Dr Dylan Cuskelly
Lecturer
School of Engineering
- Email:dylan.cuskelly@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:49239240
Career Summary
Biography
I completed my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Newcastle in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on the synthesis of novel materials. Through my early work, I investigated advanced ceramics known as MAX phases, discovering previously unknown phases and developing new synthesis processes. This work remains active today and has expanded into the emerging group of MAB phases where the discovery of new phases any reaction pathways are being explored.
While working in the Advanced Materials group at Newcastle, Dr Heber Sugo, Prof Erich Kisi and I developed a new call of metal alloys that can be used for storing thermal energy. We called these materials MGAs and after many years of fundamental research investigating their low-risk high storage capacity, these materials have emerged as commercially viable energy storage media. This has lead to the commercialisation of the technology through the founding of the company MGA Thermal which I am a director. This has given me a rare experience to see a technology move from conceptual all the way through the research phase into commercial applications.
My other passion is Education - specifically engaging teaching of engineering and STEM concepts at a university level. I have designed developed and deliver a new engineering practice course and am perpetually working on other courses to improve the ways in which we can best deliver content to help students learn.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons), University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Energy Storage
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- STEM Education
- Technical Ceramics
- engineering
Languages
- English (Mother)
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 401601 | Ceramics | 60 |
| 401607 | Metals and alloy materials | 40 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Engineering Australia |
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4/2019 - 2/4/2021 |
Founder and Director I Co-founded and grew the company from a small startup into a successful international business leading the world in renewable energy storage and materials science advanment. |
MGA Thermal Pty Ltd |
Awards
Teaching Award
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2017 |
Excellence in Teaching and Learning University of Newcastle |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |
Kisi E, Sugo H, Cuskelly D, Fiedler T, Rawson A, Post A, et al., 'Miscibility Gap Alloys: A New Thermal Energy Storage Solution', Transition Towards 100% Renewable Energy: Selected Papers from the World Renewable Energy Congress WREC 2017, Springer International, Cham, Switzerland 523-532 (2018) [B1]
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Journal article (21 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Allen J, Cranney W, Cuskelly D, Moradmand S, 'The impact of 3-dimensional anode geometry on the electrochemical response of high temperature gas evolution reactions in molten salts', Electrochimica Acta, 483 144076-144076 (2024)
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| 2024 |
Merz J, Cuskelly D, Richardson P, 'MAB phase-alumina composite formation via aluminothermic exchange reactions', Materials Letters, 360 135869-135869 (2024) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Allen J, Lee J, Moradmand S, Cuskelly D, 'Optimal pre-treatment of a Ni-11Fe-10Cu anode for efficient molten salt electrolysis of carbon dioxide: Toward net-zero emission manufacturing', Electrochimica Acta, 469 143287-143287 (2023) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Merz J, Cuskelly D, Gregg A, Studer A, Richardson P, 'On the complex synthesis reaction mechanisms of the MAB phases: High-speed in-situ neutron diffraction and ex-situ X-ray diffraction studies of MoAlB', Ceramics International, 49 38789-38802 (2023) [C1]
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| 2021 |
Merz J, Richardson P, Cuskelly D, 'Formation of Mn Rapid formation of the MAB phase ceramic, Mn2AlB2, by the method of induction furnace-assisted self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) was investigated in this work. The... [more] Rapid formation of the MAB phase ceramic, Mn2AlB2, by the method of induction furnace-assisted self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) was investigated in this work. The effects of Al content, high-energy ball-milling and cold pressing load on phase purity and reaction behaviour were also examined. An Al content of 140% allowed the highest conversion of reactants to Mn2AlB2. Increasing ball-milling time was shown to increase phase purity and reduce SHS ignition and peak temperatures. Unpressed powder samples exhibited higher phase purities and significantly lower SHS ignition temperatures than pressed samples. It was revealed that Mn2AlB2 forms by a two-stage reaction in this process, as evidenced by the presence of two exothermic peaks in the temperature-time data. The short synthesis times and equipment scalability available using this method offer a unique solution for the large-scale fabrication of MAB phase powders.
