Adjunct Professor
John Bell
Faculty of Science,
School of Chemistry & Physics
Biography
Broad area of research: EnergyMain areas of research
New materials for future challenges of mankind
Research is based around the coordination, support and advancement in materials science for various industries.
John’s research operates in interdisciplinary groups and centres, investigating the connections between the underlying structure and the processing, properties, and performance of the material.
Areas include:
- Ceramics and ceramic processing
- Characterisation - Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM)
- Carbon Nanotube Polymer Composites
- Thin film materials (deposition, analysis and applications).
Energy savings in modern buildings
To develop solutions to make buildings more energy efficient by improving thermal performance, daylight and adopting integrated PV systems which rely on solar energy.
Areas include:
- Energy efficiency (building materials)
- Energy efficient buildings
- Thermal performance
- Daylight in building
- Integrated PV systems.
Career history
- 2005 - present: Assistant Dean (Research) - Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, QUT
- 2003 - 2004: Director - Centre for BEE Research, QUT
- 2000 - 2003: Assistant Dean - Research, Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, QUT
- 2001 - 2003:Program Co-Leader - Environmental Sustainability, CRC for Construction Innovation
- 1997 - 2001: Project Leader - Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy
- 1996 - 2005: Director - Research Concentration in Materials Technology, QUT
- 1996 - 2005: Associate Professor in Mechanical, Manufacturing and Medical Engineering, QUT (full-time appointment)
- 1994 - 1996: Senior Lecturer, QUT (half-time appointment)
- 1994 - 1996: Associate Professor - Applied Physics at UTS
- 1994: Director, Centre for Materials Technology, UTS
- 1991 - 1993: Senior Lecturer in Applied Physics, UTS
- 1988 - 1991: Lecturer in Applied Physics, UTS
- 1986 - 1987: CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellow - Cornell University and CSIRO Division of Applied Physics, Lindfield
Grants
Industry Funding
Over $431,821 received in Industry Funding since 1994.
Selected List of Industrial Projects
Professor John Bell and his research team has been granted funds to conduct following research projects:Alternative Energy - Design System to Produce Continuous Flow of Hydrogen (Year: 2006-07)Investigators: Geoffery Wills and J.M. BellCompany: Alternative Energy International Pty LtdAmount: $1,600,000Temperature Increases in Water Pipes (Year: 2007)Investigators: J.M. Bell and G.D. WillCompany: Country EnergyAmount: $8,742.00Cathodic Materials for due-sensitised solar cells (Year: 2005)Investigators: J.M. Bell and G.D. WillCompany: Dyesol Pty LtdAmount: $221,000Thermal and Optical Performance of Heat Reflecting Paints (Year: 2004)Investigators: J.M. Bell, T. TesfamichaelCompany: Heat Management Company Pty LtdAmount: $8,333Simulation of dye sensitised solar cell systems: a route to increasing module and array performance (Year: 2004)Investigators: J.M. Bell, K. Khouzam and I.L. SkryabinCompany: Sustainable Technologies InternationalAmount: $15,000Energy Efficiency at AFC1 (Year: 2004)Investigators: J.M. Bell, R.J. Brown, and N.DemirbilekCompany: Brisbane Airport CorporationAmount: $6,000Electronic properties of diamond like carbon for applications in planar optical waveguides (Year: 2004)Investigators: J.M. Bell, E.M Gray (GU) and J. Kavanagh (Laserdyne)Company: Laserdyne Pty LtdAmount: $15,000Plasma Electroplating (Year: 2000)Investigators: J.M. BellCompany: QUT Strategic Links/ZentecAmount: $52,488WERS Training Manual (Year: 2000)Investigators: J.M. BellCompany: Australasian Window Assoc.Amount: $18,600Mathematical modelling of dye-sensitised titania solar cells: a route to improved efficiency in production (Year: 2002)Investigators: J.M. Bell, T. Farrell and G. WillCompany: Sustainable Technologies` InternationalAmount: $15,000Kinetics of Ion Intercalation at Elevated Temperatures (Year: 2000)Investigators: J.M. Bell and I. Skryabin (STA)Company: ARC APA(I)Amount: $15,000Wear of Ceramics (Year: 1996)Investigators: J.M. BellCompany: SEPR Pty LtdAmount: $18,000Mechanical Properties and Adhesion of Sol-Gel Deposited Thin Films (Year: 1996)Investigators: J.M. BellCompany: QUT Strategic Links/ZentecAmount: $20,000Energy Efficient Materials (Year: 1996)Investigators: J.M. BellCompany: Sustainable Technologies AustraliaAmount: $13,000Grain Size Effects in Ferroelectric Thin Films (Year: 1991)Investigators: J.M. BellCompany: Silicon Technologies AustraliaAmount: $15,000Selected List of Awarded Grants
