{"id":145367,"date":"2026-07-01T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?post_type=hdr-r-projects&p=145367"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:00:12","slug":"descriptor-guided-design-of-integrated-oxygen-carbon-carrier-materials-for-hydrogen-rich-biomass-conversion","status":"publish","type":"hdr-r-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/hdr-r-projects\/descriptor-guided-design-of-integrated-oxygen-carbon-carrier-materials-for-hydrogen-rich-biomass-conversion\/","title":{"rendered":"Descriptor-Guided Design of Integrated Oxygen\u2013Carbon Carrier Materials for Hydrogen-Rich Biomass Conversion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The transition toward low-carbon energy systems requires new technologies capable of converting underutilised biomass residues into clean and dispatchable energy carriers. Sorption-enhanced chemical looping gasification (SECLG) is an emerging thermochemical platform that enables simultaneous biomass conversion and in-situ CO\u2082 capture for the production of hydrogen-rich gas. However, conventional SECLG systems rely on physically mixed oxygen-carrier and sorbent particles, which often suffer from diffusion limitations, carbon deposition, sintering, and loss of cyclic stability during repeated operation.
This PhD project aims to develop advanced integrated oxygen\u2013carbon carrier materials for stable hydrogen-rich biomass conversion. The research introduces a descriptor-guided materials design approach in which the spatial arrangement of catalytic and CO\u2082-capture domains within engineered particles is treated as a measurable design parameter governing reaction coupling and long-term stability.
The project will investigate how active-site proximity and oxygen mobility influence hydrogen production, cyclic stability, and coke formation during thermochemical biomass conversion. The research combines advanced materials synthesis, thermochemical reactor experimentation, and materials characterisation to establish structure\u2013function relationships for next-generation multifunctional looping materials.
The outcomes of this project are expected to contribute to the development of advanced low-carbon energy materials and biomass valorisation technologies relevant to future hydrogen and circular energy systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aim  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim of this project is to develop integrated oxygen\u2013carbon carrier materials with controlled spatial architectures for stable hydrogen-rich biomass conversion via sorption-enhanced chemical looping gasification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objectives <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project will address the following objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Synthesize integrated oxygen\u2013carbon carrier materials with controlled active-site proximity for sorption-enhanced biomass conversion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Investigate the influence of particle architecture on hydrogen production, cyclic stability, and carbon deposition behaviour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Examine the role of oxygen mobility in improving coke resistance and redox stability of integrated looping materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Establish structure\u2013function relationships linking material architecture with thermochemical performance under cyclic operating conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Significance <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This project is expected to generate new knowledge in multifunctional thermochemical materials and descriptor-guided materials engineering for biomass conversion systems. The research will provide insights into how spatial architecture influences reaction coupling and cyclic stability in integrated looping materials.
    The anticipated outcomes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n