Opportunities

GETCO2 is committed to training the next generation of highly skilled scientists and engineers, equipped with unique expertise in catalysis, materials and advanced manufacturing for CO2 research, development and deployment across Australian research communities and industries. Great science and technology development needs great support and management – GETCO2 is also building professional capacity to enable and support the innovation environment.

Project Title: Multiphase transport in packings of nanospheres

Numerous materials comprise packings of nano-sized particles. Examples are catalytically active layers of metals deposited on surfaces, layers of carbon nanoparticles in electrodes, and extrudates of catalyst and adsorbent particles comprised of aggregated nanoparticles. Current models of transport through such materials often simplify the structure by appealing to an idealised cylindrical pore model, which is often inaccurate and requires the use of empirical fitting parameters. In addition, such models frequently overlook fluid-solid interactions that become important at nanoscales. This project will investigate simultaneous gas and liquid electrolyte transport in packings of nanospheres, while considering fluid-solid interaction and phase equilibrium between gas and liquid, using molecular dynamics simulations, to determine multiphase transport properties as a function of interaction parameters, packing structure, packing density and particle size, and the results correlated using machine learning models. The models developed will be useful in the design of catalyst and adsorbent particles, and of electrodes in electrochemical processes.

For more information please contact: 

Associate Investigator Professor Suresh Bhatia, via email: s.bhatia@uq.edu.au

No current opportunities.