New Nanoscale Up-converting Photoluminescent Materials for Passive Safety Visual Systems. The demand for safety and security products is growing as the importance of providing an environment safer from natural, accidental or man-made threats increases in the community. Life safety applications in buildings and work environments as well as trains and planes for example are dependent upon the ability for non-powered passive systems to give efficient visual guidance in dangerous dark and smoke fill ....New Nanoscale Up-converting Photoluminescent Materials for Passive Safety Visual Systems. The demand for safety and security products is growing as the importance of providing an environment safer from natural, accidental or man-made threats increases in the community. Life safety applications in buildings and work environments as well as trains and planes for example are dependent upon the ability for non-powered passive systems to give efficient visual guidance in dangerous dark and smoke filled environments. This project will provide a practical demonstration of the successful implementation of nanotechnology to smaller Australian companies where it will overcome significant drawbacks in current manufacturing and yield new products which are activated in darkness by infrared radiation.Read moreRead less
Understanding nanostructure in lead-containing piezoceramics - the key to improved and environmentally-friendly materials. Lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics form the basis of multi-billion dollar industries, posing an increasingly serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of lead. By obtaining a detailed understanding of how their properties arise from their nanoscale structure and chemistry, our research will lead to improvements in existing materials and aid the quest for environme ....Understanding nanostructure in lead-containing piezoceramics - the key to improved and environmentally-friendly materials. Lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics form the basis of multi-billion dollar industries, posing an increasingly serious environmental threat due to the toxicity of lead. By obtaining a detailed understanding of how their properties arise from their nanoscale structure and chemistry, our research will lead to improvements in existing materials and aid the quest for environmentally-friendly alternatives. We will use a methodology for the elucidation of local structure and dynamics in which we are world leaders. The project will further enhance our standing in the field, provide excellent research training for students and early-career researchers and highlight the power and potential of Australia's new Synchrotron and OPAL research reactor.Read moreRead less
Magnetic liquid marbles: a new droplet manipulation technique for channel-free microfluidics. The project will explore the feasibility of developing a new droplet-manipulation strategy by using magnetically responsive liquid marbles capable of hosting various liquid droplets. It will significantly advance the development of a new generation of microfluidic devices: magnetic field-actuated channel-free droplet microfluidics.
Novel lithium iron based olivine phosphates as cathode materials for the development of new generation power batteries. Global warming and climate change are a serious threat to our society today. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using renewable energy for sustainable development. Battery technology is regarded as one of the green technologies that can be widely used to power vehicles and store energy. This project will develop new generation lithium-ion power batteries using novel lit ....Novel lithium iron based olivine phosphates as cathode materials for the development of new generation power batteries. Global warming and climate change are a serious threat to our society today. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using renewable energy for sustainable development. Battery technology is regarded as one of the green technologies that can be widely used to power vehicles and store energy. This project will develop new generation lithium-ion power batteries using novel lithium iron based phosphate cathode materials. The success of the research will provide advanced rechargeable batteries for electric bicycles, electric motorcycles and hybrid electric vehicles, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Read moreRead less
Exploration of new catalyst materials for hydrogen/air fed proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Fuel cell technology is the most critical technology for the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen/air fed fuel cells can provide pollution-free power sources for vehicles and distributed power generation. A breakthrough in fuel cell technology using hydrogen as fuel will supply us with clean and sustainable energy sources, dramatically improve our environment, and maintain national energy security. The success ....Exploration of new catalyst materials for hydrogen/air fed proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Fuel cell technology is the most critical technology for the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen/air fed fuel cells can provide pollution-free power sources for vehicles and distributed power generation. A breakthrough in fuel cell technology using hydrogen as fuel will supply us with clean and sustainable energy sources, dramatically improve our environment, and maintain national energy security. The success of fuel cell technology will also significantly reduce our dependence on oil. This research project is expected to establish local expertise, and scientific and industrial know-how on fuel-cell technology.Read moreRead less
Low cost solution-processable 2D nanomaterials for smart windows. This project aims to develop low cost and scalable synthesis of the active functional nanomaterials in smart windows, their facile application techniques, and their integration into the glass manufacturing process. Smart windows, with thermochromic and electrochromic functionalities, will play important roles towards efficient energy usage and conservation (in terms of air-conditioning and lighting) in most buildings including off ....Low cost solution-processable 2D nanomaterials for smart windows. This project aims to develop low cost and scalable synthesis of the active functional nanomaterials in smart windows, their facile application techniques, and their integration into the glass manufacturing process. Smart windows, with thermochromic and electrochromic functionalities, will play important roles towards efficient energy usage and conservation (in terms of air-conditioning and lighting) in most buildings including offices, schools, and residential homes. . The intended outcome of this project is to facilitate the commercialisation of low-cost, energy-saving smart windows for efficient energy usage and conservation, which is an integral part of a sustainable environment.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and processing of fine powders and nano-materials by electric discharge assisted milling under hot and cold plasmas. The discovery of a new materials synthesis and processing technique, called Electric Discharge Assisted Ball Milling, has generated great interest within the materials science community. Preliminary results, recently published in Nature, have demonstrated that mechanical milling using both hot and cold plasmas can result in extremely rapid synthesis of a wide range of ma ....Synthesis and processing of fine powders and nano-materials by electric discharge assisted milling under hot and cold plasmas. The discovery of a new materials synthesis and processing technique, called Electric Discharge Assisted Ball Milling, has generated great interest within the materials science community. Preliminary results, recently published in Nature, have demonstrated that mechanical milling using both hot and cold plasmas can result in extremely rapid synthesis of a wide range of materials. The fundamental mechanisms for this rapid mechano-synthesis method will be elucidated by detailed studies of a range of technologically important materials including, ultrafine, nanostructural and nanosized powders, carbides, nitrides and borides, and energy efficient high surface area products for hydrogen storage and electrode applications.Read moreRead less
Bio-inspired electro catalysts for gas reduction reactions: towards electrochemical ammonia production under ambient conditions. This project will develop solutions to replace the current energy inefficient method for ammonia production, which are a significant contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions. A more energy efficient system will be developed from a new class of composite gas-reduction catalysts integrated into functional electrochemical cells.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Novel anodic coating of magnesium alloy components for corrosion protection. This research aims to protect magnesium alloys from corrosion, paving a path for them to be used as auto and aircraft components. It will establish novel protective anodic coatings upon magnesium and thereby pioneer implementation of magnesium alloys more generally, as galvanising did for steels.
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