Dr Cameron Shearer

Lecturer

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

College of Science


I use surface chemistry to solve environmnetally relevant problems. Our group page is on LinkedIn. Currently we have research projects on hydrogen evolution and persistent organic pollutant (including PFAS) remediation. 
 
 
Career Snapshot:
2012 - PhD, Flinders University of South Australia, Carbon nanotube modified surfaces for water filtration, gene transfection and as electron sources.2012-2014, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Muenster (Germany), Photocatalytic hydrogen production using metal oxide coated carbon nanotubes.2014-2015, Researcher in Business, PMB Defense Engineering and Flinders University, Submarine battery lifetime2015-2017 ARC Resarch Associate, Flinders University, Carbon nanotube photovoltaics2018 -2019, University of Adelaide Research Fellow, Nanostructured photocatalysts for energy conversion2019-2020, Researcher in Business, Membrane Systems Australia and UniSA, Large-scale PFAS remediation2020-2024, ARC Future Fellow, University of Adelaide, Light-driven degradation of persistent organic pollutants
2025 -       , Lecturer in Sustainable Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Light-driven degradation of persistent organic pollutants and generation of hydrogen

I aim to use fundamental chemistry and materials science to find solutions to environmentally relevant problems such as the destruction of pollutants or the generation of renewable fuels.

Sunlight is the most abundant energy source on Earth yet it is still underutilized in chemical synthesis. Photocatalysis is the key to unlock the potential of light in a range of applications. 

Photocatalytic degradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and are destructive to animal and aquatic lifeforms.[1, 2] POPs are by-products of some agricultural and industrial processes and do not degrade naturally due to their strong chemical bonds (e.g. C-Cl, C-F) which are resistant to chemical- and bio-degradation (example POPs are shown in Figure 1).

There is a need to develop methods and processes for effective degradation of POPs to mitigate their emerging health and environmental effects.

I synthesise of new photocatalytic materials with designed electronic band structure to break C-Cl or C-F bonds (which are present in all POPs). Materials of interest are titanium and tantalum based perovskites such as SrTiO3 and NaTaO3.[3]

Recently, we have started to work on various metal sulfides which have shown excellent potential for the degradation of PFAS.[4, 5]

A final aspect of this research is the translation of research to commercial application and photocatalytic processes and reactors will be developed with close ties to industry to degrade pollutants relevant to Australia (Figure 1).

Our research in PFAS degradation has been highlighted by ABC Australia.

Remote video URL

Team member Mabel Day has created a 3 minute video describing her research:

Remote video URL

Hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting

Hydrogen can be produced directly from water and produces only water when burned, making it a completely renewable and non-polluting fuel source that could replace fossil fuels. However, current methods to produce hydrogen requires a significant amount of energy and it is still not economically competitive with oil and gas.

My research aims to produce light absorbing materials which can produce hydrogen (H2) from water (H2O) using only energy from sunlight to drive the reaction.

To achieve this, We prepare metal oxides which absorb light, store the energy, and then use the energy to split water.[6, 7] This process is enhanced with co-catalysts to drive hydrogen evolution or oxygen evolution. These co-catalysts are often rare and expensive materials (platinum or rhodium), so we deposit few-atom cluster co-catalysts which we find improve performance and reduce the amount of precious materials used.[8, 9, 10]

My research in reducing the cost of hydrogen production materials is shown in the video:

Remote video URL

High resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to observe the materials at the atomic scale.


 

Date Position Institution name
2025 - ongoing Lecturer in Sustainable Chemistry University of Adelaide
2020 - 2024 ARC Future Fellow University of Adelaide
2019 - 2020 Researcher in Business Membrane Systems Australia and University of South Australia
2018 - 2019 Research Fellow University of Adelaide
2015 - 2017 ARC Research Associate Flinders University
2014 - 2015 Researcher in Business PMB Defense Engineering and Flinders University
2012 - 2014 Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Muenster

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2019 Fellowship ARC Future Fellow Australian Research Council Australia -
2018 Award South Australian Young Tall Poppy Australian Institute of Policy & Sciences Australia -
2017 Research Award International Synchrotron Access Program Australian synchrotron - $6,400
2016 Award Flinders University Vice Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers - - $2,500
2015 Award Australia-China Young Scientist Exchange Program ATSE Australia ~$10,000
2015 Achievement Business Pitch Competition at the Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Workshop for Early Career Researchers - - $1000
2012 Award South Australian PhD Research Excellence award - - $10000
2009 Achievement ARNAM student scholarship for collaborative research - - $3,500

Date Institution name Country Title
2008 - 2012 Flinders University Australia PhD
2003 - 2007 Flinders University Australia BSc (Honours)

