Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge ....Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge behaviours. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise battery electrode performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in low-cost, large-scale battery applications.Read moreRead less
Solid-State Battery Interface Design (SS-BID). This research project aims to use the world’s best performing solid-state ion conductors to develop next generation solid-state batteries. Boron-rich electrolytes will be paired with lithium metal anodes to construct batteries that are more energy dense, safer, have wider operational temperature windows, and aim to be lower cost than existing Li-ion batteries. The current roadblock for these batteries lies in the poorly performing interfaces between ....Solid-State Battery Interface Design (SS-BID). This research project aims to use the world’s best performing solid-state ion conductors to develop next generation solid-state batteries. Boron-rich electrolytes will be paired with lithium metal anodes to construct batteries that are more energy dense, safer, have wider operational temperature windows, and aim to be lower cost than existing Li-ion batteries. The current roadblock for these batteries lies in the poorly performing interfaces between anode, electrolyte and cathode. This research aims to develop new strategies to overcome these barriers and perform world-class measurement techniques to understand and optimise solid-state batteries to provide a commercially viable energy storage solution.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired tuneable catalysts for renewable ammonia production. The project will design a new solar-powered system for electrosynthesis of ammonia to replace the current energy intensive, non-sustainable process that generates 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. An innovative new system will be developed by combining cutting edge electrochemical, spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Expected key outcomes include novel concepts in the design of advanced materials, and an efficient process for the gr ....Bioinspired tuneable catalysts for renewable ammonia production. The project will design a new solar-powered system for electrosynthesis of ammonia to replace the current energy intensive, non-sustainable process that generates 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. An innovative new system will be developed by combining cutting edge electrochemical, spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Expected key outcomes include novel concepts in the design of advanced materials, and an efficient process for the green ammonia synthesis. Given the strategic importance of ammonia as a future energy carrier for the export of Australian renewables and as a major source of fertilisers, this project should provide significant national economic and ecological benefits and is expected to have a broad reaching global impact.Read moreRead less
Sodium ion interactions with biomass-derived hard carbon electrodes. This project aims to investigate sodium ion behavior when electrochemically interacting with hard carbon electrode materials by using both in-situ and ex-situ techniques in combination with advanced computational methods. This project expects to generate new knowledge and establish structure-property-performance correlations, thus providing guidelines and strategies for synthesising cost-effective electrode materials from bioma ....Sodium ion interactions with biomass-derived hard carbon electrodes. This project aims to investigate sodium ion behavior when electrochemically interacting with hard carbon electrode materials by using both in-situ and ex-situ techniques in combination with advanced computational methods. This project expects to generate new knowledge and establish structure-property-performance correlations, thus providing guidelines and strategies for synthesising cost-effective electrode materials from biomass for developing sustainable sodium-ion batteries. The intended outcome of this project includes knowledge advancement, enhanced capability to build international collaborations, training of early career researchers and students, and positioning Australia on the world map as a world-leading nation in energy storage.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface act ....Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface active ionic liquids in the bulk and at electrode surfaces, and use this to elucidate rules for the rational design of new surface active ionic liquids with fast dynamics at low temperature, towards their use at room temperature in diverse areas; this project will target capacitors and gas sensors. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101577
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,639.00
Summary
Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework for Next-Generation Batteries. This project aims to develop advanced two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic framework (COF) materials for sodium and potassium-ion batteries. It expects to generate a new family of few-layered 2D COF materials and their 2D-2D heterostructured composites with improved electrochemical properties, and develop processing technologies and fundamental understanding of COF-based electrodes for flexible sodium and potassium-ion ba ....Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework for Next-Generation Batteries. This project aims to develop advanced two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic framework (COF) materials for sodium and potassium-ion batteries. It expects to generate a new family of few-layered 2D COF materials and their 2D-2D heterostructured composites with improved electrochemical properties, and develop processing technologies and fundamental understanding of COF-based electrodes for flexible sodium and potassium-ion batteries. Expected outcomes include novel materials, technologies, and energy-storage options for Australia. Significant economic and environmental benefits are expected from developing advanced sodium and potassium-ion batteries with low cost, high energy density, and improved safety for renewable energy storage.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen fuel cells with non-precious metal cathode catalysts. Low-cost and robust fuel cell technology is a cornerstone towards the success of the hydrogen economy. The project aims to address the cost and durability of hydrogen fuel cells by advancing low-cost electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions. Novel non-precious catalysts will be developed, and their stability understood in fuel cells using a new approach with in situ current mapping and X-ray computed tomography. The expected ....Hydrogen fuel cells with non-precious metal cathode catalysts. Low-cost and robust fuel cell technology is a cornerstone towards the success of the hydrogen economy. The project aims to address the cost and durability of hydrogen fuel cells by advancing low-cost electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions. Novel non-precious catalysts will be developed, and their stability understood in fuel cells using a new approach with in situ current mapping and X-ray computed tomography. The expected outcomes of this project include material development, improved characterisation techniques and new knowledge on electrocatalysis. The project will benefit Kohodo Hydrogen Energy by positioning them as an Australian leader in low-cost catalysts, and to Australian industries in developing the hydrogen economy. Read moreRead less
Nanoparticles with structures that mimic enzymes for electrocatalysis. This project aims to create a new class of electrocatalysts with architectures inspired by enzymes. Electrocatalysts are the backbone of the modern energy economy. In the new electrocatalysts developed by the project, the intention is the active sites will be spatially separated from the bulk solution by nanopores, as enzymes do. This architecture allows the reaction environment to be altered from the bulk solution, active tr ....Nanoparticles with structures that mimic enzymes for electrocatalysis. This project aims to create a new class of electrocatalysts with architectures inspired by enzymes. Electrocatalysts are the backbone of the modern energy economy. In the new electrocatalysts developed by the project, the intention is the active sites will be spatially separated from the bulk solution by nanopores, as enzymes do. This architecture allows the reaction environment to be altered from the bulk solution, active transport of species to the active site and cascade reactions to be performed. This should give advantages in activity, selectivity and the ability to perform multistep reactions. The intended outcomes are better performing hydrogen fuel cells and more effective conversion of carbon dioxide into useful organic compounds.Read moreRead less
Sustainable nitrogen chemistry. The goal of this project is to develop sustainable methods to produce nitrates from air and water, using renewable electricity. This new electrochemical technology will be based on the design of new electrolytes and catalysts supported by advanced theoretical concepts to provide high rate of production and selectivity. This is expected to generate new fundamental knowledge in materials and catalysis science. As traditional production of nitrates for industry and a ....Sustainable nitrogen chemistry. The goal of this project is to develop sustainable methods to produce nitrates from air and water, using renewable electricity. This new electrochemical technology will be based on the design of new electrolytes and catalysts supported by advanced theoretical concepts to provide high rate of production and selectivity. This is expected to generate new fundamental knowledge in materials and catalysis science. As traditional production of nitrates for industry and agriculture generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, the core anticipated outcome of this project is a new, sustainable era of nitrogen chemistry. This is also expected to benefit farmers by providing a process for the generation of sustainable fertilisers on a local basis.Read moreRead less
On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and ....On-water electrochemistry: redox catalysis at the water surface. From plastics to pharamaceuticals, chemists rely extensively on expensive and environmentally damaging solvents and reactants. In water, greener and cheaper electricity-driven reactions currently suffer from low velocity and poor selectivity. The project aims to develop the science of on-water electrochemistry, to make electricity-driven organic reactions in water viable. Demonstrating that for electrochemical reactions, rates and selectivities increase on water’s surface rather than in its bulk will remove fundamental constraints on the viability of aqueous electro-synthesis – moving beyond current reactor designs to transform our view of electrochemistry and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry.Read moreRead less