Robust Bulk Thermoelectric Technology for Harvesting Waste Energy. This project aims to develop robust thermoelectric technology to harvest waste energy from the use of fossil fuels by (i) establishing new strategies for enhancing thermoelectric properties, (ii) creating mass-production synthesis to reduce the materials cost, and (iii) exploring computation methods to guide the device assembly. Its focus is to improve the average thermoelectric performance, overcome the brittleness of materials, ....Robust Bulk Thermoelectric Technology for Harvesting Waste Energy. This project aims to develop robust thermoelectric technology to harvest waste energy from the use of fossil fuels by (i) establishing new strategies for enhancing thermoelectric properties, (ii) creating mass-production synthesis to reduce the materials cost, and (iii) exploring computation methods to guide the device assembly. Its focus is to improve the average thermoelectric performance, overcome the brittleness of materials, and ensure thermal stability. This project expects to generate new knowledge in manipulating transport properties. The intended outcome of affordable, robust, and functional thermoelectrics can be used for recovering waste heat, which will significantly benefit Australia’s economy, environment, and energy industry.Read moreRead less
Room Temperature High Energy Density Sodium-Sulfur Batteries. The project aims to boost room temperature sodium sulfur batteries (RT-NaSBs) with low cost and high energy density based on the insight understanding of “structure (atomic and electronic levels) - performance” relationship between sodium polysulfides, electrolytes, and electrocatalysts, which is a critical but rarely understood in developing a broader family of sulfur redox reaction electrocatalysts. The mechanisms discovered and ele ....Room Temperature High Energy Density Sodium-Sulfur Batteries. The project aims to boost room temperature sodium sulfur batteries (RT-NaSBs) with low cost and high energy density based on the insight understanding of “structure (atomic and electronic levels) - performance” relationship between sodium polysulfides, electrolytes, and electrocatalysts, which is a critical but rarely understood in developing a broader family of sulfur redox reaction electrocatalysts. The mechanisms discovered and electrocatalytic materials rationally designed in this project will advance knowledge in fundamental science and engineering to strengthen national research capacity. The anticipated goal of the project is bringing RT-NaSBs from lab to fab, elevating Australia’s standing in Advanced Manufacturing priority.
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Production of C1/C2 Commodity-Chemicals via Efficient Electrocatalysis. This project aims at sustainable and efficient production of methanol and ethylene glycol via development of revolutionary electrocatalytic processes that use renewables as energy input, water as oxidising agent and carbon dioxide-derived intermediates as feedstock. Outcomes include advanced knowledge of complex interface electrocatalysis and reaction-targeted catalysts with commercially relevant performance, achieved by com ....Production of C1/C2 Commodity-Chemicals via Efficient Electrocatalysis. This project aims at sustainable and efficient production of methanol and ethylene glycol via development of revolutionary electrocatalytic processes that use renewables as energy input, water as oxidising agent and carbon dioxide-derived intermediates as feedstock. Outcomes include advanced knowledge of complex interface electrocatalysis and reaction-targeted catalysts with commercially relevant performance, achieved by combination of theoretical computations, atomic-level material design, in-situ spectroscopy tests and interfacial engineering. It will significantly benefit renewable energy use, commodity-chemicals manufacturing, together with carbon-footprint reduction to make Australia and the world carbon-neutral and sustainable.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100519
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,287.00
Summary
Solving key issues in wearable thermoelectrics for practical applications. Wearable thermoelectrics can directly harvest electricity from body heat, offering a new technology to charge wearable electronics sustainably, but their unsatisfied performance and durability limit their applications. This project aims to design efficient and durable wearable thermoelectrics based on novel carbon/polymer/semiconductor (CPS) hybrid films. The key breakthrough is to develop advanced hybrid materials and de ....Solving key issues in wearable thermoelectrics for practical applications. Wearable thermoelectrics can directly harvest electricity from body heat, offering a new technology to charge wearable electronics sustainably, but their unsatisfied performance and durability limit their applications. This project aims to design efficient and durable wearable thermoelectrics based on novel carbon/polymer/semiconductor (CPS) hybrid films. The key breakthrough is to develop advanced hybrid materials and devices with record-high thermoelectric performance, high stability, and high durability to tackle long-lasting practical application issues. The expected outcomes will lead to innovative technology for energy conversion and advanced manufacturing and place Australia at the forefront of energy and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
New-generation flexible thermoelectrics for wearable electronics. This project aims to develop lightweight, flexible, and durable thermoelectric thin films for wearable electronics using a computation-guided approach, coupled with novel device design and materials nanoengineering strategies. The key breakthrough will overcome the stereotype of fragile thermoelectric materials and their low thermoelectric efficiency for achieving localised, instant, and controllable power generation and/or coolin ....New-generation flexible thermoelectrics for wearable electronics. This project aims to develop lightweight, flexible, and durable thermoelectric thin films for wearable electronics using a computation-guided approach, coupled with novel device design and materials nanoengineering strategies. The key breakthrough will overcome the stereotype of fragile thermoelectric materials and their low thermoelectric efficiency for achieving localised, instant, and controllable power generation and/or cooling with record-high performance in carefully designed wearable thermoelectric devices. Expected outcomes include new understanding of thermoelectrics and innovative technologies for achieving electronics/energy