Australian Research Council – Hydrogen-related Grants

September 22nd, 2020

Australian Research Council – Hydrogen-related Grants

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has supported research activities that include elements of the hydrogen supply chain in a significant or sole manner or as part of a wider research effort into a lower emissions economy.

Lead participants:

Not applicable – dependent on individual activity funded

 Classification:

Research and development

 Status:

In progress

 Estimated cost:

 
Research partners:

Not applicable – dependent on individual activity funded

 Main supply chain category:

Whole supply chain

 Location:

 

 Announced funding:

Not applicable – difficult to quantify hydrogen-specific amounts from individually funded activities

Research description

The ARC Data Portal / Grants Search, when ‘hydrogen’ is used as a key word search filter, identifies, for the period 2018-2021, 150 results or individual grants provided to research applications (data accessed as at early-August 2021).

This is a crude metric and many ‘results’ were for research activities at the periphery of interest for the deployment of hydrogen as a low-emissions fuel.

Nevertheless, a not inconsiderable number of results were of relevance and ranged from individual activities that include elements of the hydrogen supply chain in a significant or sole manner to where the hydrogen supply chain (or elements thereof) was part of a wider energy system research effort.

Of the 150 hydrogen-related results, around 70 per cent were awarded research grants in the range of AUD$300,000 to AUD$600,000. The largest announced funding specific to hydrogen was for AUD$4,920,490 for the ARC Training Centre for the Global Hydrogen Economy (see separate HyResource description).

Other Hub / Training Centre awards of significance that cover whole energy systems (where hydrogen is explicitly noted in the ARC summary of award) include:

In the period since 2018 (accessed early-August 2021), a broad sample of ARC funded research activities that include elements of the hydrogen supply chain in a significant or sole manner is given below (excluding the ARC Training Centre); summary data is given by grant scheme designation, administering organisation, research title and summary, and announced funding:

  • LP200300577 – The Australian National University.  Scalable high-density hydrogen storage by nano-bubbles in layered materials – this research aims to advance a hydrogen storage technology based on highly pressurised nano-bubbles in layered materials, and expects to expand our fundamental knowledge of the interactions between hydrogen and layered materials. Expected outcomes include a hydrogen storage technology that exhibits a remarkable energy density, high stability and low cost. AUD$654,642.
  • LP200301578 – University of Tasmania. Sustainable hydrogen certification: a multistakeholder governance approach – this research aims to assist policy analysts to devise a sustainable certification scheme for hydrogen that meets multistakeholder requirements. The expected outcome is options for a new sustainable certification scheme that addresses all technical, economic, social, environmental and governance requirements. AUD$242,783.
  • LP200301320 – Monash University. Sustainable hydrogen production from used water – this research addresses water useage in hydrogen production by developing an approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. Expected outcomes are an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and development of guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade of existing wastewater treatment plants. AUD:$541,149.
  • LP200301563 – The University of Sydney. Advanced framework materials for hydrogen storage applications – this research aims to develop new molecular materials capable of highly efficient storage of hydrogen gas. Anticipated outcomes include the development of new material design approaches that optimise performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development, spanning small scale mobile to large scale stationary storage applications. AUD$602,766.
  • LP200200472 – The Australian National University. Making hydrogen storage work for the new hydrogen economy – this research aims to develop an innovative liquid organic hydrogen storage technology; it expects to expand and validate the performance, safety and scale-up potential of this new technology in an industrial context. Expected outcomes include providing practical, efficient, large-scale storage technology for use in intermittent renewable energy storage and hydrogen vehicle refuelling, and addressing legal/regulatory implementation issues. AUD$780,000.
  • DP210103126 – Griffith University. Metal-support interactions: single atoms vs nanoclusters – this research aims to fundamentally understand the catalytic mechanism at an atomic level through metal-metal and metal-metal/support interactions. The expected outcomes include a new design philosophy and strategies for catalysts, and highly efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic reactions. AUD$300,000.
  • DP210100901 – Monash University. MOF-polymer 3D composites for liquid organic hydrogen carrier utilisation – this research aims to address the hydrogen transportation challenge by utilising liquid organic hydrogen carriers rather than other techniques involving high pressures or cryogenic temperatures that need complex infrastructure (and expects to generate knowledge in the hydrogen economy area using the novel approach of simplifying the separation of the liquid carriers before and after their release of hydrogen). AUD$522,821.
  • DP210102215 – The University of Wollongong. Carbon-free energy storage and conversion using ammonia as a mediator – this research aims to develop essential technologies for ammonia-mediated energy storage, hydrogen production, and electricity generation (and expects to generate new understandings on designing novel multi-atom-cluster catalysts for the critical ammonia synthesis, electrolysis, and oxidation processes using interdisciplinary approaches). AUD$573,778.
  • DP200100365 – The University of Wollongong. Controlling and understanding interface chemistry for energy conversions – this research aims to develop a promising electrocatalyst technology platform, based on novel 2D material architectures that have applications ranging from hydrogen generation via water splitting through to carbon dioxide reduction. The research is expected to generate advanced knowledge for the rational design of electrocatalysts and to promote the development of renewable energy technologies. AUD$480,000.
  • DP210103025 – The University of Newcastle. Novel H2 production technology using brown coal for clean power generation – this research project aims to develop a novel technology of poly-generation for the large-scale production of hydrogen and activated carbon materials using Australian brown coal through a high-pressure entrained-flow pyrolysis process, which is combined with a flameless catalytic H2 combustion process. AUD$370,552.
  • LP200100255 – The University of New South Wales. Hydrogen fuel cells with non-precious metal cathode catalysts – this research 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. AUD$424,566.
  • DP200101397 – The University of Queensland. High performance anode for direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells – ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier and can be directly fed to solid oxide fuel cells without fuel storage problem. This research aims to develop a high performance anode for direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells with both high activity and high stability at low temperature (below 600 degree C). AUD$410,000
  • DP200102301 – Curtin University. A thermal battery for dish-Stirling concentrated solar power systems – this research aims to investigate new high temperature (> 600 degrees Celsius) metal hydrides and carbonates suitable for thermochemical energy storage in dish-Stirling Concentrated Solar Power systems. The intended outcome is to discover cost effective, energy dense materials that are capable of operating over a 30 year life span in a solar power plant, enabling 24/7 electricity production from renewable sources in a dispatchable solar platform, ideal for remote locations. AUD$390,000.