Year Citation
2025 Matthews, R. K., Nguyen, H. T. L., Yang, F., Pukala, T. L., Evans, J. D., & Shearer, C. J. (2025). La Doping ATaO₃ (A = Li, Na, K) to Improve Performance for Photocatalytic Pollutant Degradation. Chemistry of Materials, 37(10), 3696-3708.
DOI
2025 Small, T. D., Hamza, M. A., Shen, Y., Shearer, C. J., & Metha, G. F. (2025). Systematic investigation of ABO₃ perovskite synthesis to generalise a La and Rh co-doping strategy for visible light photocatalysis†. Nanoscale Advances, 7(14), 4313-4324.
DOI Scopus1
2025 Hamza, M. A., Metha, G. F., & Shearer, C. J. (2025). Recent advances and future directions of CdIn₂S₄-based photocatalysts: properties, synthesis, and modifications for energy and environmental applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 13(27), 21292-21351.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2025 Hamza, M. A., Keltie, A. J., Matthews, R. K., Day, M. L., & Shearer, C. J. (2025). CdIn₂S₄ Micro-Pyramids for Reductive Photocatalytic Degradation of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid. Small, 21(36), e04601-1-e04601-11.
DOI Scopus1 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2024 Green, M. P., Shearer, C., Patrick, R., Kabiri, S., Rivers, N., & Nixon, B. (2024). The perils of poly- and perfluorinated chemicals on the reproductive health of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 36(9), RD24034-1-RD24034-12.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2024 Hamza, M. A., Evans, J. D., Andersson, G. G., Metha, G. F., & Shearer, C. J. (2024). Ultrathin Ru-CdIn₂S₄ nanosheets for simultaneous photocatalytic green hydrogen production and selective oxidation of furfuryl alcohol to furfural. Chemical Engineering Journal, 493, 152603-1-152603-12.
DOI Scopus28 WoS26
2024 Bat-Erdene, M., Hamza, M. A., Sainbileg, B., Suragtkhuu, S., Chen, D., Li, Q., . . . Batmunkh, M. (2024). Atomically Dispersed Nickel (Ni) Species on Black TiO₂−Ov Photocatalysts Derived from Ti₃C₂Tₓ (MXene). Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 128(25), 10577-10585.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2024 Winstanley, Y. E., Gonzalez, M. B., Andreas, E., Connaughton, H., Bergen, J., Ween, M., . . . Robker, R. L. (2024). Drinking water quality impacts oocyte viability and embryo development. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 6, 1-14.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2023 Yu, L., Xu, L., Shearer, C., Zhou, X., & Lu, L. (2023). Solutions to the Challenges of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries by Carbon Nanotubes. Advanced Sustainable Systems, 7(7), 26 pages.
DOI Scopus13 WoS13
2023 Tung, T. T., Pereira, A. L. C., Poloni, E., Dang, M. N., Wang, J., Le, T. -S. D., . . . Losic, D. (2023). Irradiation methods for engineering of graphene related two-dimensional materials. Applied Physics Reviews, 10(3), 031309-1-031309-55.
DOI Scopus11 WoS12
2022 Parvanian, A. M., Sadeghi, N., Rafiee, A., Shearer, C. J., & Jafarian, M. (2022). Application of porous materials for co2 reutilization: A review. Energies, 15(1), 1-65.
DOI Scopus22 WoS23
2022 Mousavi, H., Sharma, S. K., Golovko, V., Shearer, C. J., & Metha, G. F. (2022). Methanol Tolerant Oxygen Reduction Reaction electrocatalysis using Size-Specific Triphenylphosphine-Ligated Gold Nanoclusters. ChemNanoMat, 8(7), 1-9.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5
2022 Mousavi, H., Small, T. D., Sharma, S. K., Golovko, V. B., Shearer, C. J., & Metha, G. F. (2022). Graphene Bridge for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Gold Nanocluster Co-Catalysts. Nanomaterials, 12(20), 3638-1-3638-13.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC2
2022 Sang, N. X., Na, T. T. L., Anh, L. T. L., Thuy, P. T., Tuan, N. T., Tung, T. T., . . . Losic, D. (2022). Engineering of ZnO/Graphene Nanocomposite for Enhancing Visible Photocatalytic Ability. Physica Status Solidi A: Applications and Materials Science, 219(24), 2200172-1-2200172-10.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2022 Yudasari, N., Dinata, I. K. H., Shearer, C. J., Blanco-Sanchez, P. H., Tresna, W. P., Isnaeni., . . . Trilaksana, H. (2022). Laser-assisted deposition of Ag on self-sourced growth ZnO nanorods as reusable photocatalysts for water purification. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS, 146, 1-9.
DOI Scopus9 WoS10
2021 Karunagaran, R., Tran, D., Tung, T. T., Shearer, C., & Losic, D. (2021). A unique synthesis of macroporous N-doped carbon composite catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction. Nanomaterials, 11(1), 1-18.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2021 Mousavi, H., Yin, Y., Howard-Fabretto, L., Sharma, S. K., Golovko, V., Andersson, G. G., . . . Metha, G. F. (2021). Au₁₀₁–rGO nanocomposite: immobilization of phosphine-protected gold nanoclusters on reduced graphene oxide without aggregation. Nanoscale Advances, 3(5), 1422-1430.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC5
