Engineered redox polymers for catalytic water purification. This project aims to develop a novel family of chemically and structurally controlled redox polymer as metal-free catalysts for wastewater micropollutant treatment. Innovations lie in the synthesis of high-performance and nanostructured carbon-based materials, multiscale modeling, and in situ characterizations for understanding structure-property relationship in carbon catalysis. Expected outcomes will deliver innovations in functional ....Engineered redox polymers for catalytic water purification. This project aims to develop a novel family of chemically and structurally controlled redox polymer as metal-free catalysts for wastewater micropollutant treatment. Innovations lie in the synthesis of high-performance and nanostructured carbon-based materials, multiscale modeling, and in situ characterizations for understanding structure-property relationship in carbon catalysis. Expected outcomes will deliver innovations in functional materials, mechanism, catalytic engineering, and sustainable separation processes. This project will provide significant benefits in renovating smart nanomaterials in advanced manufacturing and clean environmental technologies, promoting Australia’s economic development and environment protection.Read moreRead less
Engineered topological nanostructures – a new frontier in materials design. The aim of engineering and utilising topological defects such as domain walls and and skyrmions in functional materials is currently receiving tremendous attention. Their significance lies in a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics. One frontier area of research is negative capacitance nanoelectronics using such materials, carrying the prospect ....Engineered topological nanostructures – a new frontier in materials design. The aim of engineering and utilising topological defects such as domain walls and and skyrmions in functional materials is currently receiving tremendous attention. Their significance lies in a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics. One frontier area of research is negative capacitance nanoelectronics using such materials, carrying the prospect of revolutionizing ultralow energy electronics, which will be developed here. The project's expected outcomes are new concepts for the synthesis and design of topological nanostructures for such applications. The utilization of these materials will benefit efficient controllable functionality for future nanoelectronics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100159
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,847.00
Summary
Developing Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Batteries for Safe Energy Storage. To overcome safety issues intrinsic to the prevalent solid metal anodes in battery technology, this project aims to develop room-temperature liquid metal batteries by employing liquid Sodium-Potassium alloy. Innovations will span the development of the electrode concept, interface-oriented electrolyte design guided by theory and experiment, and prototype battery cell examples to illustrate how high round-trip efficiencie ....Developing Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Batteries for Safe Energy Storage. To overcome safety issues intrinsic to the prevalent solid metal anodes in battery technology, this project aims to develop room-temperature liquid metal batteries by employing liquid Sodium-Potassium alloy. Innovations will span the development of the electrode concept, interface-oriented electrolyte design guided by theory and experiment, and prototype battery cell examples to illustrate how high round-trip efficiencies at fast charging can be achieved over a prolonged time. The anticipated outcomes would transform battery technology concepts while providing a critical scientific basis for commercialisation. Further, the success of this project would help Australia realise its shift from traditional to emerging sustainable energy systems.Read moreRead less
Programmable Ferroelectric Nanoelectronics for In-memory Computing. The project aims to explore and develop the next-generation ferroelectric memory addressing the energy and speed issues of computers. Modern digital computers are notoriously energy consuming and slow, especially, when performing data-intensive tasks, e.g. identifying images and making decisions. This gap will be bridged by advancing novel ferroelectric quantum memory concepts and prototypes. Expected outcomes include new memory ....Programmable Ferroelectric Nanoelectronics for In-memory Computing. The project aims to explore and develop the next-generation ferroelectric memory addressing the energy and speed issues of computers. Modern digital computers are notoriously energy consuming and slow, especially, when performing data-intensive tasks, e.g. identifying images and making decisions. This gap will be bridged by advancing novel ferroelectric quantum memory concepts and prototypes. Expected outcomes include new memory design, material principles and ferroelectric devices capable of not only storing huge amounts of data but also instant fast processing and brain like learning. Project benefits include high performance hardware solutions for Artificial Intelligence and Big data boosting Australian quantum technology and industries.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100846
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,237.00
Summary
Probing Electrochemical Interface in CO2 reduction by Operando Computation. This project aims to explore the structure and dynamics of electrochemical interfaces using operando computational techniques, reveal the influence of catalyst structure and electrolyte environment on catalytic performance, and propose effective design strategies to facilitate the conversion of CO2 to high value-added fuels and chemicals. Innovations are expected in the new mechanism and rational design of electrocatalys ....Probing Electrochemical Interface in CO2 reduction by Operando Computation. This project aims to explore the structure and dynamics of electrochemical interfaces using operando computational techniques, reveal the influence of catalyst structure and electrolyte environment on catalytic performance, and propose effective design strategies to facilitate the conversion of CO2 to high value-added fuels and chemicals. Innovations are expected in the new mechanism and rational design of electrocatalysts. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new mechanisms at the electrochemical interface, the effect of local environmental changes on catalytic performance, and effective strategies for C2+ product. Benefits include a sustainable future for Australia with decreased CO2 emissions and increased green-fuel production.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL230100178
