The Electromaterials Program

The synthesis, fabrication and characterisation of nanostructured electromaterials lies at the heart of the world leading developments in Energy and Bionics being undertaken within ACES and IPRI.

The Electromaterials Program is coordinated by Professor David Officer (davido@uow.edu.au); phone: +61 (2) 4221 4698. 

The Associate Program Leader is Dr Jenny Pringle (Jenny.Pringle@monash.edu); phone: +61 (3) 9905 8387.

Take the time and spend 'Five Minutes with Jenny' !

 Electromaterial synthesis

A wide variety of molecular and macromolecular materials, functional electrolytes, nanostructured carbons and nanoparticles are under investigation.

 Molecular and macromolecular materials

Organic and inorganic molecules that act as light harvestors for solar cells, catalysts for water splitting or are photo- and electrochemically responsive are being prepared. In particular, these include porphyrins and related tetrapyrrolic macrocycles, organic dyes, manganese cubanes, ruthenium complexes, and photochromic spiropyrans. Inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) that are specifically functionalised or nanostructured are a major focus of the Program. Thus, we are exploring specific functionalised polythiophenes, processable ICPs such as PEDOT PSS or ProDOTs, polypyrroles or polyanilines.

Functional electrolytes

The advent of ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes, organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC) electrolytes and polymer-in-ionic-liquid electrolytes (PILEs), as well as the diverse array of chemistries these provide, enable the incorporation of molecular level functionality into the electrolyte. Recent breakthroughs have achieved improved electrolyte ion transport and electrochemical performance through the use of novel materials based on ILs, plastic crystal and co-polymer based electrolytes, and in particular with zwitterions and nanoparticle additives.

Nanostructured carbons

The production of new carbon-based materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT) is a significant component of this program. We have developed a process for the large scale production of chemically converted graphene (CCG) by the chemical oxidation of graphite. Chemical functionalisation and the modification of the CCG properties has been achieved while maintaining stable aqueous and organic dispersions. The use of CCG, including graphene-based nano- and polymer composites, in a wide variety of energy and bionic applications, are being explored.

Ordered nanoparticulate and nanofibrillar inorganic materials

Ordered nanoparticulate and nanofibrillar inorganic materials (e.g. gold, platinum, indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coated glass, TiO2) are being produced and functionalised with molecules and appropriate polymers to give unique hybrid structures.

Electromaterial fabrication

Nanostructured electromaterials are fabricated from synthesised and commercial electromaterials. For example, high surface area electrodes have been fabricated from polymers, graphene, carbon nanotubes and carbon “nanowebs” using a range of chemistries and techniques such as spraying, chemical vapour deposition, electrospinning and wet spinning. This provides nanostructured electromaterials that have a wide range of properties required for the diverse applications in the Energy and Bionics programs.

Electromaterial characterisation

Electromaterial properties such as conductivity (electronic/ionic), mechanical and electrochemical activity are routinely characterised using conventional characterisation techniques. For nanostructured materials and composites containing them, characterisation tools that enable in situ electrochemical characterisation and electrochemical mapping of heterogeneous materials down to the nanodomain are being developed.

New Facilities

Underlying this internationally recognised strength of designing, synthesising, characterising, modelling and fabricating innovative electromaterials are exceptional facilities as a result of more than $50 million in government support over the past 5 years, further enabling our core business, but also allowing us to investigate production scale-up, rapid prototyping and fabrication of devices for input into clinical or experimental trials.  

The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) - Materials Node

The ANFF Materials Node brings together specific strengths in the fabrication of both hard and soft materials, particularly nano-organic and inorganic electronic materials. The Materials Node is based at the state-of-the-art Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus and the University of Newcastle.

Contact Us

With increased capacity for research activities, ACES is able to partner with research institutions, government and industry so that they can achieve their goals and play a role in addressing some of the biggest problems facing global societies today. If you are interested in using or further developing any of the materials covered above or require other electromaterials, please contact: 

Professor David Officer
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong
phone: +61 (2) 4221 4698; email: davido@uow.edu.au