  • DP210102694 – The University of New South Wales. Designing a photo-electro-catalysis system for selective organic oxidation – this research aims to establish new composite materials to enable realisation of next generation organic electrolysers for renewable hydrogen production. AUD$521,318.
  • DP210100472 – Queensland University of Technology. Plasma-assisted on-surface assembly for hydrogen production and beyond – this research aims to discover how to catalyse the formation and control the structure of functional materials with atomic precision using plasmas. New mechanisms of ultra-fast, plasma-catalytic on-surface nanoasembly will translate into energy-efficient, scalable digital fabrication of subnano-cluster and single-atomic-site catalysts over large 3D surface areas, tailored for advanced electrocatalysis. AUD$330,000.
  • DE210100930 – The University of Queensland. Defect engineering enabling efficient solar hydrogen production – this research aims to achieve efficient renewable hydrogen production through solar driven photoelectrochemical water splitting. The expected outcomes include high Solar-to-Hydrogen conversion efficiency on the new materials and cutting-edge knowledge in advanced material design. AUD$396,948.
  • DP210104010 – Griffith University. Chlorine evolution catalysts for efferent seawater electrolysis – this research project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide directly from seawater. AUD$527,119.
  • DE210101168 – Deakin University. Shining a light on the mechanism of photochemical hydrogen production – this research aims to improve the performance and longevity of molecular photocatalysts to produce hydrogen from water and visible light. (and expects to use innovative experimental techniques to reveal the causes of degradation in key intermediates of the photocatalytic reaction, which can help direct the design of new catalysts with enhanced stability and activity). AUD$430,000.
  • DE210101259 – The University of New South Wales. A predictive, ab initio design of enhanced plasmonic photocatalysts – the aim of this research is to design an efficient plasmonic photocatalyst utilizing state-of-the-art ab initio computations (benefitting the renewable energy sector and chemical industries by generating knowledge in catalysis relevant for hydrogen production and greenhouse gas reduction). AUD$360,000.
  • FL200100049 – Monash University. Nanofluidic membranes for sustainable energy future – this research aims to create a novel class of advanced membranes by making fundamental breakthroughs in nanofluidics, and harnessing this for developing new renewable energy and low-energy separation technologies. This project addresses the key challenges in understanding selective mass transport at the angstrom scale, thereby allowing the development of innovative materials design strategies to realise the ultrafast molecular and ionic permeation, and the ultrahigh selectivities observed in biological cell membranes. This cross-disciplinary research will benefit the development of new materials for accelerating renewable hydrogen and biofuel futures, and enabling sustainable production of energy materials. AUD$2,906,992.
  • DE210101627 – The University of Melbourne. Developing ultra-adsorbent MOF composites as high performance materials – this research aims to improve the adsorption properties of porous materials through enhancing their selectivity and also creating new composites (and expects to extend application opportunities to encompass real-life scenarios, in particular hydrogen transfer and carbon capture). AUD$447,625.
  • DP210102694 – The University of New South Wales. Designing a photo-electro-catalysis system for selective organic oxidation – this research aims to establish new composite materials to enable realisation of next generation organic electrolysers for renewable hydrogen production. Significant opportunity exists in adopting organic electrolysis though challenges exist with controlling organic product selectivity and restricting carbon dioxide generation. AUD$521,318.
  • DP200103043 – Griffith University. Controllable synthesis of defects in catalysts for electrocatalysis – this research aims to address the most critical issue of electrocatalysis: identification of active sites for carbon-based metal free catalysts (CMFCs). Expected outcomes from this research include an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of electrocatalysis: the reactivity of active sites and the catalytic performance with the number of active sites. AUD$450,000.
  • FT200100939 – The Australian National University. Porous electro-materials for hydrogen production and energy storage – this research aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. AUD$1,057,328.
  • FT200100317 – Monash University. New dimensions of electrocatalyst design for sustainable energy future – this research would use a suite of advanced instrumental and theoretical tools to understand and control how catalysts operate. Expected outcomes include new techniques to study catalysts, new catalyst design concepts, and novel high-performance catalytic materials and devices for sustainable electrosynthesis. AUD$784,234.
  • DP190101607 – Queensland University of Technology. Cost-efficient 2D heterostructures for solar overall water splitting – this research aims to develop novel processes to enable water splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen under sunlight using cost-efficient 2D van der Waals heterostructures (enhanced optical absorption and reduced charge transfer distance across the interface are expected to improve the photocatalytic activity). AUD$270,000.
  • FT190100756 – The University of New South Wales. Defect control for high-performance green kesterites energy materials – this research addresses the fundamental challenge of defect control of the quaternary compound kesterite, and looks to revolutionise the way we can understand the hidden defect-evolution process and design accordingly effective defect-control approaches. Successfully achieved, this project will realize full potential of kesterite in photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications. AUD$888,000.
