Study level
PhD
Master of Philosophy
Honours
Background
Each year, in Australia alone, several million tons of agricultural and industrial waste ends up in landfill, or worse – up in smoke. This generates soil and air pollution, threatening our environment. However, these wastes can serve as abundant and sustainable sources of raw materials. This project aims to develop different forms carbon nanostructures using agricultural (fruit peels, on-farm waste etc.) and industrial (cotton-textile, tire-waste etc.) and employed as electrode materials in energy storage devices such as batteries, supercapacitors and hybrid supercapacitors.
Research Activities
The project is experimental in nature and will involve following steps: (1) Synthesis of different nanostructures of carbon materials. (2) Materials characterizations of resultant carbon nanostructures using state-of-the art facilities available at CARF. (3) Fabrication of batteries (coin and pouch cell designs) and (4) Performance evaluation of carbon electrodes using different electrochemical techniques. The student will work in expert and highly motivated research team, providing the opportunity for an effective and rich learning experience.
Outcomes
This research project aims to develop waste-derived carbon electrodes for batteries for advanced energy applications including grid storage. Successful execution of this project will lead new knowledge, publications, training of researchers, and capability building of Australian R&D. The research will provide guidance for the design of innovative electrode materials for developing sodium/potassium-ion energy storage devices with enhanced cell performance, lifetime, safe operation and low cost, thus rendering this battery technology more commercially viable. The project will open new opportunities for industry-based grant applications (CRC and ARC) as well as develop a skilled scientist to easily absorb in the industry.
Skills and experience
Background in chemistry, physics and materials science, engineering all are welcome.
