Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560683
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,953.00
Summary
A furnace stack for advanced photovoltaic, photonic and microfabrication applications. Advanced silicon photovoltaic, photonic, optoelectronic and micro-electromechanical devices require state of the art processing equipment for the deposition of thin dielectric films and for controlled doping of the devices. Key techniques include the deposition of stoichiometric and silicon rich silicon nitride and silicon dioxide films, and the controlled wafer doping with boron and phosphorus. A state of the ....A furnace stack for advanced photovoltaic, photonic and microfabrication applications. Advanced silicon photovoltaic, photonic, optoelectronic and micro-electromechanical devices require state of the art processing equipment for the deposition of thin dielectric films and for controlled doping of the devices. Key techniques include the deposition of stoichiometric and silicon rich silicon nitride and silicon dioxide films, and the controlled wafer doping with boron and phosphorus. A state of the art furnace stack is to be procured which will satisfy these requirements on industrially relevant wafer sizes up to 150mm. The equipment will support a broad range of research projects in the above fields, ranging from fundamental investigations to applied research carried out in collaboration with industry partners.Read moreRead less
Next generation, very high efficiency thin silicon cells. A new type of thin silicon solar cell, with an efficiency potential of 21% or greater, is to be developed and characterized.
These cells should be cheaper, and have better efficiency, power to weight ratio and radiation tolerance than existing commercial silicon solar cells opening interesting possible applications. Novel solar cell designs and associated interconnection and encapsulation schemes for the cells suitable for space and hi ....Next generation, very high efficiency thin silicon cells. A new type of thin silicon solar cell, with an efficiency potential of 21% or greater, is to be developed and characterized.
These cells should be cheaper, and have better efficiency, power to weight ratio and radiation tolerance than existing commercial silicon solar cells opening interesting possible applications. Novel solar cell designs and associated interconnection and encapsulation schemes for the cells suitable for space and high altitude aircraft applications superior to existing technologies are expected to be developed. This should lead to a new, internationally competitive Australian industry.
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Investigation of P Type Emitters for Future Generation Photovoltaics. The overseas market for photovoltaic panels is large and rapidly expanding - it is expected to grow six-fold over the next decade, to nearly US$10 billion per annum. Australia is well placed to capture a significant share of this market, creating employment and export earnings. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, ....Investigation of P Type Emitters for Future Generation Photovoltaics. The overseas market for photovoltaic panels is large and rapidly expanding - it is expected to grow six-fold over the next decade, to nearly US$10 billion per annum. Australia is well placed to capture a significant share of this market, creating employment and export earnings. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, since the results of the research are expected to lead to improved manufacturing processes. In addition, photovoltaics will be a key technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus mitigate the magnitude and severity of the effects of global warming. Read moreRead less
High efficiency III-V solar cells based on low-dimensional quantum confined heterostructures. There is no doubt that clean and sustainable solar energy is one of the most viable energy sources to address the issues of climate change, global warming and depletion of conventional energy sources. With the great advantages offered by quantum confined nanostructures and nanotechnology, this project may lead to substantial efficiency improvement of current III-V solar cells (already higher efficiency ....High efficiency III-V solar cells based on low-dimensional quantum confined heterostructures. There is no doubt that clean and sustainable solar energy is one of the most viable energy sources to address the issues of climate change, global warming and depletion of conventional energy sources. With the great advantages offered by quantum confined nanostructures and nanotechnology, this project may lead to substantial efficiency improvement of current III-V solar cells (already higher efficiency than Si solar cells), making great contribution to the society and Nation in the areas of science, technology, environment, and economy.Read moreRead less
High Temperature Silicon Nitride for Improved Silicon Photovoltaics. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, since the results of the research are expected to lead to improved manufacturing processes. A strong photovoltaics industry will lead to the creation of significant numbers of jobs and export earnings. There is a large and rapidly expanding overseas market for solar panels. In a ....High Temperature Silicon Nitride for Improved Silicon Photovoltaics. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, since the results of the research are expected to lead to improved manufacturing processes. A strong photovoltaics industry will lead to the creation of significant numbers of jobs and export earnings. There is a large and rapidly expanding overseas market for solar panels. In addition, the large scale deployment of photovoltaic systems will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus mitigate the magnitude and severity of the effects of global warming. Read moreRead less
The LASE process - a new approach to cost effective thin solar cells. This project aims to develop a process to produce a new type of single
crystalline silicon solar cell. The cell is made on very thin slices of silicon that are detached from a conventional high quality silicon wafer. The wafer is gradually consumed as successive slices are harvested from it. Substantially less silicon is used in each solar cell, which allows significant cost reductions.
Low cost photovoltaic modules through reduced silicon consumption. Aims: The project aims to develop new methods and processes for the production of solar cells and photovoltaic modules. The modules will be made from very thin, narrow silicon solar cells. Because the modules use much less silicon than conventional modules, they are expected to be substantially cheaper.
Expected outcomes: It is expected that the project will lead to implementation of the proposed technology in a pilot plant and ....Low cost photovoltaic modules through reduced silicon consumption. Aims: The project aims to develop new methods and processes for the production of solar cells and photovoltaic modules. The modules will be made from very thin, narrow silicon solar cells. Because the modules use much less silicon than conventional modules, they are expected to be substantially cheaper.
Expected outcomes: It is expected that the project will lead to implementation of the proposed technology in a pilot plant and commercialisation thereafter.
Significance: Successful commercialisation will result in a significant reduction in the cost of photovoltaic modules as well as substantial economic benefits to the commercial partner and Australia.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concent ....ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concentrator systems. Expected outcomes include long-term research, commercial research, publications, education, community outreach and commercialisation of solar energy technologies to benefit Australia's economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the performance of thin-film photovoltaic cells via the application of luminescent down-shifting layers. Photovoltaic (PV) devices convert sunlight directly into electricity. For decades, the dominant PV technology has been based on thick, costly silicon wafers. However, due to higher energy conversion efficiencies and manufacturing processes, thin film PV cells can provide lower price than of the conventional wafer-based technologies. This project takes one of the leading thin film ....Enhancing the performance of thin-film photovoltaic cells via the application of luminescent down-shifting layers. Photovoltaic (PV) devices convert sunlight directly into electricity. For decades, the dominant PV technology has been based on thick, costly silicon wafers. However, due to higher energy conversion efficiencies and manufacturing processes, thin film PV cells can provide lower price than of the conventional wafer-based technologies. This project takes one of the leading thin film technologies and couples it with a passive optical layer, which will result in a 30% performance enhancement by overcoming internal absorption losses. It is anticipated that the increased performance will enable the thin film PV technology to be far more commercially viable and attractive for future commercialisation, and hence reduce the cost of solar power.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of n-type silicon for solar cells. This project will lead to an improved understanding of impurities in silicon, especially several emerging low-cost n-type silicon materials made especially for solar cells. This knowledge will enable the negative effects of these impurities to be eliminated or reduced, thus yielding higher efficiency modules that produce solar electricity at a lower cost. The potential benefits to Australia, which already has an established silicon solar ....Unlocking the potential of n-type silicon for solar cells. This project will lead to an improved understanding of impurities in silicon, especially several emerging low-cost n-type silicon materials made especially for solar cells. This knowledge will enable the negative effects of these impurities to be eliminated or reduced, thus yielding higher efficiency modules that produce solar electricity at a lower cost. The potential benefits to Australia, which already has an established silicon solar cell industry, are large. They include increased employment in well-paid high-technology jobs, increased export earnings, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. These benefits could grow rapidly, in line with the global photovoltaic industry growth rate of more than 30% per year.Read moreRead less