Design of Functionalized Mesoporous Fullerenes for Clean Energy. This project aims to design multifunctional, noble metal-free, and highly ordered mesoporous fullerene with a high conductivity and different porous structures, functionalised with nitrogen and/or metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in both powder and film forms. The most promising, stable, and highly efficient noble metal-free electrode catalyst system will be designed with the functionalised mesoporous fullerenes for polymer elec ....Design of Functionalized Mesoporous Fullerenes for Clean Energy. This project aims to design multifunctional, noble metal-free, and highly ordered mesoporous fullerene with a high conductivity and different porous structures, functionalised with nitrogen and/or metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in both powder and film forms. The most promising, stable, and highly efficient noble metal-free electrode catalyst system will be designed with the functionalised mesoporous fullerenes for polymer electrolyte membrane and direct methanol fuel cells. This novel highly efficient and low cost electrode system for fuel cells aims to help address clean energy generation and environmental problems and create new opportunities for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Developing a simple method for characterising the mechanical properties of nanowhiskers. This project aims to accurately measure mechanical properties of nanostructures, addressing a challenging issue in the ongoing development of nanotechnology. The success of this project will provide important advances in the understanding of the mechanical behaviour of nanowhiskers and assist in the further development of nanomaterials.
Capturing full-spectrum of solar energy using TiO2 ordered suprastructures. The project aims to develop a titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor that can use full-spectrum solar energy. Solar-driven photocatalytic processes have important applications in water decontamination and energy production. Their effectiveness is dictated by the semiconductor’s absorbance and conversion of photoenergy to chemical energy. Being inexpensive, chemically and mechanically robust, TiO2 is the most promising mat ....Capturing full-spectrum of solar energy using TiO2 ordered suprastructures. The project aims to develop a titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor that can use full-spectrum solar energy. Solar-driven photocatalytic processes have important applications in water decontamination and energy production. Their effectiveness is dictated by the semiconductor’s absorbance and conversion of photoenergy to chemical energy. Being inexpensive, chemically and mechanically robust, TiO2 is the most promising material for the semiconductor. However, unmodified TiO2 only absorbs ultraviolet light (5 per cent of solar energy). With current progress made in visible absorbance, this project aims to significantly improve TiO2’s absorbance in near infrared by doping with upconversion lanthanides and rendering colloidal crystal suprastructures that can trap light.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH150100003
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,611,346.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation. ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation. This research hub aims to provide the advanced materials industry with innovative solutions to tackle critical and complex challenges of national significance. The hub intends to leverage substantial existing and new investments to overcome fundamental scientific barriers and develop fit-for-purpose graphene products with and for its partners. Advanced materials, particul ....ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation. ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation. This research hub aims to provide the advanced materials industry with innovative solutions to tackle critical and complex challenges of national significance. The hub intends to leverage substantial existing and new investments to overcome fundamental scientific barriers and develop fit-for-purpose graphene products with and for its partners. Advanced materials, particularly graphene, are now considered promising for maintaining competitive advantages for industrial transformational progress; and advanced industries to drive prosperity where innovation underpins business to thrive globally. The anticipated impacts are long-term economic prosperity and growth.Read moreRead less
Development of novel cathodes for next generation solid oxide fuel cells. This project will provide novel cathodes to reduce the operating temperature of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) as low as 500 degrees celsius. The technology may lead to widespread utilization of SOFCs, thus providing great assistance to Australia's industries in term of reducing carbon dioxide emission and easing pressure from carbon tax.
Hybrid cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop molten carbonate-perovskite hybrid cathode materials for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) possessing both high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high tolerance to carbon dioxide poisoning. Carbon dioxide in air can poison nearly all the perovskite cathode materials developed for LT-SOFCs (below 600 degrees C) so far. These materials will not be practically useful ....Hybrid cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop molten carbonate-perovskite hybrid cathode materials for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) possessing both high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high tolerance to carbon dioxide poisoning. Carbon dioxide in air can poison nearly all the perovskite cathode materials developed for LT-SOFCs (below 600 degrees C) so far. These materials will not be practically useful until carbon dioxide poisoning can be prevented. This project expects to make these LT-SOFC cathode materials commercially viable, solving a problem for the widespread use of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101410
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,000.00
Summary
Structural and compositional controlled nanocarbon-based electrocatalyst. This project aims to develop highly effective carbon-based electro-catalysts for oxygen reduction by using elaborately designed metal-organic framework precursors. Oxygen reduction is a key cathodic reaction in clean energy technologies such as metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Expected outcomes of this project include carbon-based nanomaterials with optimised topological and compositional features. This project will bro ....Structural and compositional controlled nanocarbon-based electrocatalyst. This project aims to develop highly effective carbon-based electro-catalysts for oxygen reduction by using elaborately designed metal-organic framework precursors. Oxygen reduction is a key cathodic reaction in clean energy technologies such as metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Expected outcomes of this project include carbon-based nanomaterials with optimised topological and compositional features. This project will broaden the knowledge of designed synthesis of carbon-based nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction and provide a conceptual nanofabrication framework for preparing functional nanomaterials.Read moreRead less
Nanoparticles to combat cellular dysfunction. This project aims to design, synthesise and characterise nanoparticles that can mediate the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species. The project expects to develop nanoparticles with tailored chemical functionality to modulate the concentration of reactive oxygen species and develop a platform technology for addressing conditions where reactive species are overproduced. The project will research how nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties affect ....Nanoparticles to combat cellular dysfunction. This project aims to design, synthesise and characterise nanoparticles that can mediate the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species. The project expects to develop nanoparticles with tailored chemical functionality to modulate the concentration of reactive oxygen species and develop a platform technology for addressing conditions where reactive species are overproduced. The project will research how nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties affect their activity, and how they affect cellular function, tissue morphology and particle transport in a biological milieu. The project is expected to benefit the advanced manufacturing, veterinary and medical sectors and could lead to new chemotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of functional mesoporous materials for low-abundance biomarkers quantification towards biodiagnostic applications. Using state-of-the-art nanotechnology, a novel approach will be developed to quantitatively analyse low abundance peptides and proteins. This will aid in the detection of a biomarker in osteoarthritis, a disease affecting 3.85 million Australians. This project has significance for the early diagnosis and improved treatment of this disease.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100033
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,200,000.00
Summary
In situ Environmental Electron Microscope Facility. This project aims to establish an In situ Environmental Electron Microscope Facility to characterise real-time and dynamic changes in nanomaterials at the atomic scale. We will combine a cutting-edge 'in situ' gas/heating/electrical bias holder with new camera and analysis technology on a transmission electron microscope. This facility will be a sophisticated suite of equipment that will innovate and transform microscopy in Australia to image s ....In situ Environmental Electron Microscope Facility. This project aims to establish an In situ Environmental Electron Microscope Facility to characterise real-time and dynamic changes in nanomaterials at the atomic scale. We will combine a cutting-edge 'in situ' gas/heating/electrical bias holder with new camera and analysis technology on a transmission electron microscope. This facility will be a sophisticated suite of equipment that will innovate and transform microscopy in Australia to image structural and compositional changes of materials under stimuli at a speed and resolution previously unachievable. This project will drive pioneering research in the fields of Materials Science, Chemistry and Catalysis to solve problems in advanced manufacturing, energy, technology and the environment.Read moreRead less