Introduction

The French-Australian research network on Conversion and Energy Storage for stand-alone & maritime applications (International Research Network FACES) is managed on the French side, by Dr. Fermín CUEVAS, CNRS research director at the East-Paris Institute of Chemistry and Materials Science (ICMPE) in collaboration with ICMCB-Bordeaux, IEM-Montpellier, IMN-Nantes, FEMTO-ST-Franche Comté, IMS-Bordeaux, LAPLACE-Toulouse et AMPERE-Lyon. On the Australian side, it is managed by Prof. Francois AGUEY-ZINSOU, leader of the Material Energy Research Laboratory in nanoscale (MERLin) at The School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, in collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Deakin University, University of South Australia (UNiSA), and Flinders University (Flinders). It has been launched in January 2020.

Missions and research themes

The IRN-FACES aims to set-up a collaborative research network on energy materials and integrated systems between eight CNRS French laboratories, accompanied by their supporting universities, and four Australian Universities. The scientific topics of the network focus on electrochemical storage (batteries and supercapacitors) and the hydrogen energy chain (hydrogen production, storage and conversion). It targets maritime-related applications: ship propulsion and off-grid energy systems adapted to islands, coastal areas and remote isolated regions.

Network activities and expected results

To reach the targets of the IRN-FACES, the following activities are envisaged:

• The organisation of workshops, seminars and training schools within the network partners and open to external collaborators.
• To promote the exchange of permanent researchers and professors as well as master, doctoral and post-doctoral students. In particular, the exchange of students at the Master level will be chased with the support from our Universities and Engineer Schools. They are expected to trigger joint French-Australian PhD doctorates.
• Co-participation to international congresses & conferences where the multidisciplinary expertise of the Network will be recognised and showcased.
• To act as innovation driver for attracting international projects.

To draw-up joint publications and implementation of joint projects between French and Australian partners within the IRN-FACES research targets.

institutions and laboratories involved

France:
• Dr. Fermín CUEVAS CNRS research director at the East-Paris Institute of Chemistry and Materials Science (ICMPE)

• CNRS laboratories involved: ICMPE-Thiais, ICMCB-Bordeaux, IEM-Montpellier, IMN-Nantes, FEMTO-ST-Franche Comté, IMS-Bordeaux, LAPLACE-Toulouse et AMPERE-Lyon.

Australia:
• Prof. Francois AGUEY-ZINSOU, leader of the Material Energy Research Laboratory in nanoscale (MERLin) at The School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW

• Australian Universities appointed: The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Deakin University, University of South Australia (UNiSA), and Flinders University (Flinders).