applications, which will provide significant economic and educational benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Solar rechargeable Zinc-Bromine Flow Batteries. This project aims to develop a new solar rechargeable Zinc-Bromine flow battery for better utilization of the abundant yet intermittently available sunlight. The key design is to create a solar-driven photoelectrochemical process to convert the discharged electrode materials back to their charged states and realise the direct storage of solar energy. Expected outcomes include new solar driven rechargeable technology and photoelectrode materials, as ....Solar rechargeable Zinc-Bromine Flow Batteries. This project aims to develop a new solar rechargeable Zinc-Bromine flow battery for better utilization of the abundant yet intermittently available sunlight. The key design is to create a solar-driven photoelectrochemical process to convert the discharged electrode materials back to their charged states and realise the direct storage of solar energy. Expected outcomes include new solar driven rechargeable technology and photoelectrode materials, as well as new knowledge generated from collaborations across materials science, photoelectrochemistry and nanotechnology disciplines. Further advances in functional materials for solar energy storage will assist in addressing the global energy shortage and mitigating environmental pollution.Read moreRead less
Rational Electrolyte Design and Engineering for Next-Generation Batteries. The fast-growing energy storage market demands new battery technologies with high energy density. Lithium (Li) metal batteries are an ideal solution, although instability of the Li metal/electrolyte interface remains a challenge. The project aims to drive key advancements in electrolyte engineering for Li metal batteries with long life and high safety. Advanced characterisation and computation will reveal the structure-pr ....Rational Electrolyte Design and Engineering for Next-Generation Batteries. The fast-growing energy storage market demands new battery technologies with high energy density. Lithium (Li) metal batteries are an ideal solution, although instability of the Li metal/electrolyte interface remains a challenge. The project aims to drive key advancements in electrolyte engineering for Li metal batteries with long life and high safety. Advanced characterisation and computation will reveal the structure-property relationship of electrolyte to build electrolyte design principles. This will contribute to ground-breaking knowledge, commercialisation, and boost Australia’s capability to design and manufacture next-generation energy storage devices for billion-dollar markets in smart grids, portable devices and electric vehicles.Read moreRead less
Photocatalysts for Converting Plastic Wastes into Hydrogen and Chemicals. The aim is to produce new fundamental science for sustainable production of hydrogen and value-added chemicals through a solar-driven photocatalytic approach using abundant plastic wastes and high-performance photocatalysts. A range of active, selective, robust and cheap photocatalysts will be developed for conversion processes at ambient temperatures and pressures, via an interdisciplinary approach combining atomic-level ....Photocatalysts for Converting Plastic Wastes into Hydrogen and Chemicals. The aim is to produce new fundamental science for sustainable production of hydrogen and value-added chemicals through a solar-driven photocatalytic approach using abundant plastic wastes and high-performance photocatalysts. A range of active, selective, robust and cheap photocatalysts will be developed for conversion processes at ambient temperatures and pressures, via an interdisciplinary approach combining atomic-level material design principles, in situ/ex situ characterisations and theoretical computations. Expected outcomes will be of high impact for solar energy use, and fuels/chemicals generation. Environmental impact will derive from consuming abundant plastic wastes; helping mitigate plastic contamination of global concern.Read moreRead less
Giant magnetic-thermoelectricity in topological materials . This project aims to explore magnetic field-induced exotic thermoelectricity in emerging topological materials and develop novel magnetic-field-mediated heat-to-electricity generators and coolers. The significance and outcomes of this project will be the discovery of new magnetic topological materials with thermoelectric conversion efficiency superior to traditional thermoelectric materials and unlocking the physics of the exotic magnet ....Giant magnetic-thermoelectricity in topological materials . This project aims to explore magnetic field-induced exotic thermoelectricity in emerging topological materials and develop novel magnetic-field-mediated heat-to-electricity generators and coolers. The significance and outcomes of this project will be the discovery of new magnetic topological materials with thermoelectric conversion efficiency superior to traditional thermoelectric materials and unlocking the physics of the exotic magnetic-field-correlated thermoelectric phenomena. The outcomes of this project will offer new avenues for novel applications of quantum topological materials and establish a solid foundation for the next generation of thermoelectric devices for various applications.Read moreRead less
Seawater Electrolysis for Hydrogen and Commodity Chemicals Production. This project aims at sustainable production of hydrogen and chlorine-containing chemicals via development of revolutionary electrocatalysis that uses abundant seawater to replace scarce freshwater as feedstock. Fundamental science will be developed for addressing the knowledge gap between well-developed purified water electrolysis and emerging saline surface water electrolysis. Outcomes will include new knowledge of complex r ....Seawater Electrolysis for Hydrogen and Commodity Chemicals Production. This project aims at sustainable production of hydrogen and chlorine-containing chemicals via development of revolutionary electrocatalysis that uses abundant seawater to replace scarce freshwater as feedstock. Fundamental science will be developed for addressing the knowledge gap between well-developed purified water electrolysis and emerging saline surface water electrolysis. Outcomes will include new knowledge of complex reaction mechanism(s), new electrode materials design, and relative device development for seawater electrolysis. This project will significantly benefit renewable energy use and commodity-chemicals manufacturing, together with reducing pressure on Australia's freshwater scarcity. Read moreRead less