ARCReceived over $3,627,315 from Australian Research Council in the form of funding since 1994.Efficient Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells: New Cathodic Materials and Systems (Year: 2007-10)Investigators: J.M. Bell et al.Scheme: ARC Linkage Projects with APAI or APDI componentsAmount: $465,000Novel Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Water Purification - Science and Application (Year: 2007-10)Investigators: J.M. Bell et al.Scheme: ARC Linkage InternationalAmount: $465,000Carbon Nanotube Photovoltaic Cells (Year: 2005)Investigators: J.M. Bell, N.Motta, E.Waclawik and B-Q WeiScheme: ARC Linkage InternationalAmount: $116,480 A Focussed Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for South East Queensland (Year: 2006)Investigators: J.M. Bell et al.Scheme: ARC LIEFAmount: $880,333Simulation of dye sensitised solar cell systems: a route to increasing module and array performance (Year: 2004)Investigators: J.M. Bell, K. Khouzam and I.L. SkryabinScheme: ARC LinkageAmount: $70,568An Advanced Electron Microanalytical Facility for South East Queensland (Year: 2004)Investigators: J. Drennan, P. Hayes, J.M. Bell, R. L. Frost, T. BostromScheme: ARC LIEFAmount: $440,000Synthesis of a Nano-Structured Titania Surface and it's Application in Photo-catalytic Oxidation for Water Treatment (Year: 2004)Investigators: Z. Ding, R.L. Frost, G. Will and J.,M. BellScheme: ARC DiscoveryAmount: $245,000Fundamental Studies of the Mechanism of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition of Thin Films (Year: 2003)Investigators: J.M. Bell and P.M. FredericksScheme: ARC DiscoveryAmount: $175,997Mathematical Modeling of dye-sensitised titania solar cells: a route to improved efficiency in production (Year: 2002)Investigators: J.M. Bell, T. Farrell and G. WillScheme: ARC LinkageAmount: $67,635Electronic properties of diamond like carbon for applications in planar optical waveguides (Year: 2002)Investigators: J.M. Bell, E.M Gray (Griffith) and J. KavanaghScheme: ARC LinkageAmount: $67,635An advanced facility for materials characterization (Year: 2002)Investigators: J.M. Bell and P.M. FredericksScheme: ARC LIEFAmount: $535,000A Multi-Campus X-ray Diffraction Facility (Year: 2003)Investigators: G.A. Hope, M. von Itzstein, J.M. Bell et al.Scheme: ARC REIFAmount: $300,000 Integrated Resource Network for Engineering and IT Investigators (Year: 1999)Investigators: D.F. Radcliffe, J.B. Schmidt, J.M. Bell, et al.Scheme: ARC REIFAmount: $100,000Low Temperature Magnetometer (Year: 2003)Investigators: E.M. Gray (Griffith), J.M. Bell and I. McKinnonScheme: ARC REIFAmount: $165,000Micromechanical Testing Facility (Year: 1997)Investigators: J.M. Bell, E.M. Gray (Griffith), I. McKinnon (UQ)Scheme: ARC InfrastructureAmount: $90,000Micromechanical Properties of Thin Ceramic Films (Year: 1995)Investigators: J.M. BellScheme: ARC Small GrantsAmount: $15,000Inorganic Materials Synthesis (Year: 1994)Investigators: J.M. Bell, L. Spiccia (Monash), J. WoolfreyScheme: ARC Mech CAmount: $150,000Advanced Optical Spectroscopy (Year: 1993)Investigators: J.M. Bell, A.T. Baker and G.B. SmithScheme: ARC Mech B (UTS)Amount: $207,000Grain Boundaries in High Temperature Superconductors (Year: 1991)Investigators: J.M. Bell, G.B. Smith and W. KalceffScheme: ARC Large GrantAmount: $63,000Grain Size Effects in Ferroelectric Thin Films (Year: 1991)Investigators: J.M. BellScheme: ARC APA(I)Amount: $63,000Other Government and CRC FundingOver $3,340,010 received from other government and CRC’s in Funding since 1988.Hybrid Airconditioning (Year: 2007-09)Investigators: L. Guan and J.M. BellAgency: Department of Public Works (QLD)Amount: $90,000Daylighting in the Tropics (Year: 2007)Investigators: J.M. BellAgency: Department of Public Works (QLD)Amount: $40,000The Effect of High Temperature and Light Intensity on the Performance of Photo-catalytic Reactions (Year: 2006-09)Investigators: J.M. BellAgency: Queensland Department of the Premier and CabinetAmount: $13,500Cathodic