2021 Mousavi, H., Yin, Y., Sharma, S. K., Gibson, C. T., Golovko, V., Andersson, G. G., . . . Metha, G. F. (2021). Factors influencing catalytic activity of size-specific triphenylphosphine-ligated gold nanoclusters in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 126(1), 246-260.
DOI Scopus15 WoS16
2020 Kurashige, W., Mori, Y., Ozaki, S., Kawachi, M., Hossain, S., Kawawaki, T., . . . Negishi, Y. (2020). Activation of Water-Splitting Photocatalysts by Loading with Ultrafine Rh–Cr Mixed-Oxide Cocatalyst Nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 59(18), 7076-7082.
DOI Scopus54 WoS50 Europe PMC23
2020 Shearer, C. J., Hisatomi, T., Domen, K., & Metha, G. F. (2020). Gas phase photocatalytic water splitting of moisture in ambient air: toward reagent-free hydrogen production. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 401(112757), 1-7.
DOI Scopus28 WoS27
2019 Gibson, C. T., Ridings, C. R., Blok, A. J., Shearer, C. J., Andersson, G. G., & Ellis, A. V. (2019). Morphological changes of sintered polydopamine coatings. Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, 7(1), 015016-1-015016-10.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2019 Trilaksana, H., Shearer, C., Kloo, L., & Andersson, G. G. (2019). Restructuring of dye layers in dye sensitized solar cells: Cooperative adsorption of N719 and chenodeoxycholic acid on titania. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2(1), 124-130.
DOI Scopus24 WoS22
2019 Slattery, A. D., Blanch, A. J., Shearer, C. J., Stapleton, A. J., Goreham, R. V., Harmer, S. L., . . . Gibson, C. T. (2019). Characterisation of the material and mechanical properties of atomic force microscope cantilevers with a plan-view trapezoidal geometry. Applied Sciences, 9(13), 2604-1-2604-17.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8
2019 Shearer, C. J., Yu, L., Blanch, A. J., Zheng, M., Andersson, G. G., & Shapter, J. G. (2019). Broadening of van Hove singularities measured by photoemission spectroscopy of single- and mixed-chirality single-walled carbon nanotubes. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 123(43), 26683-26694.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5
2018 Slattery, A., Shearer, C., Shapter, J., Blanch, A., Quinton, J., & Gibson, C. (2018). Improved application of carbon nanotube atomic force microscopy probes using peakforce tapping mode. Nanomaterials, 8(10), 1-13.
DOI Scopus24 WoS21 Europe PMC6
2018 Batmunkh, M., Shrestha, A., Bat‐Erdene, M., Nine, M. J., Shearer, C. J., Gibson, C. T., . . . Shapter, J. G. (2018). Electrocatalytic Activity of a 2D Phosphorene‐Based Heteroelectrocatalyst for Photoelectrochemical Cells. Angewandte Chemie, 130(10), 2674-2677.
DOI
2018 Shearer, C., Alvino, J., Batmunkh, M., & Metha, G. F. (2018). Pt Nanocluster Co-Catalysts for Photocatalytic Water Splitting. C Journal of Carbon Research, 4(4), 64-1-64-12.
DOI WoS11
2018 Yu, L., Batmunkh, M., Dadkhah, M., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2018). Pyramid-textured antireflective silicon surface in graphene oxide/single‐wall carbon nanotube–silicon heterojunction solar cells. Energy & Environmental Materials, 1(4), 232-240.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12
2018 Gao, G., Zhai, P., Zhang, Q., Shearer, C., Zhao, J., & Shapter, J. (2018). Fe₃O₄@S nanoparticles embedded/coated on the multi-wall carbon nanotubes for rechargeable lithium batteries. Chemical Engineering Journal, 333, 268-275.
DOI Scopus17 WoS16
2018 Batmunkh, M., Shrestha, A., Bat-Erdene, M., Nine, M., Shearer, C., Gibson, C., . . . Shapter, J. (2018). Electrocatalytic activity of a 2D phosphorene-based heteroelectrocatalyst for photoelectrochemical cells. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 57(10), 2644-2647.
DOI Scopus51 WoS51 Europe PMC14
2018 Karunagaran, R., Coghlan, C., Shearer, C., Tran, D., Gulati, K., Tung, T., . . . Losic, D. (2018). Green synthesis of three-dimensional hybrid N-doped ORR electro-catalysts derived from apricot sap. Materials, 11(2), 205-1-205-1616.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC6
2018 Corletto, A., Yu, L., Shearer, C., Gibson, C., & Shapter, J. (2018). Direct-patterning SWCNTs using dip pen nanolithography for SWCNT/silicon solar cells. Small, 14(16), 1800247-1-1800247-8.
DOI Scopus16 WoS16 Europe PMC6
2018 Seo, D., Batmunkh, M., Fang, J., Murdock, A., Yick, S., Han, Z., . . . Ken Ostrikov, K. (2018). Ambient air synthesis of multi-layer CVD graphene films for low-cost, efficient counter electrode material in dye-sensitized solar cells. FlatChem, 8, 1-8.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8
