Linkage grants catapult lab ideas to production line
Published on: 22 June 2023
Luo Group
Functional materials for electrochemical energy storage applications
The advanced battery materials and technology group, led by ARC Future fellow Associate Professor Bin Luo, focuses on the development of functional materials for electrochemical energy storage applications.
The Luo Group focuses on the development of functional materials for electrochemical energy storage applications, especially exploring the application of carbon materials and their hybrid structures with organic/inorganic species in next-generation battery technologies, such as redox flow batteries, multivalent metal batteries, and solid-state batteries, and solar rechargeable batteries. Fundamentally, we aim to reveal the underlying charge transfer and energy storage mechanism and structure-performance relationships by various in-situ/ex-situ techniques, with an ultimate goal of improving electrochemical performance and solving the future energy storage demand. We are also working closely with local battery industries to translate fundamental science into practice and solve industrial problems.
Research Areas
- Functional materials for next-generation battery technologies, e.g. redox flow batteries, multivalent metal batteries, and solid state batteries.
- Design of new conceptual energy conversion or storage systems, e.g. wearable energy devices, micro-batteries, solar batteries and biobatteries.
- Revealing structure-performance relationships via operando or ex-situ investigations.
Research Approach
Through a comprehensive exploration of the redox chemistry in the developed functional materials and devices using operando or ex-situ technologies, the research endeavors to uncover the fundamental energy storage mechanisms and elucidate structure-performance relationships. The ultimate objective is to enhance electrochemical performance, addressing the growing demand for future energy storage solutions.
Research Highlights
Collaborations
In addition to the internal collaborations within the Nanomaterials Centre led by Prof Lianzhou Wang at The University of Queensland, Dr Luo has built extensive collaborations with many other domestic and international research groups. This includes collaborations with, or mentorships from, leading figures in the field such as Prof Ian Gentle (UQ), Prof Debra Barnhart (UQ), Dr Ruth Knibbe (UQ), Prof Huijun Zhao (Griffith), A/Prof Porun Liu (Griffith), Prof Aijun Du (QUT), Dr Qinfen Gu (ANSTO), Prof Linjie Zhi (CUP East China), Prof Dan Wang (IPE-CAS), Prof Bin Wang (NCNST), Prof Zhiyong Tang (NCNST), Dr Tobias Schülli (ESRF-The European Synchrotron), Prof Lei Wang (QUST), Prof Yun Hau Ng (CityUHK), Prof Michael Giersig (IPPT-PAN), A/Prof Jens Noack (Fraunhofer ICT). Luo group is also involved in collaborations with industrial partners, e.g. Redflow, Energy Storage Industries- Asia Pacific, Dynamic group.
Research Projects
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Solar rechargeable batteries for wearable electronics
January 2023–January 2027 -
Advanced Iron flow batteries for stationary energy storage
April 2023–April 2026 -
Photoelectrochemical redox flow battery for solar energy storage
January 2022–January 2025 -
Functional materials for high performance Zinc-Bromine flow batteries
January 2021–January 2025 -
Advanced cathode materials for Aluminium batteries
January 2020–January 2024 -
Extending Flow Battery Operation (ARC Research Hub project)
January 2021–January 2026 -
Solar rechargeable Zinc-Bromine Flow Batteries (ARC DP)
January 2023–January 2026 -
Solar rechargeable batteries for wearable electronics (ARC FT)
January 2021–January 2025
PhD opportunities
Funding
Since 2019
- Innovation Connections (2023) Electrode Material Optimisation for Iron Flow Batteries
- Innovation Connections (2023) Electrolyte Optimisation for Iron Flow Batteries
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2023) Structure Directing Effect of Graphene additives on Polymer Carbonisation and Graphitisation
- ARC Discovery Projects (2023) Solar rechargeable Zinc-Bromine Flow Batteries
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2023) Operando study of zinc plating chemistry on carbon electrodes for high performance anode-free Zn metal batteries
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2022) Understanding the electrocatalytic effects of metal sulfides/nitrides in Aluminium-Sulfur Batteries
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2022) Operando study of MXene confinement effects on alloying-type anodes for sodium ion batteries
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2022) Operando study of interactions between crystalline COF and Ionic Liquid for high performance Aluminium batteries
- ARC Future Fellowships (2020) Solar rechargeable batteries for wearable electronics
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2020) In-situ structural characterisation of the electrochemical reaction of metal sulfides as alloying-type anodes for sodium ion storage
- UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards (2019) Planar solar battery design based on new stretchable interdigitated electrodes
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (2019) In-situ characterisation for a novel carbon nanofiber cathode materials for high performance rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries
Publications
Click here to view Luo group publications