Materials for due-sensitised solar cells (Year: 2005)Investigators: J.M. Bell and J. WilliamsonAgency: Qld Public Works and Emergency ServicesAmount: $130,000CRC for Renewable Energy – Extension Funding (Year: 2003)Investigators: J.M. BellAgency: ACREAmount: $25,000Productivity and Health in Buildings (Year: 2003)Investigators: J.M. Bell et al.Agency: CRC CIAmount: $44,500Dye sensitised solar cells – optimising nanostructure and composition, Increasing the efficiency of dye-sensitised titania photovoltaic cells (Year: 2001-02)Investigators: J.M. Bell, G. Will & T. TesfamichaelAgency: CRC CIAmount: $18,600Fundamental study of the mechanism of film deposition by plasma electrolysis (Year: 2004)Investigators: T. Paulmier and J.M. BellAgency: Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and EngineeringAmount: $6,698Development of Nano-Structured Titania Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Evaporation (Year: 2004)Investigators: T. Tesfamichael and J.M. BellAgency: Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and EngineeringAmount: $9,234Microwave modification of titania nanoparticles (Year: 2004)Investigators: G.D. Will and J.M. BellAgency: Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and EngineeringAmount: $11,361Communicating and Querying Urban Design Scenarios Through Virtual Environments (Year: 2003)Investigators: S. Bucolo, L. Ferreira and J.M. BellAgency: Built Env. Research Unit & QUT Strat LinksAmount: $15,000Cool Schools (Year: 2001)Investigators: J.M. Bell & R.J. BrownAgency: Qld Public Works/QUT Strat. LinksAmount: $23,000Optimisation of Passive and Active Components in Buildings (Year: 1997-2001)Investigators: J.M. BellAgency: ACREAmount: $430,000Intelligent Glazing Materials (Year: 1989-1996)Investigators: J.M. Bell (Chief Investigator and Project Manager)Agency: Energy Research & Development CorporationAmount: $1,806,617Ceramic Coatings (Year: 1988-1993)Investigators: B.O. West, J.M. Bell, L. Spiccia & B. Ben-NissanAgency: IR&D Board (GIRD Grant)Amount: $820,000
Awards and recognitions
- 1992 - 1994: NSWIT Readership, UTS
- 1986 - 1987: CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 1983: Gordon Godfrey Scholarship for Postgraduate Study in Theoretical Physics, UNSW
- 1981 - 1984: Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award
- 1981: University Medal in Physics, Sydney University
Personal details
Positions
- Adjunct Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Chemistry & Physics
Keywords
Buildings - thermal performance, Ceramics & ceramic processing, Daylight in building, Energy efficiency (building materials), Energy efficient buildings, Materials - thin film materials, integrated PV systems
Research field
Materials Engineering, Building, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (University of New South Wales)
- BSc(Hons) (University of Sydney)
Professional memberships and associations
- Chartered Professional Engineer
- Member - Australian Ceramics Society
- Member - SPIE (Society for Photo-optical Instrumentation and Engineering), United States)
- Member - American Physical Society
- Member - ANZSES (Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society)
- 1998 - present: Fellow - Institution of Engineers, Australia
- 1994: Chairman - Australian Institute of Physics, New South Wales Branch
- 1992 - 1996: Member - Australian Institute of Physics - National Accreditation Committee
- 1989 - 1994: Member - Australian Institute of Physics, New South Wales Branch Committee
Teaching
- material science
Experience
- 2000 - present: Chair - Faculty Library Committee
- 2000 - present: Member - Academic Staff PDP committee
- 2004 - present: Member - project team formed by the Dean to assist in the transformation of the Faculty as a result of the Quinquennial Review
- 1995 - 1996; 1999 - 2004: member - Faculty Research Committee
- 2002 - 2003: Director - Busines Council for Sustainable Energy
- 2000 - 2002: Director - Sustainable Energy Industries Association
- 2000: Member - steering committee - Australian Greenhouse Lighting Challengemember - advisory panel for Energex Greenpower Scheme
- 2000: Member, International Advisory Committee, IME-4, Uppsala
- 1999 - 2000: Member - IEAust Taskforce on Building and Construction Energy
- 1996: Technical Session Co-Chair - PACRIM 96 Ceramics Conference, Cairns.