2018 Alzahly, S., Yu, L., Shearer, C., Gibson, C., & Shapter, J. (2018). Efficiency improvement using molybdenum disulphide interlayers in single-wall carbon nanotube/silicon solar cells. Materials, 11(4), 639-1-639-11.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC3
2018 Worthington, M., Shearer, C., Esdaile, L., Campbell, J., Gibson, C., Legg, S., . . . Chalker, J. (2018). Sustainable polysulfides for oil spill remediation: repurposing industrial waste for environmental benefit. Advanced Sustainable Systems, 2(6), 1800024.
DOI Scopus154 WoS156
2018 Chambers, B. A., Shearer, C. J., Yu, L., Gibson, C. T., & Andersson, G. G. (2018). Measuring the Density of States of the Inner and Outer Wall of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland), 8(6), 1-8.
DOI Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC1
2017 Yu, L., Grace, T., Pham, H. D., Batmunkh, M., Dadkhah, M., Shearer, C., . . . Shapter, J. (2017). Application of hole-transporting materials as the interlayer in graphene oxide/single-wall carbon nanotube silicon heterojunction solar cells. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 70(11), 1202-1211.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8
2017 Huang, P., Yin, T., Zhang, Q., Gao, G., Shapter, J., Shearer, C., . . . Cui, D. (2017). Synthesis of Highly Dispersed Fe3O4 Submicrometer Spheres in a One-Pot Anion-induced Solvothermal System. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 64(2), 217-223.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2017 Batmunkh, M., Shrestha, A., Gao, G., Yu, L., Zhao, J., Biggs, M., . . . Shapter, J. (2017). Sulfur-doped graphene with iron pyrite (FeS₂) as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for the iodine reduction reaction in dye-sensitized solar cells. Solar RRL, 1(3-4), 1700011-1-1700011-6.
DOI Scopus29 WoS28
2017 Yu, L., Grace, T., Jazi, M. D., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2017). Optimization of the metal front contact design for single-walled carbon nanotube-silicon heterojunction solar cells. Solar RRL, 1(2), 1600026-1-1600026-9.
DOI Scopus18 WoS15
2017 Shearer, C., Yu, L., Fenati, R., Sibley, A., Quinton, J., Gibson, C., . . . Shapter, J. (2017). Adsorption and desorption of single-stranded DNA from single-walled carbon nanotubes. Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 12(13), 1625-1634.
DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC10
2017 Bat-Erdene, M., Batmunkh, M., Tawfik, S., Fronzi, M., Ford, M., Shearer, C., . . . Shapter, J. (2017). Efficiency enhancement of single-walled carbon nanotube-silicon heterojunction solar cells using microwave-exfoliated few-layer black phosphorus. Advanced Functional Materials, 27(48), 1704488-1-1704488-9.
DOI Scopus45 WoS45
2017 Bat-Erdene, M., Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C. J., Tawfik, S. A., Ford, M. J., Yu, L., . . . Shapter, J. G. (2017). Efficient and fast synthesis of few-layer black phosphorus via mkicrowave-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation. Small Methods, 1(12), 1-6.
DOI Scopus71 WoS68
2017 Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., Bat-Erdene, M., Biggs, M., & Shapter, J. (2017). Single-walled carbon nanotubes enhance the efficiency and stability of mesoscopic perovskite solar cells. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 9(23), 19945-19954.
DOI Scopus55 WoS49 Europe PMC8
2017 Karunagaran, R., Tung, T., Shearer, C., Tran, D., Coghlan, C., Doonan, C., & Losic, D. (2017). A unique 3D nitrogen-doped carbon composite as high-performance oxygen reduction catalyst. Materials, 10(8), 921-1-921-10.
DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC3
2017 Slattery, A., Shearer, C., Shapter, J., Quinton, J., & Gibson, C. (2017). Solution based methods for the fabrication of carbon nanotube modified atomic force microscopy probes. Nanomaterials, 7(11), 346-1-346-13.
DOI Scopus23 WoS20 Europe PMC9
2017 Shrestha, A., Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., Yin, Y., Andersson, G., Shapter, J., . . . Dai, S. (2017). Nitrogen-doped CNx/CNTs heteroelectrocatalysts for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. Advanced Energy Materials, 7(8), 1602276-1-1602276-8.
DOI Scopus98 WoS104
2017 Batmunkh, M., Macdonald, T., Shearer, C., Bat-Erdene, M., Wang, Y., Biggs, M., . . . Shapter, J. (2017). Carbon nanotubes in TiO₂ nanofiber photoelectrodes for high-performance perovskite solar cells. Advanced Science, 4(4), 1600504-1-1600504-11.
DOI Scopus91 WoS85 Europe PMC24
