Physics of a new low power electrothermal radiofrequency plasma thruster. Electric propulsion is the new wave of attitude control for spacecraft. Space engines must be small, lightweight and able to run unattended for over 20 years in a very harsh environment. The physics of a new electrothermal radiofrequency plasma thruster will be investigated. Neutral gas heating will be initially quantified by optical spectroscopy combined with computer generated simulated spectra. A space ready prototype w ....Physics of a new low power electrothermal radiofrequency plasma thruster. Electric propulsion is the new wave of attitude control for spacecraft. Space engines must be small, lightweight and able to run unattended for over 20 years in a very harsh environment. The physics of a new electrothermal radiofrequency plasma thruster will be investigated. Neutral gas heating will be initially quantified by optical spectroscopy combined with computer generated simulated spectra. A space ready prototype will be designed, manufactured and developed to carry out direct measurements of thrust and gas heating in our large space simulation vacuum facility.Read moreRead less
Advanced materials for space propulsion: satellites and cubesats. Poorly controlled interactions between plasmas and surfaces often mean loss of process efficiency and surface degradation over time. For Hall thrusters, a type of engine used to move satellites in space, this means increased fuel consumption and shorter useful life. Through modelling and experiment, this project will show how intelligent selection of advanced materials and plasma parameters can minimise surface wear, enable in sit ....Advanced materials for space propulsion: satellites and cubesats. Poorly controlled interactions between plasmas and surfaces often mean loss of process efficiency and surface degradation over time. For Hall thrusters, a type of engine used to move satellites in space, this means increased fuel consumption and shorter useful life. Through modelling and experiment, this project will show how intelligent selection of advanced materials and plasma parameters can minimise surface wear, enable in situ material repair to extend device lifetime, and modulate plasma properties to increase thruster efficiency for a given task. These benefits enable reliable propulsion platforms for massive communication and observation satellite networks and deep space exploration.Read moreRead less
Plasma-soft tissue interactions: advancing a new era of plasma technologies. This project aims to develop the prerequisite knowledge to underpin new plasma technologies. Specifically, the project plans to provide new insight into the interaction between ionised gas plasma jets and biological soft tissue. It plans to use advanced analytical techniques and modelling simulations to investigate the physics of the plasma jet and processes occurring at the jet–tissue interface. It also plans to use (b ....Plasma-soft tissue interactions: advancing a new era of plasma technologies. This project aims to develop the prerequisite knowledge to underpin new plasma technologies. Specifically, the project plans to provide new insight into the interaction between ionised gas plasma jets and biological soft tissue. It plans to use advanced analytical techniques and modelling simulations to investigate the physics of the plasma jet and processes occurring at the jet–tissue interface. It also plans to use (bio)engineered tissue targets, chemical, biological and cellular assays to probe the transport and effects of plasma reactive species deep within tissue. This new knowledge would enable the development of new plasma sources and protocols for applications in health, medicine, biotechnology and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Nanophotonic tandem designs for high efficiency solar cells. This project will develop high-efficiency tandem solar cells that combine established silicon cell technology with novel low-cost thin-film solar cells. It will incorporate nanostructured layers between the cells that selectively trap different wavelengths of light, maximising light absorption in the top cell. This will make it possible to use a very thin top cell, reducing the requirements on electronic quality of the material. This p ....Nanophotonic tandem designs for high efficiency solar cells. This project will develop high-efficiency tandem solar cells that combine established silicon cell technology with novel low-cost thin-film solar cells. It will incorporate nanostructured layers between the cells that selectively trap different wavelengths of light, maximising light absorption in the top cell. This will make it possible to use a very thin top cell, reducing the requirements on electronic quality of the material. This project will also develop self-assembly techniques to enable the new nanostructures to be fabricated quickly and cheaply but with a high degree of control. Such cells will allow open the door to higher efficiencies, and lower costs, than is achievable with conventional solar cells.Read moreRead less
Stable perovskite-unlocking the full potential of low-cost solar cells. Despite impressive conversion efficiency, the perovskites' poor stability impedes their commercialization. This project aims to develop strategies for stable perovskite solar cells. This will be realized by a thorough understanding of the degradation origins with stimuli, and development of degradation mitigation strategies including materials and interfaces engineering, defect control and passivation, synergized by a system ....Stable perovskite-unlocking the full potential of low-cost solar cells. Despite impressive conversion efficiency, the perovskites' poor stability impedes their commercialization. This project aims to develop strategies for stable perovskite solar cells. This will be realized by a thorough understanding of the degradation origins with stimuli, and development of degradation mitigation strategies including materials and interfaces engineering, defect control and passivation, synergized by a systematic degradation evaluation, state-of-art multi-scale material and device characterizations and device modeling providing feedback for optimization. The project will bring new scientific findings, key technological step-change solutions, unlocking the full potential of perovskites for cheaper photovoltaic technologies.