- 1993: Treasurer - Condensed Matter Physics Conference, Wagga.
- 1993 - 1997: Member - International Energy Agency Task 18 Experts Group
- 1989: Member - program committee for Superconductivity Conference, Canberra (organised by the Commonwealth Department of Industry Technology and Commerce).
Publications
- Bell, J., Goh, R., Waclawik, E., Giulianini, M. & Motta, N. (2008). Polymer-carbon nanotube composites: basic science and applications. Materials Forum, 32, 144–152. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/30846
- Paulmier, T., Bell, J. & Fredericks, P. (2008). Plasma electrolytic deposition of titanium dioxide nanorods and nano-particles. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 208(1-3), 117–123. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/8157
- Rybachuk, M. & Bell, J. (2007). The Effect of sp2 Fraction and Bonding Disorder on Micro-Mechanical and Electronic Properties of a-C:H Films. Thin Solid Films, 515(20-21), 7855–7860. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/15131
- Wang, H. & Bell, J. (2007). Influence of Addition of Larger Particles into 3nm Particles of TiO2 Film on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. BioMEMS and Nanotechnology III: Proceedings of SPIE Volume 6799, 1–7. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/15545
- Rybachuk, M. & Bell, J. (2007). Synthesis of Diamond-Like Carbon Films Using a Bi-Modal Sputter Deposition with Xe IONS. Surface Review and Letters, 14(4), 735–738. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/15130
- Bell, J., Desilvestro, J., Bertoz, M., Evans, G. & Wang, H. (2007). Effect of Inorganic Iodides on Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 111(41), 15125–15131. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/42690
- Tesfamichael, T., Motta, N., Bostrom, T. & Bell, J. (2007). Development of Porous Metal Oxide Thin Films by Co-evaporation. Applied Surface Science, 253(11), 4853–4859. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/5451
- Paulmier, T., Bell, J. & Fredericks, P. (2007). Development of a Novel Cathodic Plasma/Electrolytic Deposition Technique Part 1: Production of Titanium Dioxide Coatings. Surface and Coatings Technology, 201(21), 8761–8770. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/8938
- Paulmier, T., Bell, J. & Fredericks, P. (2007). Development of a Novel Cathodic Plasma/Electrolytic Deposition Technique Part 2: Physico-chemical Analysis of the Plasma Discharge. Surface and Coatings Technology, 201(21), 8771–8781. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/8939
- Guan, L., Yang, J. & Bell, J. (2007). Cross-Correlations between Weather Variables in Australia. Building and Environment, 42(3), 1054–1070. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/23229
QUT ePrints
For more publications by John, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Supervision
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Carbon nanotubes for organic electronics (2008)
- Fabrication and properties of diamond-like carbon films in discharge plasmas (2008)
- The Rate-Limiting Mechanism for the Heterogeneous Burning of Iron in Normal Gravity and Reduced Gravity (2007)
- Innovative Daylighting Systems for Deep-Plan Commercial Buildings (2006)
- Mathematical Modelling of Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells (2006)
- Modelling the Cutting Process and Cutting Performance in Abrasive Waterjet Machining with Controlled Nozzle Oscillation (2006)
- System Development and Studies on Utilization of Concentrated Solar Beam Radiation for Polymer Processing (2006)
- The Implication of Global Warming on the Energy Performance and Indoor Thermal Environment of Air-Conditioned Office Buildings in Australia (2006)
- Abrasive Waterjet Machining of Polycrystalline Alumina Ceramics - Modelling, Process Optimisation, and Finite Elemnet Analysis (2004)
- Hot shock compaction of nanocrystalline alumina (2003)