2017 Yu, L., Grace, T., Batmunkh, M., Dadkhah, M., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2017). Insights into chemical doping to engineer the carbon nanotube/silicon photovoltaic heterojunction interface. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 5(46), 24247-24256.
DOI Scopus15 WoS13
2017 Yu, L., Batmunkh, M., Grace, T., Dadkhah, M., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2017). Application of a hole transporting organic interlayer in graphene oxide/single walled carbon nanotube-silicon heterojunction solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 5(18), 8624-8634.
DOI Scopus29 WoS27
2016 Yu, L., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2016). Recent development of carbon nanotube transparent conductive films. Chemical Reviews, 116(22), 13413-13453.
DOI Scopus458 WoS420 Europe PMC134
2016 Larsen, L., Shearer, C., Ellis, A., & Shapter, J. (2016). Optimization and Doping of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Silicon Solar Cells. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 120(29), 15648-15656.
DOI Scopus32 WoS30
2016 Shearer, C., Slattery, A., Stapleton, A., Shapter, J., & Gibson, C. (2016). Accurate thickness measurement of graphene. Nanotechnology, 27(12), 1-10.
DOI Scopus409 WoS365 Europe PMC127
2016 Sader, J., Borgani, R., Gibson, C., Haviland, D., Higgins, M., Kilpatrick, J., . . . Zheng, T. (2016). A virtual instrument to standardise the calibration of atomic force microscope cantilevers. Review of Scientific Instruments, 87(9), 093711-1-093711-14.
DOI Scopus136 WoS126 Europe PMC74
2016 Slattery, A., Shearer, C., Gibson, C., Shapter, J., Lewis, D., & Stapleton, A. (2016). Carbon nanotube modified probes for stable and high sensitivity conductive atomic force microscopy. Nanotechnology, 27(47), 475708-1-475708-8.
DOI Scopus21 WoS23 Europe PMC7
2016 Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., Biggs, M., & Shapter, J. (2016). Solution processed graphene structures for perovskite solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 4(7), 2605-2616.
DOI Scopus78 WoS71
2016 Batmunkh, M., Dadkhah, M., Shearer, C. J., Biggs, M. J., & Shapter, J. G. (2016). Incorporation of graphene into SnO₂ photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Applied Surface Science, 387, 690-697.
DOI Scopus45 WoS38
2016 Batmunkh, M., Dadkhah, M., Shearer, C. J., Biggs, M. J., & Shapter, J. G. (2016). Tin oxide light-scattering layer for titania photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Energy Technology, 4(8), 959-966.
DOI Scopus10 WoS8
2016 Gao, G., Yu, L., Vinu, A., Shapter, J., Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., . . . Cui, D. (2016). Synthesis of ultra-long hierarchical ZnO whiskers in a hydrothermal system for dye-sensitised solar cells. RSC Advances, 6(111), 109406-109413.
DOI Scopus11 WoS12
2016 Jones, D., Chen, X., Sibley, A., Quinton, J., Shearer, C., Gibson, C., & Raston, C. (2016). Plasma enhanced vortex fluidic device manipulation of graphene oxide. Chemical Communications, 52(71), 10755-10758.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC3
2016 Yu, L., Tune, D., Shearer, C., Grace, T., & Shapter, J. (2016). Heterojunction solar cells based on silicon and composite films of polyaniline and carbon nanotubes. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 6(3), 688-695.
DOI Scopus19 WoS15
2015 Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., Biggs, M., & Shapter, J. (2015). Nanocarbons for mesoscopic perovskite solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3(17), 9020-9031.
DOI Scopus109 WoS99
2015 Yu, L., Tune, D., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2015). Application of polymer interlayers in silicon-carbon nanotube heterojunction solar cells. ChemNanoMat, 1(2), 115-121.
DOI Scopus24 WoS25
2015 Yu, L., Tune, D., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2015). Heterojunction Solar Cells Based on Silicon and Composite Films of Graphene Oxide and Carbon Nanotubes. ChemSusChem, 8(17), 2940-2947.
DOI Scopus25 WoS24 Europe PMC4
2015 Tune, D., Blanch, A., Shearer, C., Moore, K., Pfohl, M., Shapter, J., & Flavel, B. (2015). Aligned carbon nanotube thin films from liquid crystal polyelectrolyte inks. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7(46), 25857-25864.
DOI Scopus42 WoS38 Europe PMC15
2015 Yu, L., Tune, D., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. (2015). Implementation of antireflection layers for improved efficiency of carbon nanotube-silicon heterojunction solar cells. Solar Energy, 118, 592-599.
DOI Scopus38 WoS36
2015 Stapleton, A., Yambem, S., Johns, A., Gibson, C., Shearer, C., Ellis, A., . . . Lewis, D. (2015). Pathway to high throughput, low cost indium-free transparent electrodes. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3(26), 13892-13899.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13