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| 2021 |
Richardson PJ, Keast VJ, Cuskelly DT, Kisi EH, 'Theoretical and experimental investigation of the W-Al-B and Mo-Al-B systems to approach bulk WAlB synthesis', JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, 41 1859-1868 (2021) [C1]
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| 2021 |
Richardson P, Cuskelly D, Brandt M, Kisi E, 'Effects of furnace annealing on in situ reacted Ti2AlC MAX phase composite coatings deposited by laser cladding', SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY, 405 (2021) [C1]
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| 2021 |
Tegg L, Cuskelly D, Studer AJ, Richardson P, Kisi E, Keast VJ, 'Intermediate Phases and Reaction Kinetics of the Furnace-Assisted Synthesis of Sodium Tungsten Bronze Nanoparticles', The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 125 8185-8194 (2021) [C1]
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| 2020 |
Richardson P, Cuskelly D, Brandt M, Kisi E, 'Microstructural analysis of in-situ reacted Ti2AlC MAX phase composite coating by laser cladding', Surface and Coatings Technology, 385 (2020) [C1]
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| 2019 |
Copus M, Fraser B, Reece R, Hands S, Cuskelly D, Sugo H, et al., 'On-sun testing of Miscibility Gap Alloy thermal storage', SOLAR ENERGY, 177 657-664 (2019) [C1]
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| 2018 |
Tegg L, Cuskelly D, Keast VJ, 'Plasmon Responses in the Sodium Tungsten Bronzes', PLASMONICS, 13 437-444 (2018) [C1]
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| 2018 |
Tegg L, Cuskelly D, Keast VJ, 'Bulk scale fabrication of sodium tungsten bronze nanoparticles for applications in plasmonics', NANOTECHNOLOGY, 29 (2018) [C1]
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| 2017 |
Rawson AJ, Cuskelly DT, Driver SL, Carpenter MA, 'Elastic and anelastic properties of metals near their melting points from miscibility gap alloy composites', MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING, 681 18-24 (2017) [C1]
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| 2017 |
Tegg L, Cuskelly D, Keast VJ, 'The sodium tungsten bronzes as plasmonic materials: fabrication, calculation and characterization', MATERIALS RESEARCH EXPRESS, 4 (2017) [C1]
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| 2016 |
Cuskelly DT, Kisi EH, 'Single-Step Carbothermal Synthesis of High-Purity MAX Phase Powders', Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 99 1137-1140 (2016) [C1] The Mn+1AXn phases Cr2GeC and Cr2GaC were synthesized with high phase-purity directly from Cr2O3; Ge or Ga; and C using a single-step carbothermal reduction. X-ray diffraction and... [more] The Mn+1AXn phases Cr2GeC and Cr2GaC were synthesized with high phase-purity directly from Cr2O3; Ge or Ga; and C using a single-step carbothermal reduction. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis of the materials shows them to be >99 mol% Cr2GeC and 92 mol% Cr2GaC, respectively. Extension to non-Cr systems is briefly demonstrated by applying the method to the synthesis of V2GeC.
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| 2016 |
Cuskelly D, Richards E, Kisi E, 'MAX phase - Alumina composites via elemental and exchange reactions in the Ti Extension of the aluminothermal exchange reaction synthesis of Mn+1AXn phases to systems where the element 'A' is not the reducing agent was investigated in systems TiO2... [more] Extension of the aluminothermal exchange reaction synthesis of Mn+1AXn phases to systems where the element 'A' is not the reducing agent was investigated in systems TiO2-A-Al-C for A=Al, Si, Ga, Ge, In and Sn as well as Cr2O3-Ga-Al-C. MAX phase-Al2O3 composites were made in all systems except those with A=Ga or In. The effectiveness of conversion to MAX phases was generally in the range 63-96% without optimisation of starting ratios. Optimisation in the Ti-Si-C system gave a MAX phase component with >98% Ti3SiC2.
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| 2016 |
Cuskelly DT, Kisi EH, Sugo HO, 'MAX phase - Alumina composites via exchange reaction in the Mn+1AlCn systems (M=Ti, V, Cr, Nb, or Ta)', JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY, 233 150-157 (2016) [C1]
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| 2015 |
Cuskelly DT, Richards ER, Kisi EH, Keast VJ, 'Ti3GaC2 and Ti3InC2: First bulk synthesis, DFT stability calculations and structural systematics', JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY, 230 418-425 (2015) [C1]
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| 2015 |
Hasan MM, Cuskelly D, Sugo H, Kisi EH, 'Low temperature synthesis of low thermionic work function (La This study presents investigations of the microstructure, morphology and emission properties of the promising thermionic material (LaxBa1-x)B6. The material was synthesised by sol... [more] This study presents investigations of the microstructure, morphology and emission properties of the promising thermionic material (LaxBa1-x)B6. The material was synthesised by solid-state reaction without post-synthesis purifications. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that samples prepared at a temperature =1500 °C had formed a significant proportion of solid solution (above 54 mass%). Subsequent sintering at 1950 °C caused the formation of a mixture of three solid solutions with the dominant phase being (La0.31Ba0.69)B6 ~85% (by mass). The Richardson work function and emission constant for this boride mixture were found to be 1.03 eV and 8.44 × 10-6 A cm K-2 respectively.
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| 2015 |
Keast VJ, Ewald J, De Silva KSB, Cortie MB, Monnier B, Cuskelly D, Kisi EH, 'Optical properties and electronic structure of the Cu-Zn brasses', Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 647 129-135 (2015) [C1] The color of Cu-Zn brasses range from the red of copper through bright yellow to grey-silver as the Zn content increases. Here we examine the mechanism by which these color change... [more] The color of Cu-Zn brasses range from the red of copper through bright yellow to grey-silver as the Zn content increases. Here we examine the mechanism by which these color changes occur. The optical properties of this set of alloys has been calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and compared to experimental spectroscopy measurements. The optical response of the low Zn content a-brasses is shown to have a distinctly different origin to that in the higher content ß', ¿ and e-brasses. The response of ß'-brass is unique in that it is strongly influenced by an overdamped plasmon excitation and this alloy will also have a strong surface plasmon response.
