QUT Professor Zhanying Zhang has been awarded a $1.15 million Australian Research Council (ARC) Mid-Career Industry Fellowship to investigate biomass-derived materials for high performance lithium batteries.
Agricultural biomass is an abundant, low-cost, renewable resource that can be harnessed for commercialisation Professor Zhang, from the School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering and Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, said.
"Working alongside industry partners, this project aims to develop sustainable, high performance anode materials from agricultural biomass for lithium ion battery applications," he said.
"These outcomes will support the establishment of a secure, low-carbon-footprint battery supply chain in Australia and foster the growth of new low-carbon industries that manufacture sustainable chemicals and materials from agricultural biomass in regional Australia."
It is the latest advancement in QUT's work in bio-innovation.
This fellowship project follows the successful ARC Linkage Project and Discovery Project on biomass-derived anode materials for high performance sodium ion battery applications, which were awarded in 2024 and led by Professor Zhang and QUT collaborators.
The global bioeconomy, currently valued at US$4 trillion, was predicted by the World Bioeconomy Forum to grow to US$30 trillion by 2050, which would be a third of total global economic value.
Part of the ARC's Linkage Program, the Industry Fellowships scheme creates a pathway to support academic researchers in establishing careers in industry, and industry-based researchers to work in university settings, with the aim of increased two-way mobility and skill-building in research collaboration, translation and commercialisation.
ARC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ute Roessner, said the Mid-Career Industry Fellowships scheme supports researchers to strengthen the industry collaboration skills of mid-career researchers, that span both industry and academic settings, helping to strengthen Australia's research capability and deliver significant, actionable outcomes for industry partners and research end-users.
"These projects will enable mid-career researchers to work closely with industry on challenges of national importance, whether that's improving early childhood learning environments or advancing sustainable energy storage solutions," Professor Roessner said.
"By strengthening pathways for collaboration, the scheme builds two-way mobility, supports skill development, and ensures that research is closely aligned with industry needs."
Main photo: Professor Zhanying Zhang