2015 Lim, S. P., Pandikumar, A., Huang, N. M., & Lim, H. N. (2015). Reduced graphene oxide-titania nanocomposite-modified photoanode for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, 39(6), 812-824.
DOI WoS57
2015 Larsen, L., Shearer, C., Ellis, A., & Shapter, J. (2015). Solution processed graphene-silicon Schottky junction solar cells. RSC Advances, 5(49), 38851-38858.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15
2015 Kemnade, N., Shearer, C., Dieterle, D., Cherevan, A., Gebhardt, P., Wilde, G., & Eder, D. (2015). Non-destructive functionalisation for atomic layer deposition of metal oxides on carbon nanotubes: effect of linking agents and defects. Nanoscale, 7(7), 3028-3034.
DOI Scopus41 WoS37 Europe PMC7
2014 Shearer, C., Cherevan, A., & Eder, D. (2014). Application and future challenges of functional nanocarbon hybrids. Advanced Materials, 26(15), 2295-2318.
DOI Scopus313 WoS274 Europe PMC98
2014 Cherevan, A., Gebhardt, P., Shearer, C., Matsukawa, M., Domen, K., & Eder, D. (2014). Interface engineering in nanocarbon–Ta₂O₅ hybrid photocatalysts. Energy and Environmental Science, 7(2), 791-796.
DOI Scopus67 WoS63
2013 Shearer, C., Harding, F., Sweetman, M., Shapter, J., & Voelcker, N. (2013). Nanostructured biointerfaces created from carbon nanotube patterned porous silicon films. Surface and Coatings Technology, 224, 49-56.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2012 Hughes, Z., Shearer, C., Shapter, J., & Gale, J. (2012). Simulation of water transport through functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 116(47), 24943-24953.
DOI Scopus52 WoS49
2012 Shearer, C., Fahy, A., Barr, M., Dastoor, P., & Shapter, J. (2012). Improved field emission stability from single-walled carbon nanotubes chemically attached to silicon. Nanoscale Research Letters, 7(1), 432-1-432-4.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC2
2012 Bissett, M., Barlow, A., Shearer, C., Quinton, J., & Shapter, J. (2012). Comparison of carbon nanotube modified electrodes for photovoltaic devices. Carbon, 50(7), 2431-2441.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13
2012 Shearer, C., Fahy, A., Barr, M., Moore, K., Dastoor, P., & Shapter, J. (2012). Field emission from single-, double-, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes chemically attached to silicon. Journal of Applied Physics, 111(4), 044326-1-044326-8.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7
2011 Flavel, B. S., Sweetman, M. J., Shearer, C. J., Shapter, J. G., & Voelcker, N. H. (2011). Micropatterned arrays of porous silicon: toward sensory biointerfaces. ACS applied materials and interfaces, 3(7), 2463-2471.
DOI Scopus40 WoS36 Europe PMC15
2011 Moore, K. E., Flavel, B. S., Shearer, C. J., Ellis, A. V., & Shapter, J. G. (2011). Electrochemistry of polystyrene intercalated vertically aligned single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes on gold electrodes. Electrochemistry communications, 13(11), 1190-1193.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9
2011 Sweetman, M. J., Shearer, C. J., Shapter, J. G., & Voelcker, N. H. (2011). Dual silane surface functionalization for the selective attachment of human neuronal cells to porous silicon. Langmuir, 27(15), 9497-9503.
DOI Scopus83 WoS73 Europe PMC34
2010 Velleman, L., Shearer, C., Ellis, A., Losic, D., Voelcker, N., & Shapter, J. (2010). Fabrication of self-supporting porous silicon membranes and tuning transport properties by surface functionalization. Nanoscale, 2(9), 1756-1761.
DOI Scopus47 WoS37 Europe PMC15
2010 Constantopoulos, K. T., Shearer, C. J., Ellis, A. V., Voelcker, N. H., & Shapter, J. G. (2010). Carbon nanotubes anchored to silicon for device fabrication. Advanced materials, 22(5), 557-571.
DOI Scopus29 WoS28 Europe PMC10
2010 Shearer, C. J., Ellis, A. V., Shapter, J. G., & Voelcker, N. H. (2010). Chemically grafted carbon nanotube surface coverage gradients. Langmuir, 26(23), 18468-18475.
DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC2
2009 Poh, Z., Flavel, B. S., Shearer, C. J., Shapter, J. G., & Ellis, A. V. (2009). Fabrication and electrochemical behavior of vertically-aligned carbon nanotube electrodes covalently attached to p-type silicon via a thioester linkage. Materials letters, 63(9-10), 757-760.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13
2008 Shearer, C., Yu, J., O'Donnell, K., Thomsen, L., Dastoor, P., Quinton, J., & Shapter, J. (2008). Highly resilient field emission from aligned single-walled carbon nanotube arrays chemically attached to n-type silicon. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 18(47), 5753-5760.
DOI Scopus22 WoS18

