Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) research at UNSW

PartCat’s research specialises in the synthesis, functionalisation, characterisation and application of novel particle and catalyst systems. The team undertake a holistic research approach from deep fundamental understanding of particulate systems and processes through basic and applied research. Applied research incorporates a comprehensive approach to the design, discovery and characterisation of new particulate materials and how these are used for catalytic and photocatalytic processes, environmental remediation, clean energy production and utilisation and health care.

Recently PartCat research group has been working on Power-to-X (P2X) technologies to produce clean fuels and chemicals using low-cost renewable energy as well as techno-economic and roadmapping study for decarbonisation of chemical and gase industries and electrification.

Within the PartCat Research Group, Professor Rose Amal leads a team of 30 postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students who are working on a variety of fundamental and industry-driven research projects. PartCat research group has a strong link with industry (locally and international) as well as government and peak bodies. The group has attracted major competitive grants and industry funding, with a total value over $30 million in the last 10 years. Research team members have also received prestigious recognition and major awards for its industry-university investigations. Collectively the Group has published more than 450 refereed papers in leading international journals; supported and mentored more than 100 honours, master’s and PhD students from more than ten countries.

At UNSW, the PartCat Research team works closely with members from across the ARC Training Centre for the Global Hydrogen Economy (GlobH2E), Materials Energy Research Laboratory in Nanoscale, UNSW Digital Future Institute and ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions to address future societal and industry challenges whilst developing solutions and emerging technologies around hydrogen production and storage, catalysis for CO2 conversion and integrated power systems.

Seawater for Hydrogen generation

Seawater for H2 generation and electrode materials

A sea-change: Robust, cheap and working electrodes for hydrogen generation from seawater

Competitive Advantage:

Lab scale electrolyzer that can be used for H2 generation directly from seawater using solar PV, with good stability;
Efficient electrode materials for selective anode reaction for other products generation such as Chlorine production and/or biomass utilisation

Photocatalytic reforming: H2 generation and selective oxidation of waste organics

Advancing photoreforming of organics: highlights on photocatalyst and system designs for selective oxidation reactions

Competitive Advantage:

Simple one-pot photocatalytic conversion of organic waste into hydrogen and valuable organic products can be achieved under ambient condition.
Less energetically demanding when compared to photocatalytic water splitting
High selectivity towards valuable organic products ensure low or zero emission of CO2 green house gas.

Photovoltaic Electrocatalysis (PVE) for production of renewable fuels

The efficient utilization of heat from concentrated PV system can improve the hydrogen production efficiency

Competitive Advantage:

Production of renewable fuels (e.g. H2, CO, ethanol) using cost-effective and active electrolysers powered by photovoltaic cells;
Electrodes are comprised of earth abundant elements without using any expensive noble metals;
Electrolysers can use natural seawater as the electrolyte to produce chlorine on the anode and hydrogen on the cathode

Alternative green and cost-effective processes for Ammonia production – Green Ammonia

The researcher in PartCat Lab actively seek to develop high performance catalysts tailored for ammonia synthesis reactions, and design the interface to maximise reaction sites to increase the conversion and ammonia synthesis rates.

Current on-going projects are:

Hybrid Plasma – Electrocatalysis System for Green Ammonia production
Nitrate reduction to Ammonium

Power to Syngas - Closing the carbon loop

Competitive Advantage:

High performing catalyst for favourable CO2 reduction reactions at low applied overpotentials
The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) can be carried out at ambient conditions by applying an external bias;
Possibility to couple with electricity generated from renewable energy resources to close the carbon loop;
Simple, scalable and cost-effective catalysts for CO2RR in the gas phase to deliver liquid products

Integrated solar thermal catalytic and solar electrolyser process

Competitive Advantage:

Highly active methane dry reforming catalyst based on cheap active metals (Ni and Co) which can be synthesised rapidly in a single step method, and is readily scalable;
High conversion of methane (up to 90%) is achievable at a relatively low operating temperature of 700°C;
Catalyst support (using SiO2 and Al2O3) modification to enhance catalyst stability

Dry CO2 reforming of Methane

Competitive Advantage:

Highly active methane dry reforming catalyst based on cheap active metals (Ni and Co) which can be synthesised rapidly in a single step method, and is readily scalable;
High conversion of methane (up to 90%) is achievable at a relatively low operating temperature of 700°C;
Catalyst support (using SiO2 and Al2O3) modification to enhance catalyst stability

Waste biomass to renewable Hydrogen

Process overview of biomass reforming system

Competitive Advantage:

Preconditioned biomass (from raw biomass stream) can be obtained at very low cost;
Electrocatalytic hydrogen extraction from pre-conditioned biomass is generally easier than water electrolysis;
It is selective, delivers zero carbon dioxide emissions and can produce value-added organic products with potential to be used as precursors for plastic fabrication

Research

Seawater for Hydrogen generation

A sea-change: Robust, cheap and working electrodes for hydrogen generation from seawater

Photocatalytic reforming: H2 generation and selective oxidation of waste organics

Photovoltaic Electrocatalysis (PVE) for production of renewable fuels

Alternative green and cost-effective processes for Ammonia production – Green Ammonia

Power to Syngas - Closing the carbon loop

Integrated solar thermal catalytic and solar electrolyser process

Dry CO2 reforming of Methane

Waste biomass to renewable Hydrogen

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