Atomic-scale structural characterisation of quantum-dot nanostructures for novel photovoltaic applications. This project aims to design, fabricate and characterise innovative quantum-dot solar cells in order to overcome the atomic-scale defects that limit current approaches. The scientific and engineering understanding acquired through this project will enable the rapidly growing global solar-cell industry to produce higher-efficiency III-V solar cells.
Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability ....Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability and band gap tunability across the required range, enabled by quantum confinement. The outcome is the development of integrated self-powered IoT devices potentially impacting Advanced Manufacturing growth in Energy, Cyber Security, Food and Agribusiness, as all of these will ultimately rely on networked smart devices.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100473
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,573.00
Summary
Breaking Performance Limits of Solar Inverters for a Sustainable Future. Micro-inverters offer a unique ability to maximise solar energy yield and streamline the installation, operation and maintenance process of solar power generation, thus having huge potentials to drastically reduce the cost of solar electricity. However, performance limits have hampered their wider applications in the energy sector. This project aims to tackle the performance challenges of micro-inverters by developing a nov ....Breaking Performance Limits of Solar Inverters for a Sustainable Future. Micro-inverters offer a unique ability to maximise solar energy yield and streamline the installation, operation and maintenance process of solar power generation, thus having huge potentials to drastically reduce the cost of solar electricity. However, performance limits have hampered their wider applications in the energy sector. This project aims to tackle the performance challenges of micro-inverters by developing a novel power-conversion architecture, a unified design framework, and a new control theory. The intended research outcome will be a new range of ultra-high-performance micro-inverters. This will promote greater solar uptake and maintain Australia’s leadership in the development of disruptive solar power generation technology.Read moreRead less
Revival of silicon solar cells for space applications. Development of very thin silicon solar cells for space applications. These space cells will include many of the significant improvements in silicon cells of the last 20 years, which have allowed close to the maximum possible efficiencies and the order of magnitude decrease in cost of terrestrial solar cells. Space cells require good radiation resistance to give good end of life performance. This project will use photovoltaic architectures, p ....Revival of silicon solar cells for space applications. Development of very thin silicon solar cells for space applications. These space cells will include many of the significant improvements in silicon cells of the last 20 years, which have allowed close to the maximum possible efficiencies and the order of magnitude decrease in cost of terrestrial solar cells. Space cells require good radiation resistance to give good end of life performance. This project will use photovoltaic architectures, proven to give high performance for terrestrial cells, to develop ultrathin silicon cells with extreme light trapping and improved radiation tolerance to give high beginning and end of life efficiencies. These cells will be less than 5% of the cost of multijunction cells currently used in space.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100021
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Smart grid testing facility. Smart grid testing facility: This project aims to establish an essential part of infrastructure required for experimental research in the area of distributed resources under a smart grid. The innovative theoretical methodologies being developed under existing or completed research projects in this area will be validated through experimental research. The experimental platform is intended to help to resolve technical issues related to future power supply systems inclu ....Smart grid testing facility. Smart grid testing facility: This project aims to establish an essential part of infrastructure required for experimental research in the area of distributed resources under a smart grid. The innovative theoretical methodologies being developed under existing or completed research projects in this area will be validated through experimental research. The experimental platform is intended to help to resolve technical issues related to future power supply systems including real-time data from smart meters, application of vehicle to grid systems, demand management, control, and protection aspects under the uncertain nature of renewable energy sources. It is expected to bring together the researchers in this area for collaborative research.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101252
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,000.00
Summary
Passivating Cadmium free Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell by contact engineering. The project aims to develop new solar cells made of low cost abundant elements. The cells are cadmium-free copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells formed by rear contact passivation and damage-free evaporated front layers. CZTS has the same efficiency potential as current commercial copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, but consists of low cost, abundant elements. Concepts and methods will be developed for passivatio ....Passivating Cadmium free Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell by contact engineering. The project aims to develop new solar cells made of low cost abundant elements. The cells are cadmium-free copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells formed by rear contact passivation and damage-free evaporated front layers. CZTS has the same efficiency potential as current commercial copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, but consists of low cost, abundant elements. Concepts and methods will be developed for passivation of CZTS solar cells via both back and front contact engineering. The cadmium- free buffer layer will be investigated and the application of CZTS will be expanded. This work may be applied to CIGS improvement and could give CZTS materials a significant role in the rapidly growing photovoltaic industry.Read moreRead less
Stable Non-toxic Organic-inorganic Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. The project aims to develop next-generation organic-inorganic halide solar cells which are stable and non-toxic. Although rapid progress has been made in the emerging perovskite solar cell technology, it currently relies on lead as a key perovskite component. The elimination of lead from organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells would greatly increase their acceptance as an alternative thin film photovoltaic solution because ....Stable Non-toxic Organic-inorganic Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. The project aims to develop next-generation organic-inorganic halide solar cells which are stable and non-toxic. Although rapid progress has been made in the emerging perovskite solar cell technology, it currently relies on lead as a key perovskite component. The elimination of lead from organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells would greatly increase their acceptance as an alternative thin film photovoltaic solution because of their low cost and non-toxic nature. The dearth of lead-free perovskite solar cell demonstrations and the relatively low conversion efficiencies demonstrated understate their potential. This project plans to improve understanding of their photovoltaic enabling attributes by characterising and modelling their optical and electrical properties. It then plans to apply new fabrication methods to develop lead-free solar devices.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
Fabrication of silicon solar cells in a Lunar-like vacuum environment. In-situ power generation on the Moon is essential for the advancement of space exploration and habitation. At present this involves transportation of solar cells to the Moon. This proposal aims to pave the way for manufacture of solar cells on the Moon from Lunar materials. Utilising the future extraction and purification of silicon, abundant in lunar regolith, the project will focus on fabrication of silicon solar cells. Thi ....Fabrication of silicon solar cells in a Lunar-like vacuum environment. In-situ power generation on the Moon is essential for the advancement of space exploration and habitation. At present this involves transportation of solar cells to the Moon. This proposal aims to pave the way for manufacture of solar cells on the Moon from Lunar materials. Utilising the future extraction and purification of silicon, abundant in lunar regolith, the project will focus on fabrication of silicon solar cells. This will provide power for: water mining, oxygen extraction, vehicles and habitats on the Moon and delivery of materials to Low Earth Orbit. The proposed research aims to develop solar cells that can be manufactured on the Moon, using materials abundant there, and techniques exploiting the natural vacuum of space.Read moreRead less
Harmonic suppression and delay compensation for inverters. The aim of this project is to use variable prediction horizon nonlinear model predictive control to achieve near perfect harmonic suppression for inverters in the face of realistic and unavoidable switching delays. Other aims include further performance improvement based on the application of Kalman observer, and extension of the ideas to a variety of switching topologies and validation of the results by simulation and experiments. The i ....Harmonic suppression and delay compensation for inverters. The aim of this project is to use variable prediction horizon nonlinear model predictive control to achieve near perfect harmonic suppression for inverters in the face of realistic and unavoidable switching delays. Other aims include further performance improvement based on the application of Kalman observer, and extension of the ideas to a variety of switching topologies and validation of the results by simulation and experiments. The intended main outcome of the project is the development of a methodology for non-interfering operation of inverters, particularly, in grid connected applications. This is expected to facilitate a further integration of renewable energy and highly efficient power utilisation. Both factors are crucial in the sustainable clean energy future.Read moreRead less