Metal boranes as energy materials. This project aims to develop cheaper and better performing energy storage solutions using metal boranes. New materials are needed to advance energy storage technologies. This project will design metal boranes and their derivatives to tackle energy storage as solid-state electrolytes for battery applications, and as thermochemical energy storage materials It will investigate the thermochemical energy storage properties of metal boranes for high temperature solar ....Metal boranes as energy materials. This project aims to develop cheaper and better performing energy storage solutions using metal boranes. New materials are needed to advance energy storage technologies. This project will design metal boranes and their derivatives to tackle energy storage as solid-state electrolytes for battery applications, and as thermochemical energy storage materials It will investigate the thermochemical energy storage properties of metal boranes for high temperature solar thermal energy storage applications.Read moreRead less
Nickel(III) Oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a Positive Electrode Material in Primary Cells. In recent years, the demands put on batteries has increased due to the development of sophisticated portable electronic devices. With the currently available primary battery systems finding it difficult to cope with these demands, there is considerable incentive to develop an improved system with an appropriate capability. This project focuses on nickel(III) oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a cathode material. NiOOH is us ....Nickel(III) Oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a Positive Electrode Material in Primary Cells. In recent years, the demands put on batteries has increased due to the development of sophisticated portable electronic devices. With the currently available primary battery systems finding it difficult to cope with these demands, there is considerable incentive to develop an improved system with an appropriate capability. This project focuses on nickel(III) oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a cathode material. NiOOH is used widely in rechargeable battery systems, where it performs adequately even under severe discharge conditions. However, in primary battery systems, NiOOH suffers from self discharge. This project aims to use the performance capabilities of NiOOH in a primary system, by investigating ways to improve its stability. The benefits for Delta EMD will be protection of their existing business, as well as opening the door to the commercial manufacture of an advanced export material.Read moreRead less
Capacitance Fade Mechanisms in Carbon-Based Supercapacitors. Energy storage is of significant importance to the global community. This project addresses certain performance issues concerning prolonged energy storage in supercapacitors, which are an emerging technology in the electronics industry. CAP-XX is Australia's only manufacturer of supercapacitors, and the improvements to their products that will result from this work, will lead to significant returns to them and the Australian economy.
Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The exp ....Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The expected outcome is the achievement of high reversible hydrogen storage capacity to meet all the demands required for energy conversion applications, in particular, for hydrogen storage/fuel-cell vehicular applications.Read moreRead less
All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic i ....All-solid-state: new hybrid materials for next-generation lithium batteries. The aim of the project is an economically viable design for “all-solid-state” rechargeable batteries. Eliminating organic liquid electrolytes from lithium-ion batteries will dramatically increase safety, range of operating conditions, lifetimes, and energy density. The key technical challenge is keeping solid-solid interfaces intact over thousands of charge/discharge cycles. We will address this by inserting inorganic interfacial layers that change smoothly from hard ceramic to flexible glass and back again, through rigorous chemical design and synthetic control. This will reduce the stress that causes mechanical failure, while increasing chemical stability so that the latest generation of high-power electrodes can be brought into service.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100596
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to de ....Lithium-Ion Conducting Sulfide Cathodes for All-Solid-State Li–S Batteries. The aim of the project is to develop lithium-ion conducting sulphide cathode materials for high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulphur (Li–S) batteries. Substituting solid-state electrolyte for liquid electrolyte is the most efficient approach to eliminate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the biggest obstacle for the practical application of Li–S batteries based on liquid electrolytes. The project aims to develop novel Li2S-rich cathode materials with high lithium-ion conductivity, which will form the basis of all-solid-state Li–S batteries with high energy density. The new battery is expected to have wide applications in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable energy storage.Read moreRead less
Designing Nano-Pore Architectures for High Power Battery Materials. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of portable electronic devices. Of the numerous battery systems available, alkaline MnO2/Zn cells are most commonly used to power these devices. However, as the device power requirements increase, so too does the demand on these cells to perform. Delta EMD, Australia, currently exports ~10% of the world's supply of MnO2 for these cells. Their collaboration with p ....Designing Nano-Pore Architectures for High Power Battery Materials. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of portable electronic devices. Of the numerous battery systems available, alkaline MnO2/Zn cells are most commonly used to power these devices. However, as the device power requirements increase, so too does the demand on these cells to perform. Delta EMD, Australia, currently exports ~10% of the world's supply of MnO2 for these cells. Their collaboration with personnel from the University of Newcastle, who have significant expertise in the field of MnO2 research, will focus on designing a superior MnO2 with optimized nano-pore architecture for high power battery applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100350
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Sodium inventory for sodium-ion batteries. This project aims to increase the energy density and cycle life of sodium-ion batteries by investigating practical ways to increase the amount of cycleable sodium ions. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of energy storage using an innovative approach to address the key issues facing sodium-ion batteries. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a novel high-energy sodium-ion battery, achieved by practical sod ....Sodium inventory for sodium-ion batteries. This project aims to increase the energy density and cycle life of sodium-ion batteries by investigating practical ways to increase the amount of cycleable sodium ions. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of energy storage using an innovative approach to address the key issues facing sodium-ion batteries. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a novel high-energy sodium-ion battery, achieved by practical sodium inventory solutions and fundamental understanding of internal battery processes. This should provide significant benefits including lowering the cost of energy storage, decreasing the reliance on lithium, and facilitating society’s shift towards renewable and sustainable energy sources.Read moreRead less
Mapping new cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries: The mechanism of intercalation of lithium in aqueous solutions. This technology could power electric vehicles of the future. With the aid of using advanced oxide and phosphate materials for an aqueous battery, the project will establish a widespread use of green energy for national benefit. This will help us to reduce the current emission observed in transport and energy conversion. The project will facilitate an understanding the ....Mapping new cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries: The mechanism of intercalation of lithium in aqueous solutions. This technology could power electric vehicles of the future. With the aid of using advanced oxide and phosphate materials for an aqueous battery, the project will establish a widespread use of green energy for national benefit. This will help us to reduce the current emission observed in transport and energy conversion. The project will facilitate an understanding the electrochemical energy storage technology. The challenging and significant results from this project will contribute to the energy industries to build non-pollutant high energy storage equipments and productivity of Australia's research and development.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100237
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,754.00
Summary
A new method to realise zero thermal expansion materials. The aim of the project is to produce a novel method to create zero thermal expansion materials. It is anticipated that this new method will be faster and provide an unprecedented level of control of the thermal expansion properties of the materials. Since thermal degradation plagues components in industry, for example in all engines and electronics, a zero thermal expansion material can indefinitely avoid such problems and thereby increas ....A new method to realise zero thermal expansion materials. The aim of the project is to produce a novel method to create zero thermal expansion materials. It is anticipated that this new method will be faster and provide an unprecedented level of control of the thermal expansion properties of the materials. Since thermal degradation plagues components in industry, for example in all engines and electronics, a zero thermal expansion material can indefinitely avoid such problems and thereby increase the life of the components or devices. This project will also potentially deliver an understanding of the mechanisms behind zero thermal expansion, thus allowing the rational design of future materials that could increase the lifespan and durability of a range of products.Read moreRead less