Modifying Structure and Properties of Carbon Nanotubes for Device Applications (MWN). The focus of this project is to develop new heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials for use in conjugated-polymer composite photovoltaic cells. Synthesis of boron and of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the US researchers will be complemented by ion-implantation post-synthesis of CNTs by the Australian team, to gain a thorough and detailed understanding of how the CNTs can act effectively as both an ....Modifying Structure and Properties of Carbon Nanotubes for Device Applications (MWN). The focus of this project is to develop new heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials for use in conjugated-polymer composite photovoltaic cells. Synthesis of boron and of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the US researchers will be complemented by ion-implantation post-synthesis of CNTs by the Australian team, to gain a thorough and detailed understanding of how the CNTs can act effectively as both an electron acceptor and charge transport medium in a conjugated polymer. Outcomes will include fundamental advances in our understanding of charge transport in the composite devices and prototype organic photovoltaic devices of improved efficiency.Read moreRead less
Porphyrin arrays - Light Harvesting in three dimensions. The emulation of photosynthesis, the efficient and sustainable utilization of solar energy using renewable materials represents one of the great scientific challenges. This project will explore one aspect of this by determining the nature and scope of using assemblies of artificial chlorophylls for three dimensional light harvesting in titania solar cells.
Photochemical upconversion for third generation photovoltaic devices. Most solar cells cannot utilise infrared light, as the photons in this spectral region are not energetic enough to promote electrons across the energy threshold. This project will harvest this low energy light, and by 'gluing' the photons together in a process known as upconversion, the project will improve the light harvesting efficiencies of solar cells.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100433
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Optimising light harvesting using quantum transport. Observations of wavelike energy transport in photosynthetic systems have exposed the role of quantum mechanics in natural light harvesting. This project is a study of how light harvesting functions for an incoherent source like sunlight. In sunlight, energy transport occurs at steady state, a dramatically simpler regime than when a coherent source like lasers are used. This project will exploit this simplification to develop new methods for tr ....Optimising light harvesting using quantum transport. Observations of wavelike energy transport in photosynthetic systems have exposed the role of quantum mechanics in natural light harvesting. This project is a study of how light harvesting functions for an incoherent source like sunlight. In sunlight, energy transport occurs at steady state, a dramatically simpler regime than when a coherent source like lasers are used. This project will exploit this simplification to develop new methods for treating light harvesting in sunlight and apply them to a variety of natural and artificial systems. It will clarify how bacteria and plants harvest sunlight and lead to design principles that will enable artificial light harvesting to take advantage of quantum effects.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100427
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells. At present, manufacturing solar panels involves expensive high temperature and high vacuum processes. The bottleneck to cheaper solar power is the ability to design new methods of manufacturing. The ability to print the active components of a solar cell is an excellent way to mitigate these costs. This project aims to focus on developing the knowledge to print the most crucial component of a solar cell - the light absorbin ....All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells. At present, manufacturing solar panels involves expensive high temperature and high vacuum processes. The bottleneck to cheaper solar power is the ability to design new methods of manufacturing. The ability to print the active components of a solar cell is an excellent way to mitigate these costs. This project aims to focus on developing the knowledge to print the most crucial component of a solar cell - the light absorbing layer. Innovative nanoscience will be used to develop novel solar inks composed of tiny semiconductor crystals. The formulation and transformation of these inks into efficient semiconductor light absorbing layers, with a clear view to cheaper printed solar cells, will be the key objective of this project.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100177
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) facilities for chemical, biological and materials sciences. New instrumentation to advance national research in hydrogen fuel generation from renewable sources, new generation photo-voltaic technologies, novel polymer and other chemical materials and advanced computing systems will be provided by this project. A new high sensitivity electron paramagnetic resonance facility, located at the Australian National University, will serve researchers in the ....Advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) facilities for chemical, biological and materials sciences. New instrumentation to advance national research in hydrogen fuel generation from renewable sources, new generation photo-voltaic technologies, novel polymer and other chemical materials and advanced computing systems will be provided by this project. A new high sensitivity electron paramagnetic resonance facility, located at the Australian National University, will serve researchers in the ACT region devoted to the broad range of activities summarised above. A particular focus involves novel, biologically inspired energy systems and high efficiency solar cell technology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989567
