Developing a hybrid waterjet-laser micromachining technology and associated process models for damage-free fabrication of silicon substrates. This hybrid micromachining technology will make it possible for damage-free, fast micro-fabrication of high-integrity devices such as high performance silicon solar cells. It will open new directions for the Australian manufacturing industry in micro-technologies. The environmental and economic benefits to the nation will be highly significant.
Solar Paint: Models and Mechanisms. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) offer the tantalising prospect of renewable solar energy from low cost flexible printed coatings. However, several key scientific obstacles must be overcome before such devices become a commercial reality. In particular, nanoscale organisation of the active materials and their deposition from benign solvents must be achieved. This project will tackle the fundamental science required to print large area devices using water-based sol ....Solar Paint: Models and Mechanisms. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) offer the tantalising prospect of renewable solar energy from low cost flexible printed coatings. However, several key scientific obstacles must be overcome before such devices become a commercial reality. In particular, nanoscale organisation of the active materials and their deposition from benign solvents must be achieved. This project will tackle the fundamental science required to print large area devices using water-based solar paint. These exciting new materials offer the possibility of both controlling nanoscale architecture and allowing large scale OPV production via simple, well established printing techniques, thus providing the first step towards the creation of an Australian OPV industry.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms and innovative technologies for machining nanoscale multilayered thin film solar panels. This project addresses an important manufacturing bottleneck in the solar energy industry by addressing significant limitations in machining multilayered solar panels. A successful outcome will provide an important breakthrough in machining technology applicable not only to solar panels but other material science applications.
Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety o ....Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety of surfaces. Given their remarkable properties, such disruptive technology for consumer/industrial-scale production will provide tremendous opportunities for their application in electronics, energy and catalysis, among other uses.Read moreRead less
Environmentally benign polymer solar cells. The project aims to prepare polymer solar cells, by developing water-compatible conjugated materials for the active layer. This technology would be cost-efficient and not use environmentally harmful solvents. The project would achieve aqueous compatibility of these hydrophobic molecules through substitution and careful positioning of functional groups. Fabrication processes will be optimised to incorporate these materials into solar cells, with a focus ....Environmentally benign polymer solar cells. The project aims to prepare polymer solar cells, by developing water-compatible conjugated materials for the active layer. This technology would be cost-efficient and not use environmentally harmful solvents. The project would achieve aqueous compatibility of these hydrophobic molecules through substitution and careful positioning of functional groups. Fabrication processes will be optimised to incorporate these materials into solar cells, with a focus on controlling the morphology of the active material. Determining the relationships between conjugated molecular design and cell performance should provide a new direction in solar-cell technology.Read moreRead less
Develop materials for stable and efficient printed polymer solar cells. The project aims to develop strategies to overcome current limitations of polymer solar cells by enhancing the thermal stability of these devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of stable and high-performance polymer solar cells, that can be manufactured by the printing industry in Australia. The expected outcome of this project includes new high performing materials, processing and additive strat ....Develop materials for stable and efficient printed polymer solar cells. The project aims to develop strategies to overcome current limitations of polymer solar cells by enhancing the thermal stability of these devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of stable and high-performance polymer solar cells, that can be manufactured by the printing industry in Australia. The expected outcome of this project includes new high performing materials, processing and additive strategies to overcome the key challenge to commercialising polymer solar cells. A significant benefit is their printability, providing the opportunity to establish a sovereign capability to manufacture low cost energy production systems in Australia.
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Nanoscale control of energy and matter for future energy-efficient technologies. Unprecedented control of energy and matter in nanoscale fabrication will be achieved using non-equilibrium self-organised plasma-solid systems. The outcomes will lead to energy-efficient, environment- and human-health-friendly production of nanomaterials for future energy, health, information, food, water, environmental and security technologies.
Elucidating the morphology of organic semiconductors at an atomic level. Controlling morphology and self-organization at a molecular level is key to advancing the performance of optoelectronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. Current device development relies on a costly and inefficient empirical design cycle (material synthesis followed by device fabrication and testing). In addition, the active layers often involve multiple components and their nano ....Elucidating the morphology of organic semiconductors at an atomic level. Controlling morphology and self-organization at a molecular level is key to advancing the performance of optoelectronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. Current device development relies on a costly and inefficient empirical design cycle (material synthesis followed by device fabrication and testing). In addition, the active layers often involve multiple components and their nano-scale morphology is difficult to probe experimentally. Recently developed molecular simulation techniques can provide unique insight into atomic-level structural details that determine device efficiency. The project will determine if such simulations are sufficiently accurate to be industrially useful.Read moreRead less
High efficiency magnetics for high frequency and high energy density power converters used in renewable energy systems. This project will result in the development of more efficient power conversion technologies for solar energy production and enable greater utilisation of renewable, solar-generated power in the national electricity supply. Technology developed from this proposal will provide the solar power industry with several new high frequency magnetics technologies utilised in solar power ....High efficiency magnetics for high frequency and high energy density power converters used in renewable energy systems. This project will result in the development of more efficient power conversion technologies for solar energy production and enable greater utilisation of renewable, solar-generated power in the national electricity supply. Technology developed from this proposal will provide the solar power industry with several new high frequency magnetics technologies utilised in solar power converters. These solar technology innovations will result in national benefits through reduced carbon emissions from a greater uptake of renewable (solar) power. It will enable Australia to rise to meet the renewable energy generation and utilisation standards of the United States of America and Europe.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100126
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
An integrated kinetic measurement system enabling efficient solar energy conversion. This measurement facility will underpin advances in the fundamental understanding of new semiconducting materials for high efficiency light-driven energy conversion systems. The outcomes of the research at the facility will lead to significant economic and environmental benefits for many industries, such as low cost solar cells and water purifications.