Development of tailored catalysts for CNT synthesis

Summary

This project involves the development of tailored catalysts for CNT synthesis.

Supervisor(s)

Professor Andrew Harris

Research Location

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Program Type

N/A

Synopsis

The CNT synthesis parameter space is vast. A conservative estimate puts the number of influential parameters at 15, all at multiple values. Given that each experiment typically takes hours, the total number of possible permutations in the CNT synthesis space would take centuries to fully map using traditional experimental methods. To address this issue, we are developing a novel system to map the CNT synthesis space much more efficiently than the typical ‘change one variable at a time’ approach. The first stage involves customized quantum chemistry modelling to reduce the CNT space to a manageable size followed by high through-put experiments to validate the modelling work.

Keywords

carbon nanotubes, mechanisms and processing of advanced materials

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 348

Other opportunities with Professor Andrew Harris

• In situ functionalisation of carbon nanotubes
• Synthesis of single walled nanotubes in fluidised beds
• Spiral CNT synthesis in fluidised beds
• Nanotube purification
• Process intensification of fluidised bed reactors
• Biological factories for nanoparticle synthesis
• Assessing the feasibility of phytomining in Australia
• Hydrogen production from biomass and waste fuels
• Development of porous burner reactors
• Development of advanced materials for porous burner reactors
• Designing tailored nanomaterials for CO2 capture
• Novel, nanoporous silicon carbide nanomaterials
• Biologically templated nanomaterials
• Mimicking the Stenocara beetle hydrophilic/hydrophobic surfaces
• Fuels and chemicals from biomass