Grants to accelerate energy and diabetes research

Three University of Adelaide-led projects have received funding from Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA), for research into improving electric-vehicle batteries, more efficient hydrogen production and better diabetes treatment.

More than $1.1 million was awarded to the projects, as part of the Federal Government’s AEA program, which aims to help universities translate and commercialise their research so Australian industries can benefit from this generation of knowledge.

This research not only furthers understanding of the world we live in, but also benefits our society through the implementation of this knowledge towards practical outcomes.

These projects, recognised by the AEA program for their commercialisation potential, are examples of how the University is helping create a healthier and more sustainable world.

The University of Adelaide is one of 11 universities recognised in these AEA grants, which saw 21 projects receive a share of $4.9 million in funding.

The three awarded University of Adelaide projects are:

On-sun testing of thermo-photocatalytic water-splitting for hydrogen production

Awarded $470,511 and led by Professor Greg Metha from the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, this project will develop a thermo-photocatalytic water-splitting reactor for the production of hydrogen. The reactor has been proven at lab-scale, and when fully developed will provide an alternative to fossil-fuel-based hydrogen that is cost competitive and has little-to-no carbon footprint.

Improving diabetes treatment with a point-of-care device to objectively assess disease

Awarded $445,000 and led by Professor Robert McLaughlin from the School of Biomedicine, this grant will allow researchers to prototype a new device to help guide treatment for diabetic foot ulcers by measuring skin blood flow. Diabetic foot ulcers are the major cause of foot amputations worldwide. The device, when finalised and adopted by the healthcare industry, could help doctors choose better treatments for patients, reducing healthcare costs and speeding up patient recovery.

Developing high-performance nickel-rich layered cathodes for automotive lithium-ion batteries

Awarded $191,897 and led by Dr Gemeng Liang from the School of Chemical Engineering, this project aims to produce high-energy and durable nickel-rich layered cathode materials for high-performance automotive lithium-ion batteries. The development of this technology will promote transportation electrification, reduce the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, and lead to fewer greenhouse gas emissions.