Materials for energy
Theme leader
Associated Research Centres
Advanced Porous Materials Group, Nanoparticle.com, Photophysics Research Group, the Holmes Group.
Millimetre sized titanium/zirconium oxide beads with highlyporous morphology have potential in the removal of radioactive
elements from nuclear waste. (M. Chee Kimling)
Titanium zirconium oxide beads functionalisation
Sol-gel chemistry has been used to prepare mixed titanium zirconium oxide beads, as mixing different metal oxides together allows for tailoring of material properties. These beads have higher surface areas than their single oxide counterparts, and remain amorphous at temperatures at which the single oxides crystallise. The potential for such materials to capture and contain radionuclides has been studied in collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. The materials can be functionalised to increase the number of binding groups and the pore structure of the material modified to alter adsorption rates.
Titania for dye-sensitised solar cells
Metal oxide materials with controlled nanoscale morphology have been fabricated using chemical approaches. Titania, in particular, has wide application including in dye-sensitised solar cells. The controlled structural properties of this material have led to enhanced effectiveness in the solar cell application. For example, the nanoparticulate entities that construct the materials have high surface areas that increase the quantity of dye that can be loaded in the electrode. In addition, the outer form of the material can be modified to increase light scattering within the electrode, thereby increasing the probability of light harvesting.