  • DP190101862 – The University of Sydney. Composite oxides as next-generation photocatalysts for solar energy capture – this research aims to prepare new photocatalysts that capture and convert solar energy to stored energy by directly splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen (and would deliver new and improved photocatalysts to help hasten progress towards commercially viable systems). AUD$670,000.
  • FT180100585 – The University of Wollongong. Functional two-dimensional materials for photocatalysis – this research aims to explore and tailor two-dimensional materials and heterostructures by new synthetic strategies, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effects of crystalline and electronic structures on photocatalysis at the atomic level. AUD$878,125.
  • DP180102540 – The University of New South Wales. Overcoming the inherent instability of photocatalyst to produce solar fuels – this research aims to develop innovative materials engineering methods to suppress the intrinsic instability of novel photoactive semiconductor materials that are promising candidates for harnessing solar energy from water or industrial waste water. Attaining fundamental knowledge on charge interaction at electrolyte-semiconductor interfaces will be crucial in developing the next generation of highly efficient photochemical systems in solar fuels applications. AUD$386,140.
  • LP190100297 – Curtin University. Sodium borohydride for solid-state green hydrogen export – this activity aims to develop a new method of producing, storing, and exporting green hydrogen. AUD$584,731.
  • LP180100431 – University of Sydney. Mitigating hydrogen embrittlement in high-strength steels – this activity, through the use of 3D maps showing the position of hydrogen atoms in steel, will indicate how a proposed solution, hydrogen trapping, can reduce hydrogen embrittlement and contribute to design criteria for hydrogen-resistant steels. AUD$321,269.
  • DP200101900 – The University of Queensland. Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation – this activity aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. AUD$510,000.
  • DP200103420 – The University of Sydney. Efficient photovoltaic-electrochemical water splitting for clean hydrogen – this activity aims to develop a novel, low cost and high performance monolithic photovoltaic-electrochemical (PV-EC) device for clean hydrogen production. AUD$437,000.
  • DP200102121 – The University of New South Wales. Accelerated discovery of solar hydrogen photocatalysts – this activity aims to harvest scientific principles and integrate with robust protocols to obtain a machine-augmented rational workflow guiding and accelerating discovery of optimal catalysts for solar hydrogen production. AUD$540,000.
  • DP190102507 – The University of Queensland .A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity – this activity aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. AUD$484,000.
  • DP200100965 – Griffith University. Atomically Thin 3d Transition Metal Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting – this activity aims to develop cheap transition metal-based high performance water splitting electrocatalysts, enabling large-scale water electrolytic hydrogen production driven by renewable electricity. AUD$515,000.
  • DP190101864 – The Australian National University. Porous transparent conducting oxides for efficient solar fuel production – this activity aims to develop highly porous, transparent and electrically conducting networks of oxide nanoparticles for artificial photosynthesis applications. AUD$320,000.
  • DP190101862 – The University of Sydney. Composite oxides as next-generation photocatalysts for solar energy capture – this activity aims to prepare new photocatalysts that capture and convert solar energy to stored energy by directly splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. AUD$670,000.
  • DE200100450 – The Australian National University. Cooperativity by Design: Unlocking Metal-Metal-Ligand Cooperativity – this activity aims to deliver efficient chemical hydrogen storage by designing new catalysts to facilitate the storage and release of hydrogen fuel. AUD$425,398.
  • FT200100939 – The Australian National University. Porous Electro-materials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage – this activity aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. AUD$1,057,328.
  • DE180101030 – Griffith University. Monoatomic metal doping of carbon-based nanomaterials for hydrogen storage – this activity aims to present a new concept of monoatomic metal doped carbon-based nanomaterials as advanced solid-state hydrogen storage materials (S-HSMs) for hydrogen fuel cells. AUD$368,446.
  • DE190100005 – Monash University. Perovskite-based electrocatalysts for water electrolysis – this activity aims to develop novel perovskite-based catalysts with high catalytic activity and long-term stability for the practical application of alkaline water splitting. AUD$404,000.
  • DP180102869 – Queensland University of Technology. Nanoscale electrochemical imaging of catalyst inks for water oxidation – this activity aims to reduce the cost of current water splitting technology by making new catalysts from earth abundant materials and provide a sustainable technological solution for the storage of renewable energy. AUD$372,716.
  • DE180101253 – The University of Queensland. Perovskite photovoltaic-assisted energy conversion system using wastewater – this activity aims to explore the potential of a solar-driven electrochemical system to simultaneously generate hydrogen and electricity by utilising wastewater as a fuel. AUD$367,646.
  • DP180104038 – The University of Sydney. Stability of nanoscale structures at the surface of metallic glasses – this activity aims to develop advanced electrodes and catalysts for batteries and hydrogen generation. AUD$287,396.

Comprehensive information on ARC hydrogen-related funded research activities, including full research summaries, can be found at the ARC Data Portal via detailed search functionality.

 

Updated: August 2021