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
State of the Art Surface Characterisation Facility for the Sydney Basin. Many of the grand challenges of our time, including finding alternative sources of energy, maximizing our current supply of natural resources, identifying and treating pollution in general, and in water in particular, and developing therapies and biomaterials that enable the personalisation of therapies to each individual are being solved using developments in the molecular sciences. Pivotal to the success of such research ....State of the Art Surface Characterisation Facility for the Sydney Basin. Many of the grand challenges of our time, including finding alternative sources of energy, maximizing our current supply of natural resources, identifying and treating pollution in general, and in water in particular, and developing therapies and biomaterials that enable the personalisation of therapies to each individual are being solved using developments in the molecular sciences. Pivotal to the success of such research is to understand materials and surfaces at the molecular level. The request is to purchase surface analysis instrumentation which will dramatically enhance the ability of scientists around Australia understand how to develop solutions to these grand challenges.Read moreRead less
Friction and capillary forces. Reducing friction forces is important for improving the performance of moving components in devices, and also useful for relieving people from pains at joints. In ambient conditions, confined liquids have a great influence on friction forces because an attractive force is induced by capillary condensation and adsorption between the surfaces. The correlation between capillary and friction forces will be clarified by force measurements with newly developed surface fo ....Friction and capillary forces. Reducing friction forces is important for improving the performance of moving components in devices, and also useful for relieving people from pains at joints. In ambient conditions, confined liquids have a great influence on friction forces because an attractive force is induced by capillary condensation and adsorption between the surfaces. The correlation between capillary and friction forces will be clarified by force measurements with newly developed surface force apparatuses in various conditions. Theoretical interpretation of influences of molecular layered liquids between the sliding surfaces on frictional behaviour will be also given based on thermodynamics.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Australian Centre for Electromaterials Science. The Centre will tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society: those of renewable energy, sustainable industries and enhancing human health. Improvements in all these areas are possible by developing electromaterials with improved efficiency in the generation and transfer of electrical charge. By developing new nano-materials and new theories to explain their behaviour, the Centre will make advances in the areas ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Australian Centre for Electromaterials Science. The Centre will tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society: those of renewable energy, sustainable industries and enhancing human health. Improvements in all these areas are possible by developing electromaterials with improved efficiency in the generation and transfer of electrical charge. By developing new nano-materials and new theories to explain their behaviour, the Centre will make advances in the areas of human health through the regeneration of damaged nerves (eg. in spinal injury) and development of artificial muscles; in renewable energy (plastic solar cells, lightweight batteries and electronic textiles) and in sustainable industries (recovery of precious metals and new corrosion protection technologies).Read moreRead less
Understanding Electron Transfer through Surface Bound Rigid Molecular Constructs: From Fundamental Studies to New Sensing and Photovoltaic Applications. Electron transfer is not only a vital process in biological systems but is the cornerstone of the new generation of nanoscale devices such as molecular electronics, photovoltaic devices and biosensors. For most applications electron transfer occurs close to a surface but the influence of the surface is not well understood. This project aims ....Understanding Electron Transfer through Surface Bound Rigid Molecular Constructs: From Fundamental Studies to New Sensing and Photovoltaic Applications. Electron transfer is not only a vital process in biological systems but is the cornerstone of the new generation of nanoscale devices such as molecular electronics, photovoltaic devices and biosensors. For most applications electron transfer occurs close to a surface but the influence of the surface is not well understood. This project aims to increase our understanding of the role of surfaces on the electron transfer behaviour using a novel range of rigid 'molecular wires'. The knowledge gained will be exploited in the development of novel biosensors for environmental and health monitoring and new highly efficient solar cells for energy conversion.Read moreRead less