Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. ....Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. The significance lies in the ability to optimise reaction outcomes without the need for solvent screening. The innovation lies in the measurement of microscopic interactions between solvent and reagents, and the use of these interactions to affect a given process.Read moreRead less
Phase stability of biomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil: behaviour and control. This project aims to carry out a systematic investigation into the phase behaviour and control of biomass fast pyrolysis into bio-oil and its derived fuels. The project addresses the major problem of fuel phase separation during processing and handling that cause significant operational challenges, for example pumping difficulties and line clogging, during storage, transport and applications of these fuels. The outcomes in ....Phase stability of biomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil: behaviour and control. This project aims to carry out a systematic investigation into the phase behaviour and control of biomass fast pyrolysis into bio-oil and its derived fuels. The project addresses the major problem of fuel phase separation during processing and handling that cause significant operational challenges, for example pumping difficulties and line clogging, during storage, transport and applications of these fuels. The outcomes include the discovery of fundamental knowledge on the phase structure, stability and behaviour of the products of biomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil and its derived fuels and the development of essential engineering tools for predicting and controlling phase behaviour and stability of these fuels.Read moreRead less
Examining scientific, philosophical, and folk perspectives on time=. This project aims to consider three very different physical theories, each of which reconciles quantum mechanics and general and special relativity in a different way. While science is more accessible than ever, we are increasingly faced with a scientific world-view that is antithetical to the way we see the world and experience ourselves in it. This project will consider the tension between the scientific picture of the world ....Examining scientific, philosophical, and folk perspectives on time=. This project aims to consider three very different physical theories, each of which reconciles quantum mechanics and general and special relativity in a different way. While science is more accessible than ever, we are increasingly faced with a scientific world-view that is antithetical to the way we see the world and experience ourselves in it. This project will consider the tension between the scientific picture of the world and our experience of the world, and aims to reconcile the two by bridging the gap between lived experience and scientific findings. The project will provide a range of ways of bridging the tension between these physical theories with our lived experience.Read moreRead less
The role of phospholipids in the biogenesis of lipid droplets. The general aim is to elucidate the fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern the biogenesis/formation of the lipid droplets. Lipid droplets store sterol esters and/or triacylglycerols, two major storage lipids that play key roles in cellular and whole body lipid metabolism. Lipid droplets are also the core components of plant oil and biodiesel. Little is known about how lipid droplets are generated. The proposed work will examine ....The role of phospholipids in the biogenesis of lipid droplets. The general aim is to elucidate the fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern the biogenesis/formation of the lipid droplets. Lipid droplets store sterol esters and/or triacylglycerols, two major storage lipids that play key roles in cellular and whole body lipid metabolism. Lipid droplets are also the core components of plant oil and biodiesel. Little is known about how lipid droplets are generated. The proposed work will examine the synthesis of certain lipid intermediates such as phosphatidic acid, and their impact on the biogenesis of lipid droplets from the endoplasmic reticulum. Such fundamental new knowledge on how cells store neutral lipids will provide new strategies for enhancing plant oil and biodiesel production. Read moreRead less
Advanced Proton-Conducting Ceramic FCs for Power Generation from Ammonia . The project aims to design an innovative ammonia fuel cell using a new perovskite substrate decorated with metal nanoparticles, which demonstrates multi-functionalities and tackles most challenges of conventional fuel cells (FCs). The key concept of this project is the designing of the novel architected smart perovskite as both anode and electrolyte of the fuel cell by systematic modelling and experimental development. T ....Advanced Proton-Conducting Ceramic FCs for Power Generation from Ammonia . The project aims to design an innovative ammonia fuel cell using a new perovskite substrate decorated with metal nanoparticles, which demonstrates multi-functionalities and tackles most challenges of conventional fuel cells (FCs). The key concept of this project is the designing of the novel architected smart perovskite as both anode and electrolyte of the fuel cell by systematic modelling and experimental development. The versatile cell components developed in this project will improve the operational stability and efficiency of the fuel cell, thereby providing a promising pathway for ammonia fuel cells to replace hydrogen fuel cells. This study will reinforce the development of the future supply of reliable, low cost and clean energy. Read moreRead less
