OUR PROJECTS
All our projects involve a combination of solution-phase nanomaterial synthesis, transmission electron microscopy characterisation and electrocatalytic application. You will become an expert in these areas as well as developing practical characterisation skills such as X-ray diffraction, sample purification, catalyst preparation and many more!
Synthesis of hierarchical metal nanostructures for electrocatalyst supports
The development of improved and lower cost electrode materials is critical to produce cheaper, cleaner and more reliable hydrogen fuel for use in hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles. This project will develop syntheses for 3D metal structures with dimensions on the nanoscale. Developing chemical syntheses that directly grow metal cores and branches in sequential steps will produce interconnected structures with controlled configurations that can be optimised for energy storage reactions. These innovative electrocatalyst supports have small and precise structures that will enable up to 1000 times greater efficiency than the current state-of-the-art supports. This project offers a unique opportunity to develop skills in materials synthesis and advanced characterisation in the field of renewable energy.
Single atoms on nanoparticles for highly efficient energy storage and conversion reactions
Single atom materials are the pinnacle of electrocatalyst design as they expose every atom at the surface to reach the maximum utilisation of catalytically active metals. These single atom materials are able to lower the cost and improve the efficiency of catalysts that are used in electric cars and renewable energy storage cells. In this project, you will learn synthetic techniques to form nanoparticles decorated with single atoms. The state-of-the-art electron microscopes at the Centre of Advanced Microscopy at ANU will allow characterisation of complex nanocatalyst materials made of multiple metals with atomic-level precision. By controlling the position of Pt atoms on different metal nanoparticle structures, both electrocatalytic activity and stability will be optimised to create the most advanced and effective nanoparticle catalysts.