The Rio Tinto Australia-Japan Collaborative Program aims to encourage collaboration between Australia and Japan in science, technology and innovation. The $150,000 grant has been awarded to a collaborative project between ANFF-Q client Professor Yusuke Yamauchi at the University of Queensland and Associate Professor Toru Wakihara at the University of Tokyo. The project will develop new nanostructured materials to extract harmful greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere and convert them into useful fuels.

Professor Yamauchi and Associate Professor Wakihara will design and synthetise raw materials with a unique nanoscale structure that will enable inexpensive, highly efficient adsorption of high volumes of greenhouse gasses. Materials being developed include single layers of carbon atoms (graphene), and a material resembling volcanic mineral called zeolite, which previous studies have shown hold the greatest promise for gas adsorption. The materials will be constructed to include unique nanoscale pores that will further increase the inherent adsorption capacity of the materials.

ANFF-Q is excited to be supporting this academic-industry partnership, which will push the boundaries of chemical engineering and materials science and find solutions for global climate change and energy sustainability.