Year Citation
2020 Shearer, C. J., Yu, L. P., & Shapter, J. G. (2020). Optoelectronic properties of nanocarbons and nanocarbon films. In J. -C. Arnault, & D. Eder (Eds.), Synthesis and Applications of Nanocarbons (pp. 275-294). Wiley.
DOI Scopus3
2019 Yu, L., Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., Shapter, J. G., & Shapter, J. G. (2019). Use of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) in Third‐Generation Solar Cells. In S. K. Kurinec (Ed.), Emerging Photovoltaic Materials: Silicon & Beyond (pp. 551-609). Beverly, MA, USA: Scrivener Publishing.
DOI
2018 Yu, L., Batmunkh, M., Shearer, C., & Shapter, J. G. (2018). Use of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) in Third-Generation Solar Cells. In Emerging Photovoltaic Materials Silicon and Beyond (pp. 553-609).
DOI Scopus1
2017 Batmunkh, M., Grace, T., Shearer, C., Tune, D., Yu, L., Mark, M., . . . Shapter, J. (2017). Use of Carbon Nanotubes in Third-Generation Solar Cells. In H. Peng, Q. Li, & T. Chen (Eds.), Industrial Applications of Carbon Nanotubes (pp. 201-249). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
DOI Scopus7
2016 Cherevan, A., Gebhardt, P., Shearer, C., & Eder, D. (2016). Nanocarbon hybrid materials. In K. D. Sattler (Ed.), Carbon Nanomaterials Sourcebook: Nanoparticles, Nanocapsules, Nanofibers, Nanoporous Structures, and Nanocomposites (Vol. 2, pp. 625-646). USA: CRC Press.
2016 Shearer, C. (2016). Biosensor-Based Membrane. In Encyclopedia of Membranes (pp. 247-248).
DOI
2016 Shearer, C. (2016). Porous Silicon. In Encyclopedia of Membranes (pp. 1627-1629).
DOI
2016 Shearer, C. (2016). Biointerface. In Encyclopedia of Membranes (pp. 237-238).
DOI
2016 Shearer, C. (2016). Aligned Carbon Nanotube. In Encyclopedia of Membranes (pp. 52-54). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
DOI
2014 Shearer, C., & Eder, D. (2014). Synthesis strategies of nanocarbon hybrids. In D. Eder, & R. Schloegl (Eds.), Nanocarbon-inorganic hybrids: Next generation composites for sustainable energy applications (pp. 125-170). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
DOI Scopus2
2014 Shearer, C., Cherevan, A., & Eder, D. (2014). Application of functional hybrids incorporating carbon nanotubes or graphene. In K. Tanaka, & S. Iijima (Eds.), Carbon nanotubes and graphene: edition 2 (2 ed., pp. 387-433). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
DOI Scopus19

