated catalytic and photocatalytic approach. The issues of impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions have stimulated research for the sustainable utilisation of carbon dioxide. In situ spectros ....Assembling multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by hybrid catalytic and photochemical approach. The overall aim of this project is to assemble multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by an integrated catalytic and photocatalytic approach. The issues of impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions have stimulated research for the sustainable utilisation of carbon dioxide. In situ spectroscopic studies combined with theoretical calculations will be used to elucidate the underlying reaction mechanisms of the synergistic effects of photon and thermal reduction of carbon dioxide . The success of the proposed project will allow the reduction of carbon dioxide, generate a cheap energy source in the form of environmentally benign hydrocarbons and close the carbon loop. Read moreRead less