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| 2013 |
Sugo H, Kisi E, Cuskelly D, 'Miscibility gap alloys with inverse microstructures and high thermal conductivity for high energy density thermal storage applications', Applied Thermal Engineering, 51 1345-1350 (2013) [C1]
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Conference (6 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
Reilly W, Gregg A, Cuskelly D, McBride W, ' Optimised Blackboard ; How first year students created their own pseudo-LMS', Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE 2021), Perth, WA (2021) [E1]
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| 2019 |
Tegg L, Cuskelly D, Keast VJ, 'Synthesis and Plasmon Responses of Sodium Tungsten Bronze Nanoparticles', International Conference on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Plasmonics (2019) The sodium tungsten bronzes are sub-stoichiometric metal oxides with interesting electrical and optical properties which vary with the sodium content. We have developed a synthesi... [more] The sodium tungsten bronzes are sub-stoichiometric metal oxides with interesting electrical and optical properties which vary with the sodium content. We have developed a synthesis technique which makes high-purity sodium tungsten bronze nanoparticles across a wide composition range. Results from electron energy-loss spectroscopy reveal that these materials support high-quality localised surface plasmons, with resonance frequencies which are tunable across visible and near-infrared frequencies by varying the sodium content.
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| 2019 |
Copus M, Fraser B, Cuskelly D, Reed S, Post A, Kisi E, 'Unifying capture, storage and discharge of thermal energy using miscibility gap alloys', Proceedings of the 24th SolarPACES International Conference (SolarPACES 2018), Casablanca, Morocco (2019) [E1]
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| 2019 |
Cuskelly D, Fraser B, Reed S, Post A, Copus M, Kisi E, 'Thermal storage for CSP with miscibility gap alloys', Proceedings of the 24th SolarPACES International Conference (SolarPACES 2018), Casablanca, Morocco (2019) [E1]
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| 2017 |
Cuskelly D, McBride W, 'A new, common, experiential Engineering Practice course', 28th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE 2017), Manly, Sydney (2017) [E1]
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Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 3 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $224,363 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20221 grants / $11,863
iSTEM Zero to Hero$11,863
Funding body: Google Australia Pty Ltd
| Funding body | Google Australia Pty Ltd |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Doctor Alexander Gregg, Doctor Dylan Cuskelly |
| Scheme | Educator Grants |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | G2200629 |
| Type Of Funding | C3100 – Aust For Profit |
| Category | 3100 |
| UON | Y |
20201 grants / $20,500
Thermal energy storage materials from a specialised family of materials$20,500
Funding body: University of Melbourne
| Funding body | University of Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Doctor Dylan Cuskelly, Mr Mark Copus |
| Scheme | AMSI Australian Postgraduate Research Internships |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2020 |
| Funding Finish | 2020 |
| GNo | G2001059 |
| Type Of Funding | Scheme excluded from IGS |
| Category | EXCL |
| UON | Y |
20191 grants / $192,000
Optimisation of the Manufacture of Thermal Energy Storage Modules$192,000
Funding body: MGA Thermal Pty Ltd
| Funding body | MGA Thermal Pty Ltd |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Doctor Dylan Cuskelly, Professor Erich Kisi |
| Scheme | Research Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2020 |
| GNo | G1901499 |
| Type Of Funding | C3100 – Aust For Profit |
| Category | 3100 |
| UON | Y |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PhD | Artificial Intelligence for Engaging Video Production in Higher Education | PhD (Engineering), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2021 | PhD | Prometheus: A Device to Produce Electricity From Stored Compressed Air | PhD (Chemical Engineering), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2020 | PhD | Synthesis and Characterisation of the MAB Phases by Induction Heating | PhD (Mechanical Engineering), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
Past Supervision
| Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PhD | Exploratory Study Into Advanced Thermal Energy Storage Materials and Thermal Coatings for Survival in the Urban Environment | PhD (Mechanical Engineering), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2021 | PhD | Development and Investigation of Large Scale Miscibility Gap Alloys | PhD (Mechanical Engineering), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2021 | PhD | Synthesis and Characterisation of Ternary Nano-laminated Ceramics for Emerging Technologies | PhD (Mechanical Engineering), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2020 | PhD | Synthesis and Characterisation of Sodium Tungsten Bronze Nanoparticles for Applications in Plasmonics | PhD (Physics), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Dr Dylan Cuskelly
Position
Lecturer
School of Engineering
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
| dylan.cuskelly@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | 49239240 |
Office
| Room | ES315 |
|---|---|
| Building | ES |
| Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |
Connect with me