Year Citation
2025 Day, M., Hamza, M., & Shearer, C. (2025). Aliovalent Doping of SrTiO3 for Photocatalytic Pollutant Remediation.
DOI
2025 University of Adelaide Environment Institute Research Funding Scheme – Collaborative Project with KU Leuven for Ultrasonic degradation of PFAS $6,000
2025-2028 Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP250103235 “Advanced catalytic reduction to breakdown fluorinated pollutants” $639,889
2025 Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation 45642590 “Understanding PFAS: the ‘forever chemical’ that causes fetal anomalies and a lifetime of poor health” $100,000
2024-2026 Industry Contract Research - Petronas Research “Computational selection and experimental investigation of a photocatalytic system capable of generating H radicals from hydrogen donor molecules”

$1,270,000

 

2023-2024 Industry Contract Research Funding – Enviropacific Services “Development of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) treatment chain”  $239,916
2023-2024 UoA Sustainability FAME Strategy Accelerate Grant “ Future proofing remediation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)” $100,000
2023-2024 Australian Research Council LIEF LE240100129 “State-of-the-art atomic force microscopy facilities for South Australia” $530,721
2022-2023 Australian Research Council LIEF LE230100168 “Materials for Sustainability Analysis Facility”  $620,000
2022 UoA Faculty of Sciences Research Roadmap Grant Scheme “A self-driving laboratory for rapid, automated optimisation of pollutant remediation” $34,000
2021-2022 Robinson Research Institute Innovation Seed Funding Program “Understanding PFAS: the ‘forever chemical’ that permanently changes fertility” $50,000
2021 UoA Digi+ FAME Strategy Internal Initiate Grant “Bridging Critical Minerals and Quantum Materials for Emerging Future industries” $20,000
2020-2024 Australian Research Council Future Fellowship FT190100854 – “Light driven degradation of persistent organic pollutants” $714,000
2019-2022 Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative SR180200051 – “Integrated platform technologies for remediation of PFAS contaminated water” $647,638
2019-2020 Innovation Connections Grant ICG001107 – “PFAS Benchtop destruction” $235,000
2019-2020

Australian Solar Research Institute – Solar Fuels project “

 Concentrated Solar Photocatalysis”

$300,000
2020-2024 Future Fuels CRC Research Project (FFCRC RP01) “Solar Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production” $313,000
2018-2019 University of Adelaide Beacon Research Fellowship for Early Career Researchers $130,000
2017 Australian Synchrotron, International Synchrotron Access Program $6,400
2016 Flinders University Vice Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers $2,400
2015 Australia-China Young Scientist Exchange Program ~$10,000
2009 ARNAM student scholarship for collaborative research  $3,500
2008-2011

Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scholarship for PhD stipend

 

~$80,000

(updated 13/10/2025)

Chemical Kinetics, Redox Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Organic contaminants and their remediation, sub-nano assemblies

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Principal Supervisor Advanced catalytic reduction processes for the breakdown of fluorinated pollutants Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alexander James Keltie
2025 Principal Supervisor Development of visible light active photocatalysts for hydrogen production and environmental remediation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Thomas James O'Dea
2025 Co-Supervisor Degradation of persistent chemicals in the environment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Zixin Hu
2024 Principal Supervisor Tantalum-Based Metal Oxides for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rachael Kate Matthews
2024 Co-Supervisor Computational selection and experimental investigation of a photocatalytic system capable of generating H radicals from hydrogen donor molecules Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zi Kang Koi
2024 Principal Supervisor Light Initiated Environmental Remediation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Mabel Lily Day
2024 Co-Supervisor Next generation Thermochromic and Electrochromic smart device based on 2D atomically layered materials Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Mahnaz Dadkhah Jazi
2024 Co-Supervisor Development of Advanced Materials for Ethylene Epoxidation in Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Cells Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Iman GhasemiArdali
2023 Principal Supervisor Rational Design and Preparation of Advanced Photocatalysts for Solar Fuels Production Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mahmoud Adel Hamza Elsayed Gharib
2023 Co-Supervisor Investigating the photocatalytic production evolution times of hydrogen and oxygen using fast ionization spectroscopy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Edward Madbak

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 - 2025 Principal Supervisor Visible-Light-Active Photocatalysts for Solar Fuels Production, Waste Valorization, and PFAS Degradation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mahmoud Adel Hamza Elsayed Gharib
2023 - 2025 Principal Supervisor Photocatalytic generation of hydrogen under extreme conditions Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mrs Ranjani Kalyan
2023 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Designing BiVO4-based photocatalysts for improved oxygen evolution reaction Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Yideng Shen
2021 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Designing metal oxide photocatalysts for efficient visible-light driven Z-scheme photocatalytic water-splitting Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Thomas Douglas Small
2020 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Phosphine-Ligated Gold Nanoclusters for Energy Conversion Technologies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Hanieh Mousavi

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2023 - ongoing Representative SA RACI - Physical Chemistry Royal Australian Chemical Institute Australia
2021 - ongoing Member Hypt-2 Organising Comittee 2nd Forum on Hydrogen Production Technologies Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2012 - ongoing Member RACI Australia
2008 - ongoing - Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN) -

Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
2021 - ongoing Assesor, Oliphant Science Award Public Community Engagement South Australian Science Teachers Association -
2019 - ongoing Speaker, Night of Science Public Community Engagement South Australian Museum -

Connect With Me

External Profiles

Other Links