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,343,741.00
Summary
Nonmetals for green catalysis. This proposal aims to develop nonmetal materials and technologies for frontier green catalysis that is targeted to contaminant degradation and chemical synthesis by catalytic oxidation processes. The project will systematically unveil the intrinsic nature of nonmetal elements in heterogeneous catalysis, develop rational design principles, and achieve scaling-up of intelligent nanomaterials and integrated green catalytic systems for high reactivity and selectivity. ....Nonmetals for green catalysis. This proposal aims to develop nonmetal materials and technologies for frontier green catalysis that is targeted to contaminant degradation and chemical synthesis by catalytic oxidation processes. The project will systematically unveil the intrinsic nature of nonmetal elements in heterogeneous catalysis, develop rational design principles, and achieve scaling-up of intelligent nanomaterials and integrated green catalytic systems for high reactivity and selectivity. This cross-disciplinary research will deliver benefits to Australian industry in water treatment and fine chemical synthesis, foster Australian R&D in green technologies, synthesise catalysts from natural resources and industrial waste, and promote strong sustainability outcomes.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100048
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,097.00
Summary
Ammonium-selective membranes to shift water industry into circular economy. The project aims to develop ammonium-selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for sustainable ammonia recovery. The project expects to construct the membranes to achieve desirable pore size and surface functionality for fast and selective ammonia transport. The developed membranes should make ammonia recovery from wastewater more effective and sustainable, leading to the healthy waterway ....Ammonium-selective membranes to shift water industry into circular economy. The project aims to develop ammonium-selective membranes which are urgently needed in Australian key industries for sustainable ammonia recovery. The project expects to construct the membranes to achieve desirable pore size and surface functionality for fast and selective ammonia transport. The developed membranes should make ammonia recovery from wastewater more effective and sustainable, leading to the healthy waterway and reduced energy for both ammonia production and removal. Recovered ammonia expects to produce valuable products, supporting agriculture industry and hydrogen economy. The developed membranes should enable water industry's shift into circular economy, providing significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100660
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,117.00
Summary
A Solar Photoelectrochemical Cell for Unbiased Hydrogen Production. This project aims to develop a photoelectrochemical cell for photoelectric conversion and green hydrogen production by using solar power as the only energy input. This project expects to generate new knowledge in photoelectrode material design by combining low-cost semiconductors with natural or synthetic molecular catalysts. Expected outcomes are to generate a sustainable solar hydrogen technique with no electricity consumption ....A Solar Photoelectrochemical Cell for Unbiased Hydrogen Production. This project aims to develop a photoelectrochemical cell for photoelectric conversion and green hydrogen production by using solar power as the only energy input. This project expects to generate new knowledge in photoelectrode material design by combining low-cost semiconductors with natural or synthetic molecular catalysts. Expected outcomes are to generate a sustainable solar hydrogen technique with no electricity consumption, high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency and long-term stability, promoting the development of green hydrogen industries in Australia with zero carbon emissions. This should provide significant benefits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve environmental sustainability and meet renewable energy demand.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,300,000.00
Summary
Thermophysical Property Analysers for Materials under Extreme Environments. The development of new materials with properties specifically tailored to withstand the extreme environments begins with understanding the physical nature of the processes involved, including the properties of atoms and molecules extending from the nanoscale to the collective behaviour at the macroscale. This relies on the knowledge achieved with new capabilities of analytical tools to open new avenues for developing the ....Thermophysical Property Analysers for Materials under Extreme Environments. The development of new materials with properties specifically tailored to withstand the extreme environments begins with understanding the physical nature of the processes involved, including the properties of atoms and molecules extending from the nanoscale to the collective behaviour at the macroscale. This relies on the knowledge achieved with new capabilities of analytical tools to open new avenues for developing the materials. This project aims to strengthen Australian research activities in the development of advanced materials for energy, defence and space, and advanced manufacturing technologies through establishing a high temperature, high pressure and high force materials characterisation suite for extreme environments at UNSW.Read moreRead less