1/6/2010
Written by
Sustainable energy supply and clean technologies associated with sustainable energy utilization are not only big challenges for the 21st century but also great business opportunities globally. According to the latest UN report on sustainable energy investment, US$90.7 billion were invested in clean technologies such as solar, wind, biofuels and clean coal in 2006. Climate change, oil price rises, and long-term energy security are the main drivers for such rapid growth in sustainable energy industries. Underpinning such a strong development in this sector are innovations in new materials and devices enabled by advances in nanoscience and nanomaterials, as well as advanced manufacturing processes.
Lu’s talk will present an overview of the recent advances in nanotechnology research and their potential applications in sustainable energy and environmental technologies. Examples include nanomaterials for hydrogen production, storage and fuel cells, gas to liquid conversion, membrane technologies for clean coal utilization. In particular, he will discuss some nanomaterials as photocatalysts for alternative solar cells, hydrogen production from water splitting and for water purification. With current challenges in climate change and sustainable development, nanotechnology is especially exciting because it provides great opportunities for technological advances needed to accelerate the innovations needed in such areas.
Lu is Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vice President (Research), and Director for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials at the University of Queensland. His research expertise is in nanoparticles and nanoporous materials for clean energy and environmental technologies.
With more than 360 journal publications in high impact journals including Nature, JACS, Angew Chem., Adv Materials, Lu is also co-inventor of 18 international patents. Lu is a highly cited researcher in chemical engineering and materials science with over 6600 citations (with h-index of 44). He has received numerous prestigious awards nationally and internationally including the Orica Award, RK Murphy Medal, Le Fevre Prize, ExxonMobil Award, IUMRS Young Scientist Award, Top 100 Most Influential Engineers in Australia (2004). Top 50 Most Inspiring Chinese in the World (2006). He is elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Fellow of IChemE. He is currently Chairman of the IChemE Board in Australia. He served on Expert Advisory Groups of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (2004, 2005). He serves as editor and editorial board member for 12 international journals.