Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100135
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,400.00
Summary
Superhydrophobic thermally rearranged membranes for low-energy separation. This project aims to develop thermally rearranged membranes with superhydrophobicity using novel polymer chemistry and nanofibre morphology. Both water flowrate in membrane distillation and gas flowrate in carbon dioxide stripping from solvents will be increased by minimising the water vapor condensation between the nanofibers; resolving shortcomings in current energy-intensive filtration systems. This project will provid ....Superhydrophobic thermally rearranged membranes for low-energy separation. This project aims to develop thermally rearranged membranes with superhydrophobicity using novel polymer chemistry and nanofibre morphology. Both water flowrate in membrane distillation and gas flowrate in carbon dioxide stripping from solvents will be increased by minimising the water vapor condensation between the nanofibers; resolving shortcomings in current energy-intensive filtration systems. This project will provide significant benefits to Australian communities by advancing cost-effective and energy-efficient potable water production and carbon dioxide separation processes for sustainable development. The advanced materials developed can be manufactured locally and will enhance our national capability in modern manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Ambient Electrochemical C-N Coupling via Co-electrolysis of N2 and CO2. To overcome the hurdles in N2 fixation (massive energy consumption and CO2 emission), investigators creatively hypothesize that the simultaneous electrocatalytic coupling of N2 and CO2 would enable the selective formation of N-products and thus realize their conversion into N--fertilizers and acetamides. Based on the CI's recent discoveries, this project will develop an innovative / sustainable system, which could promote th ....Ambient Electrochemical C-N Coupling via Co-electrolysis of N2 and CO2. To overcome the hurdles in N2 fixation (massive energy consumption and CO2 emission), investigators creatively hypothesize that the simultaneous electrocatalytic coupling of N2 and CO2 would enable the selective formation of N-products and thus realize their conversion into N--fertilizers and acetamides. Based on the CI's recent discoveries, this project will develop an innovative / sustainable system, which could promote the N2 fixation along with CO2 conversion process, a significant alternative approach to simplify the pathways of C-N bond formation. It will thereby contribute to mitigation of greenhouse emissions and create an ecofriendly protocol/technology for distributed production of C-N products under ambient conditions. Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH230100005
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality. This Hub aims to develop sustainable zero-emission power generation technologies to transform gaseous waste (mainly CO2) from our energy and manufacturing sectors into valuable products and create scalable pathways to market for driving industry transformation. This Hub expects to harvest renewable energy from the environment by using zero-emission power generators and then store it in green and safer batteries for convert ....ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality. This Hub aims to develop sustainable zero-emission power generation technologies to transform gaseous waste (mainly CO2) from our energy and manufacturing sectors into valuable products and create scalable pathways to market for driving industry transformation. This Hub expects to harvest renewable energy from the environment by using zero-emission power generators and then store it in green and safer batteries for converting gaseous waste from sectors that cannot easily avoid emission into useful chemicals, which in turn realize carbon neutrality and negativity. The outcomes of this Hub are likely to be transformative for industry, the economy, and society in new-type renewable energy resources through decreasing environmental pollutants. Read moreRead less
Novel Fuel Materials for Radiation-Free Proton-Boron Fusion Power Source. Laser proton-boron fusion reactions are a radiation-free nuclear energy source but are limited by a low reaction rate due to a lack of efficient fuel materials. This project aims to develop new fuel materials by synthesising isotope boron 11 enriched hydrogen borides and hydrogen adsorbed boron nitride nanosheets using our research experience in hydrogen storage and nanomateials synthesis. The expected outcomes include tw ....Novel Fuel Materials for Radiation-Free Proton-Boron Fusion Power Source. Laser proton-boron fusion reactions are a radiation-free nuclear energy source but are limited by a low reaction rate due to a lack of efficient fuel materials. This project aims to develop new fuel materials by synthesising isotope boron 11 enriched hydrogen borides and hydrogen adsorbed boron nitride nanosheets using our research experience in hydrogen storage and nanomateials synthesis. The expected outcomes include two new hydrogen storage nanomaterials, the associated new synthesis technologies, and a clean and safe nuclear power source, which helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH200100035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub in New Safe and Reliable Energy Storage and Conversion Technologies. This Research Hub addresses safety and reliability issues, and environmental impact of current energy storage and conversion technologies. The research will deliver a new generation of technologies for storage from small scale portable devices to large scale industrial applications, using recycled and natural materials, and eliminating the serious fire risk in current technologies. Outcomes include innovative ....ARC Research Hub in New Safe and Reliable Energy Storage and Conversion Technologies. This Research Hub addresses safety and reliability issues, and environmental impact of current energy storage and conversion technologies. The research will deliver a new generation of technologies for storage from small scale portable devices to large scale industrial applications, using recycled and natural materials, and eliminating the serious fire risk in current technologies. Outcomes include innovative integrated energy conversion and storage technologies and new energy materials and devices designed for different scale applications, leading to creation of start up companies and commercialisation opportunities for existing partners, benefiting both the Australian economy and potentially transforming the energy industry landscape.Read moreRead less
