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
ADVANCED PHYSICS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SILICON MATERIALS AND DEVICES. Silicon, the semiconductor material that has revolutionised modern society through Microelectronics, is also at the centre of Photovoltaics, the technology that permits harvesting the energy from the sun to improve the quality of life and sustain it beyond the limitations of fossil fuel resources. By improving our understanding of the fundamental properties of silicon and advancing the solar cell devices made from it, this p ....ADVANCED PHYSICS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SILICON MATERIALS AND DEVICES. Silicon, the semiconductor material that has revolutionised modern society through Microelectronics, is also at the centre of Photovoltaics, the technology that permits harvesting the energy from the sun to improve the quality of life and sustain it beyond the limitations of fossil fuel resources. By improving our understanding of the fundamental properties of silicon and advancing the solar cell devices made from it, this project aims to increase Australia's presence in the vast field of Microlectronics and maintain its leading position in solar energy technologies.Read moreRead less
Improving silicon grain boundaries by linking electronic material quality and device manufacturing conditions. This project develops our recent findings for improving silicon grain boundaries in electronic devices such as cheap solar cells, active matrix displays, thin-film transistors, etc. The performance of such devices and their applications have been limited mainly because no simple link between manufacturing conditions and device quality has been found. However, we recently verified a phys ....Improving silicon grain boundaries by linking electronic material quality and device manufacturing conditions. This project develops our recent findings for improving silicon grain boundaries in electronic devices such as cheap solar cells, active matrix displays, thin-film transistors, etc. The performance of such devices and their applications have been limited mainly because no simple link between manufacturing conditions and device quality has been found. However, we recently verified a physical model description of grain boundaries on a broad range of devices, and this allows us to find such a link and to address prevailing problems from a new perspective. This will improve both the understanding and the manufacturing of such devices.Read moreRead less
Photonic structures for high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Photovoltaics is a non-polluting, environmentally sustainable way of converting sunlight directly to electricity. The reduction of cost is the most important issue in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This project will lead to the development of solar cell structures and techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of thin film solar cells, which are the major contender for the lowest cost photovoltaic te ....Photonic structures for high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Photovoltaics is a non-polluting, environmentally sustainable way of converting sunlight directly to electricity. The reduction of cost is the most important issue in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This project will lead to the development of solar cell structures and techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of thin film solar cells, which are the major contender for the lowest cost photovoltaic technology. If the cost of photovoltaics was sufficiently reduced it could have a major impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in Australia.Read moreRead less
Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles. The fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine offers very high power density, efficiency and constant-power speed range which are properties sought after for electric vehicles. Accurate mathematical models are essential for high performance control of the FSCW machine. This project seeks to develop these models, as w ....Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles. The fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine offers very high power density, efficiency and constant-power speed range which are properties sought after for electric vehicles. Accurate mathematical models are essential for high performance control of the FSCW machine. This project seeks to develop these models, as well as sensorless controllers for the FSCW IPM machine.Read moreRead less
High-speed interior permanent magnet synchronous machines. This project aims to develop a permanent magnet machine for high speed operation (more than 50,000 rpm). A high-speed interior permanent magnet machine will solve some of the complex constructional and sensor-less control issues related to high-speed drive systems. This project will develop permanent magnet machines with simple constructional features, reduced use of costly rare earth materials, inherent sensor-less control capability an ....High-speed interior permanent magnet synchronous machines. This project aims to develop a permanent magnet machine for high speed operation (more than 50,000 rpm). A high-speed interior permanent magnet machine will solve some of the complex constructional and sensor-less control issues related to high-speed drive systems. This project will develop permanent magnet machines with simple constructional features, reduced use of costly rare earth materials, inherent sensor-less control capability and flux-weakening. These machines are expected to be used in many global growth sectors including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, energy generation and storage.Read moreRead less
Development of high performance wide-bandgap polar oxide electronic and optoelectronic devices. The research and development of high performance electronic and optoelectronic devices based on polar semiconductors have numerous practical applications in future communication systems and power electronic network. This project aims to generate exciting breakthrough science for novel polar oxide devices. The technologies developed through this project may lead to immediate applications and commercial ....Development of high performance wide-bandgap polar oxide electronic and optoelectronic devices. The research and development of high performance electronic and optoelectronic devices based on polar semiconductors have numerous practical applications in future communication systems and power electronic network. This project aims to generate exciting breakthrough science for novel polar oxide devices. The technologies developed through this project may lead to immediate applications and commercialization of high performance devices in sensing, detection and communication, bringing enormous economic benefit for the Nation. The international collaboration will provide invaluable resources for both scientific research and technology development and keep Australia at the forefront in this field.Read moreRead less
Robust Coherent Control Engineering for Quantum Systems and Networks. This project aims to develop new methods for the design of robust coherent controllers for emerging applications to quantum systems and networks. Using robust controllers which are themselves quantum systems, tools from the theory of optimal risk sensitive control aim to enable technological systems to be designed with high levels of performance in the face of unavoidable uncertainties due to imperfect fabrication and interact ....Robust Coherent Control Engineering for Quantum Systems and Networks. This project aims to develop new methods for the design of robust coherent controllers for emerging applications to quantum systems and networks. Using robust controllers which are themselves quantum systems, tools from the theory of optimal risk sensitive control aim to enable technological systems to be designed with high levels of performance in the face of unavoidable uncertainties due to imperfect fabrication and interactions with the environment. The research aims to yield systematic control engineering methods to combat the effects of quantum decoherence which is critical in order to make quantum technologies such as quantum computing truly practical. Applications include computing, secure communications, sensing and simulationsRead moreRead less
Coherent control engineering for state estimation in quantum linear systems. This project aims to develop new methodologies for designing coherent controllers to facilitate optimal estimation in systems incorporating quantum sensors such as optomechanical and atom-interference sensors. New quantum sensors are being developed which have the potential to achieve sensitivities approaching fundamental physical limits. However to fully exploit these devices, this project will develop new control engi ....Coherent control engineering for state estimation in quantum linear systems. This project aims to develop new methodologies for designing coherent controllers to facilitate optimal estimation in systems incorporating quantum sensors such as optomechanical and atom-interference sensors. New quantum sensors are being developed which have the potential to achieve sensitivities approaching fundamental physical limits. However to fully exploit these devices, this project will develop new control engineering and signal processing methods taking into account the fundamental properties of quantum systems and noise. This will enable quantum sensors to be applied to a wide range of applications including transport, medical imaging, civil engineering, and the detection of hazards.Read moreRead less
Engineering stable, efficient perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address and resolve a critical issue facing perovskite solar cells which have enormous potential as a future technology for the large-scale generation of cheap, clean electricity: their instability under actual operating conditions. The project is expected to make significant fundamental advances in compositional, structural and interface engineering. This project will benefit the environment by paving the way for the wi ....Engineering stable, efficient perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address and resolve a critical issue facing perovskite solar cells which have enormous potential as a future technology for the large-scale generation of cheap, clean electricity: their instability under actual operating conditions. The project is expected to make significant fundamental advances in compositional, structural and interface engineering. This project will benefit the environment by paving the way for the widespread adoption of cheaper and more efficient solar cells.Read moreRead less