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Nanowire quantum well infrared photodetectors. This project aims to demonstrate semiconductor nanowire based quantum well infrared (IR) photodetectors for applications in chemical analysis, remote sensing, thermal imaging, environmental monitoring, space ranging and communications. By utilising one-dimensional nanowire detector architecture, the project expects that improved sensitivity, functionality and reduced cost can be achieved surpassing the performance of current IR technologies. This pr ....Nanowire quantum well infrared photodetectors. This project aims to demonstrate semiconductor nanowire based quantum well infrared (IR) photodetectors for applications in chemical analysis, remote sensing, thermal imaging, environmental monitoring, space ranging and communications. By utilising one-dimensional nanowire detector architecture, the project expects that improved sensitivity, functionality and reduced cost can be achieved surpassing the performance of current IR technologies. This project will pave the way for a new research and development platform for next generation large scale, low cost, high performance IR systems with commercialisation opportunities accessible to both high-end defence sectors and broader civilian industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100413
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,000.00
Summary
Hybrid nanowire-nanoantenna infrared photodetectors. This project aims to demonstrate room temperature hybrid nanowire-nanoantenna infrared photodetectors by integrating plasmonic nanoantennas on semiconductor nanowire arrays. It is expected that such novel device architectures will not only bring enhanced performance in responsivity, detectivity, and photoresponse bandwidth, but also additional functionalities such as selective wavelength and tunable polarisation, which may significantly outper ....Hybrid nanowire-nanoantenna infrared photodetectors. This project aims to demonstrate room temperature hybrid nanowire-nanoantenna infrared photodetectors by integrating plasmonic nanoantennas on semiconductor nanowire arrays. It is expected that such novel device architectures will not only bring enhanced performance in responsivity, detectivity, and photoresponse bandwidth, but also additional functionalities such as selective wavelength and tunable polarisation, which may significantly outperform current infrared technology. The outcomes will provide a new device platform for next-generation, large-scale, reduced-cost, high-performance imaging systems in self-driving navigation, object identification, spectroscopy, and other high-end defence and civilian applications.Read moreRead less
Efficient, durable and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel. This project aims to develop a long-life, stable, high-performance, and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel, which is expected to offer a shapable truly green building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product for building deployment. This will be realized by synergising multidiscipline expertise, integrating established technologies of steel surface treatment, steel and solar cell integration and shaping, high-effi ....Efficient, durable and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel. This project aims to develop a long-life, stable, high-performance, and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel, which is expected to offer a shapable truly green building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product for building deployment. This will be realized by synergising multidiscipline expertise, integrating established technologies of steel surface treatment, steel and solar cell integration and shaping, high-efficiency chalcopyrite, identified strategies for tackling its durability and toxicity, and advanced macro-to-micro characterizations. The project completion will accelerate the transition to the zero-emission building, establish Australia's excellence in green steel for BIPV, and access a share in the soaring BIPV market.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101501
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Printed back electrodes enabling low-cost perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address back electrode material, a bottleneck functional material in state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By engineering printable and conductive materials based on carbon and gold nanowires, the project expects to enable highly-efficient and scalable PSCs while reducing cost of materials and production. These expected outcomes are to be implemented in PSCs and their impact rigorously tested in rese ....Printed back electrodes enabling low-cost perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address back electrode material, a bottleneck functional material in state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By engineering printable and conductive materials based on carbon and gold nanowires, the project expects to enable highly-efficient and scalable PSCs while reducing cost of materials and production. These expected outcomes are to be implemented in PSCs and their impact rigorously tested in research cells to large-area PSCs modules produced through industry-relevant, scalable, and low-cost printing and coating methods. This will provide significant benefits to Australian industry, from small to medium enterprises to larger utility power companies, while creating economic opportunities and enabling sustainable societies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$269,020.00
Summary
Flexible Flame Aerosol Synthesis Technology. Funding is requested to establish a world-leading fabrication facility for nanostructured materials via flame synthesis. This is a scalable fabrication route used for industrial production of most nanoparticle commodities. The aim is to advance current capabilities by providing control over the reaction environment and flame reaction sources. This will extend the range of feasible materials from the current metal oxides to a broad family of nitrides, ....Flexible Flame Aerosol Synthesis Technology. Funding is requested to establish a world-leading fabrication facility for nanostructured materials via flame synthesis. This is a scalable fabrication route used for industrial production of most nanoparticle commodities. The aim is to advance current capabilities by providing control over the reaction environment and flame reaction sources. This will extend the range of feasible materials from the current metal oxides to a broad family of nitrides, sulphides, and metal-organic frameworks, enabling the engineering of electrocatalysts, optoelectronic- and bio-materials. Benefits are expected in terms of fundamental and applied knowledge generation, with impact to the Australian industry sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Energy and Health.Read moreRead less