Hybrid Hydrocarbon-Carbon Fuel Cells for Long-Life Power Generation. This project aims to design an innovative high-energy portable power source based on a hybrid direct hydrocarbon-carbon fuel cell concept, in which the deposited carbon in the anode of a fuel cell during operation with liquid hydrocarbon fuels can be used as a fuel by subsequent operation in the direct carbon fuel cell mode. The key concept in this project is the controlled deposition and utilization of carbon over the anode of ....Hybrid Hydrocarbon-Carbon Fuel Cells for Long-Life Power Generation. This project aims to design an innovative high-energy portable power source based on a hybrid direct hydrocarbon-carbon fuel cell concept, in which the deposited carbon in the anode of a fuel cell during operation with liquid hydrocarbon fuels can be used as a fuel by subsequent operation in the direct carbon fuel cell mode. The key concept in this project is the controlled deposition and utilization of carbon over the anode of the fuel cell by systematic modelling and experimental development. A continuous power output will be realized via an intelligent cycling mode with an intermittent supply of pure liquid hydrocarbon fuels, thereby achieving an extremely high fuel utilization efficiency in a hybrid electrochemical system.Read moreRead less
Rethinking Zoo Biology: The Histories, Effects and Futures of Captivity. This project aims to transform our understanding of the captive management of wild animals by examining the histories, effects and potential futures of zoo biology. It expects to clarify, synthesise and generate knowledge in the history and philosophy of zoo biology using interdisciplinary approaches to the intersection of human and animal lives. Expected outcomes of this project include international and interdisciplinary ....Rethinking Zoo Biology: The Histories, Effects and Futures of Captivity. This project aims to transform our understanding of the captive management of wild animals by examining the histories, effects and potential futures of zoo biology. It expects to clarify, synthesise and generate knowledge in the history and philosophy of zoo biology using interdisciplinary approaches to the intersection of human and animal lives. Expected outcomes of this project include international and interdisciplinary collaborations that will develop sophisticated methods and conceptual resources for understanding and improving human-wildlife relations. This will provide significant environmental and social benefits, protecting threatened biological communities and helping them to flourish alongside people in changing conditions.Read moreRead less
Molecular design of complex lubricants to reduce friction. We will investigate the molecular level design of friction modifiers for a new generation of industrial lubricants. The goal is to dramatically reduce friction between moving mechanical parts, hence increasing energy efficiency in machines and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. We will design and test these new friction modifiers by a combination of theoretical and computational methods based in statistical mechanics and nonequili ....Molecular design of complex lubricants to reduce friction. We will investigate the molecular level design of friction modifiers for a new generation of industrial lubricants. The goal is to dramatically reduce friction between moving mechanical parts, hence increasing energy efficiency in machines and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. We will design and test these new friction modifiers by a combination of theoretical and computational methods based in statistical mechanics and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics and directly compare results with experimental measurements. Our investigations will pave the way to develop new cost-effective friction modifiers without the need for traditional and costly trial and error laboratory based experimentation.Read moreRead less
Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes. This project aims to achieve a predictive understanding of liquid transport through two-dimensional (2D) membranes driven by concentration gradients by using a combination of novel theory and computation. Membranes made from 2D nanomaterials hold great promise for many applications from desalination to power generation to chemical sensing, but the concentration-gradient-driven transport processes that underlie these appli ....Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes. This project aims to achieve a predictive understanding of liquid transport through two-dimensional (2D) membranes driven by concentration gradients by using a combination of novel theory and computation. Membranes made from 2D nanomaterials hold great promise for many applications from desalination to power generation to chemical sensing, but the concentration-gradient-driven transport processes that underlie these applications are not well understood. The expected outcome of this project is an unprecedented quantitative understanding of the parameters that control these transport processes. This will enable predictive optimisation of 2D membranes, which will reduce the time and cost of membrane development for diverse applications.
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Fluid Transport in Materials of Nanoscale Dimensions. This project aims to transform the modelling of fluid transport in materials of nanoscale dimension by determining the coupled interfacial heat and mass-transfer barriers, which critically influence the transport. The outcome will not only be new knowledge on the effects of inherent structural distortion and of the barriers on the fluid flow, but also cutting-edge techniques to estimate system size-dependent transport coefficients in nanoscal ....Fluid Transport in Materials of Nanoscale Dimensions. This project aims to transform the modelling of fluid transport in materials of nanoscale dimension by determining the coupled interfacial heat and mass-transfer barriers, which critically influence the transport. The outcome will not only be new knowledge on the effects of inherent structural distortion and of the barriers on the fluid flow, but also cutting-edge techniques to estimate system size-dependent transport coefficients in nanoscale systems. These will be achieved through a combination of targeted molecular dynamics simulations and experiment, and will have far-reaching implications for nanotechnology and emerging processes in catalysis, gas separation, human health and nanofluidics, and enable design of more efficient systems.Read moreRead less