Luminescence-based imaging system for industrial tandem solar cells. This project aims to develop an Australian-made inspection system for next-generation solar cells. Besides allowing, for the first time, fast measurements of large-size tandem solar cells, the system will also enable the determination of key parameters that cannot be measured by current methods. This capability is expected to generate new knowledge in the areas of perovskite and tandem solar cells.
The expected outcomes include ....Luminescence-based imaging system for industrial tandem solar cells. This project aims to develop an Australian-made inspection system for next-generation solar cells. Besides allowing, for the first time, fast measurements of large-size tandem solar cells, the system will also enable the determination of key parameters that cannot be measured by current methods. This capability is expected to generate new knowledge in the areas of perovskite and tandem solar cells.
The expected outcomes include the development of new characterisation methods for advanced solar cells and improvement of their quality, as well as enhancing Australian capabilities in building sophisticated characterisation instruments. This should provide benefits such as cheaper solar energy and the development of local inspection industry.Read moreRead less
High performance durable perovskite solar cells for space applications . There has been a rapid growth in space exploration and experimentation fuelled by global support. Space hardware needs to be powered by a sustainable source of energy. The use of solar photovoltaics is the preferred choice. As we move into the era of 'commercial space', cost will become paramount necessitating the development of new cost effective photovoltaic technologies. Metal halide perovskite solar cells show the great ....High performance durable perovskite solar cells for space applications . There has been a rapid growth in space exploration and experimentation fuelled by global support. Space hardware needs to be powered by a sustainable source of energy. The use of solar photovoltaics is the preferred choice. As we move into the era of 'commercial space', cost will become paramount necessitating the development of new cost effective photovoltaic technologies. Metal halide perovskite solar cells show the greatest potential. They have a higher power to weight ratio and are significantly cheaper to be manufactured compared to incumbent space cells. This project aims to develop and demonstrate perovskite solar cells to achieve high areal power conversion efficiencies and long operating lifetimes withstanding space environment. Read moreRead less
A new defect-control approach for mismatched heteroepitaxy semiconductors. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for silicon-germanium heteroepitaxial semiconductor systems to provide a route for high-throughput, low-cost, high-efficiency silicon tandem solar cells. Mismatched heteroepitaxy of semiconductors is of considerable interest for fabricating novel devices. However, the use of highly-mismatched heteroepitaxial semiconductors has been limited due to the high densitie ....A new defect-control approach for mismatched heteroepitaxy semiconductors. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for silicon-germanium heteroepitaxial semiconductor systems to provide a route for high-throughput, low-cost, high-efficiency silicon tandem solar cells. Mismatched heteroepitaxy of semiconductors is of considerable interest for fabricating novel devices. However, the use of highly-mismatched heteroepitaxial semiconductors has been limited due to the high densities of crystal defects which degrade the performance of both majority and minority carrier devices. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for heteroepitaxial semiconductors by continuous wavelength diode laser processing. With heteroepitaxial silicon-germanium as an example, the project will investigate the mechanism underlying defect-cleaning, optimised designs for best performance, and designs for high-efficiency tandem 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.
Read moreRead less
Defect control for high-performance green kesterites energy materials. This project will tackle the fundamental challenge of defect control of the quaternary compound kesterite, revolutionizing the way we can understand the hidden defect-evolution process and design accordingly effective defect-control approaches. This will be realized by a systematic approach integrating multiscale materials characterization, process and materials modeling, and linking microscopic local chemical potential and m ....Defect control for high-performance green kesterites energy materials. This project will tackle the fundamental challenge of defect control of the quaternary compound kesterite, revolutionizing the way we can understand the hidden defect-evolution process and design accordingly effective defect-control approaches. This will be realized by a systematic approach integrating multiscale materials characterization, process and materials modeling, and linking microscopic local chemical potential and macroscopic processing conditions, and associated compound properties and device performance to control defects evolution. Successfully achieved, this project will realize full potential of kesterite in photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications, and leading to new discoveries in other compound energy materials.Read moreRead less
Supercharged silicon wafer tandem solar cells using virtual germanium substrates. International studies show that electricity from solar cells is one of the cleanest future energy sources, able to almost completely displace fossil fuels. To fulfil such a key role, costs must greatly reduce. The project targets reduced cost by greatly improved performance by stacking high quality thin cells on top of a conventional silicon cell.
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: DE160101100
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,000.00
Summary
Nanostructured Cu2ZnSnS4 for solar-driven electricity and hydrogen. This project aims to develop cost-effective Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals for two solar devices for electricity and hydrogen production. The copper-zinc-tin-sulphide (Cu2ZnSnS4) nanoparticle for solar cells has been less than two per cent efficient for years and photoelectrochemical devices have been recently recognised but less explored. The combined innovative modification of its nanocrystals, and grain growth approach for enhancing ....Nanostructured Cu2ZnSnS4 for solar-driven electricity and hydrogen. This project aims to develop cost-effective Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals for two solar devices for electricity and hydrogen production. The copper-zinc-tin-sulphide (Cu2ZnSnS4) nanoparticle for solar cells has been less than two per cent efficient for years and photoelectrochemical devices have been recently recognised but less explored. The combined innovative modification of its nanocrystals, and grain growth approach for enhancing light absorption and photogenerated carrier collection efficiency should elucidate underlying mechanism of and provide solutions to the problem which has baffled researchers in above areas for several years. The intended resulting simple, cost-effective solar-driven electricity and hydrogen devices should make significant contributions to goals of commercially viable storage of solar energy and solutions to global energy and environment issues.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100188
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
Epitaxial growth facility for advanced materials. An advanced materials fabrication facility accessible to all Australian researchers will be established. This will allow crystal growth at the atomic level for novel materials with applications including fundamental physics, nanocomposites, energy storage and conversion systems, and solar cells.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100453
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,408.00
Summary
Nervous tissue stimulation using Multi-Junction Silicon Photodiodes. Currently, in order to stimulate different areas in nervous tissue, brain-machine-interfaces (BMIs) usually rely on multi electrode arrays where each electrode is connected to a wire, that connects to other electronics, all of which has to be safely encapsulated, thus increasing the size of the devices and complicating the surgical procedure for implanted devices. This project aims to develop a silicon multi-junction photodiode ....Nervous tissue stimulation using Multi-Junction Silicon Photodiodes. Currently, in order to stimulate different areas in nervous tissue, brain-machine-interfaces (BMIs) usually rely on multi electrode arrays where each electrode is connected to a wire, that connects to other electronics, all of which has to be safely encapsulated, thus increasing the size of the devices and complicating the surgical procedure for implanted devices. This project aims to develop a silicon multi-junction photodiode that can provide a photovoltage high enough to efficiently excite nervous tissue. A BMI based on this approach could be much smaller and could be powered optically via thin fibres, thus in the long run enabling smaller and safer implants for restoring function in disabled people.Read moreRead less