Two collaborative projects given the green light under ARC Linkage Projects scheme, with focus on innovation and conservation
From frogs to the future of battery technology, two groundbreaking projects led by University of Wollongong (UOW) researchers have been awarded $1 million in funding from the Australian Research Council's (ARC) 2024 Round 2 Linkage Projects scheme. The scheme brings researchers and industry partners together to deliver real-world outcomes addressing national and global challenges.
One project will tackle the urgent challenge of protecting amphibian biodiversity, aiming to safeguard vulnerable species and preserve vital ecosystems. The other will drive the future of renewable energy, advancing the development of lithium-ion batteries that promise to transform how we power our world.
New-generation SiC anode battery technology
UOW researchers including Lead Investigator Senior Professor Jun Chen, Dr Klaudia Wagner and Dr Andrew Minett will collaborate with Sicona Battery Technologies to create next-generation lithium-ion batteries that charge faster and store more energy. The superior battery technology produced in this research partnership, awarded $715,000 in funding, will deliver Australia a competitive advantage in battery evolution in the future.
"Our focus is on improving part of the battery called the anode by using a mix of silicon and other materials. We are aiming to solve problems that have held back silicon-based batteries - such as making them last longer and charge quicker," Professor Chen said.
Advanced reproductive technologies to protect amphibian biodiversity
A team of UOW researchers, including Lead Investigator Professor Phillip Byrne, Dr Aimee Silla, Dr Christopher Friesen, and Dr Damien Esquerre, will work alongside academics from the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and Australian National University, to help save Australia's endangered amphibians by developing new ways to protect their genetic diversity. The researchers were awarded $376,272 and will partner with Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Zoos Victoria and the NSW Department of Climate Energy, the Environment and Water.