3-D Printed Catalytic Monoliths for Energy Efficient Carbon Conversion. Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is an essential pathway for reducing carbon in the Earth's atmosphere. However a major hurdle in the carbon utilisation part is that the conversion technologies often rely on energy derived from fossil sources. Electrification of carbon conversion processes can overcome this hurdle by providing this energy via renewables. This project aims to develop an electrically powered energy efficie ....3-D Printed Catalytic Monoliths for Energy Efficient Carbon Conversion. Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is an essential pathway for reducing carbon in the Earth's atmosphere. However a major hurdle in the carbon utilisation part is that the conversion technologies often rely on energy derived from fossil sources. Electrification of carbon conversion processes can overcome this hurdle by providing this energy via renewables. This project aims to develop an electrically powered energy efficient catalytic process for carbon conversion. A modular 3-D printed monolithic catalytic reactor prototype powered by induction or resistive heating will be developed to minimise energy loss in the carbon conversion process. An expected outcome of this project is translation of this prototype in a CCU pilot scale facility.Read moreRead less
Laser nanoprinting of active graphene micro-tag for terahertz digital ID. This project aims at harnessing the unique THz response of laser nanoprinted graphene metamaterials and developing disruptive micro-tag technology. Through actively tuning the structured metamaterials, THz micro-tags with ultrahigh data security and energy efficiency, low cost, flexibility and attachable to any object can be enabled. Such high performance graphene THz ID tags will be first of their kind and are expected t ....Laser nanoprinting of active graphene micro-tag for terahertz digital ID. This project aims at harnessing the unique THz response of laser nanoprinted graphene metamaterials and developing disruptive micro-tag technology. Through actively tuning the structured metamaterials, THz micro-tags with ultrahigh data security and energy efficiency, low cost, flexibility and attachable to any object can be enabled. Such high performance graphene THz ID tags will be first of their kind and are expected to underpin every sector of our life including manufacturing, logistics, biomedicine, personal care, supply chain, retail and security. The outcomes will secure Australia’s international leading position in next generation tag and digitalisation technology and create significant social and economic benefits to Australians.Read moreRead less
Wearable thermoelectric textiles for portable microelectronics. Wearable thermoelectrics enable the power generation from the temperature difference between human body and ambient temperature by using thermoelectric effect. This project aims to design eco-friendly wearable thermoelectric textiles to realize high-efficiency solid-state power generation and meet individual needs with human comfort and health. The target is to achieve a power density in the as-designed thermoelectric textiles by th ....Wearable thermoelectric textiles for portable microelectronics. Wearable thermoelectrics enable the power generation from the temperature difference between human body and ambient temperature by using thermoelectric effect. This project aims to design eco-friendly wearable thermoelectric textiles to realize high-efficiency solid-state power generation and meet individual needs with human comfort and health. The target is to achieve a power density in the as-designed thermoelectric textiles by the optimization of materials and device design. The outcome will open up a new platform for the green and sustainable charge for portable microelectronics, which will lead to an innovative technology for energy management, which will place Australia at the forefront of wearable electronics and textile industry.Read moreRead less
Sustainable high energy sodium batteries with enhanced safety & cycle life. This project aims to deliver a high specific energy, ambient temperature sodium metal battery that is more sustainable, safer and better performing than existing technologies. Innovative chemistry will be used to replace the current flammable and toxic organic solvent-based systems, while novel tools and capabilities will be forged to retain Australian leadership in this sector. These advances will provide a technology ....Sustainable high energy sodium batteries with enhanced safety & cycle life. This project aims to deliver a high specific energy, ambient temperature sodium metal battery that is more sustainable, safer and better performing than existing technologies. Innovative chemistry will be used to replace the current flammable and toxic organic solvent-based systems, while novel tools and capabilities will be forged to retain Australian leadership in this sector. These advances will provide a technology and materials platform to generate and support emerging energy storage industries in Australia. It will strengthen international collaborations with leading research teams and provide opportunities and training for the next generation of energy storage research leaders in both academia and industry.Read moreRead less