Overcoming performance limitations in multicrystalline silicon solar cells. This project aims to address the major impediments to improved efficiency of multicrystalline silicon solar cells, the most prevalent in industry today. Three key areas have been identified: understanding the fundamental source of carrier recombination in this material, the application of plasma silicon nitride to reducing this recombination, and developing a suitable technique for texturing the front surface of the cell ....Overcoming performance limitations in multicrystalline silicon solar cells. This project aims to address the major impediments to improved efficiency of multicrystalline silicon solar cells, the most prevalent in industry today. Three key areas have been identified: understanding the fundamental source of carrier recombination in this material, the application of plasma silicon nitride to reducing this recombination, and developing a suitable technique for texturing the front surface of the cells. By using novel, advanced techniques to gain a deeper physical understanding of these issues, it will be possible to develop new, cost-effective processes that improve efficiency and are applicable in industry.Read moreRead less
Low temperature fabrication of silicon-based thin film transistors (TFTs) for flat panel displays - an entirely new approach. This project represents an entirely new approach to low temperature crystallization of amorphous silicon, and its application to TFT fabrication in flat panel displays, and involves a partnership with the Australian high-tech company, WRiota. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology, since the technology is based on materials modificati ....Low temperature fabrication of silicon-based thin film transistors (TFTs) for flat panel displays - an entirely new approach. This project represents an entirely new approach to low temperature crystallization of amorphous silicon, and its application to TFT fabrication in flat panel displays, and involves a partnership with the Australian high-tech company, WRiota. The research is in a field of high national priority, namely nanotechnology, since the technology is based on materials modification at the nanoscale by nanoindentation. This project will further provide valuable opportunities for a number of research students and ECRs to gain experience in both the industrial and academic worlds and skills needed for Australia's nanotechnology workforce.Read moreRead less
Novel methods for enhancing room temperature figure of merit of thermoelectric/thermionic materials for refrigeration applications. With global warming and an increased awareness of climate change, devices such as thermoelectric modules can be part of the solution, particularly if their relative power and efficiency can be increased. The aim of this project is to bring together theoreticians, experimentalists, materials scientists, and industrial partners with complementary expertise to develop ....Novel methods for enhancing room temperature figure of merit of thermoelectric/thermionic materials for refrigeration applications. With global warming and an increased awareness of climate change, devices such as thermoelectric modules can be part of the solution, particularly if their relative power and efficiency can be increased. The aim of this project is to bring together theoreticians, experimentalists, materials scientists, and industrial partners with complementary expertise to develop new techniques and methods for fabricating novel thermoelectric/thermionic materials with high figure of merit, ZT, for solid state refrigeration applications. The success of the project will lead to a 3 to 5 fold increase in the market share of thermoelectric cooler and will have a significant impact on the Australian economy and reduce greenhouse emissions and global warming. Read moreRead less
Next generation evaporated and laser diode processed thin-film silicon-on-glass solar cells. The project targets a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight by depositing cells onto glass as it comes from a glass factory. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cel ....Next generation evaporated and laser diode processed thin-film silicon-on-glass solar cells. The project targets a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight by depositing cells onto glass as it comes from a glass factory. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the cleanest and most acceptable technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future energy needs. A cleaner future environment than otherwise likely is another expected outcome as is the creation of major new opportunities for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Design and Control of Sensorless, Brushless, Linear Permanent Magnet Motors for Fluid Pumping. Many machines require reciprocating motion and achieve it by mechanical conversion of rotary motion. In particular, pistons for liquid pumping and gas compression are usually driven by a crank on a rotary electric motor. Driving the piston directly by a linear motor eliminates the cost, weight, inefficiency and wear of the mechanical conversion. This project will design, construct and test high efficie ....Design and Control of Sensorless, Brushless, Linear Permanent Magnet Motors for Fluid Pumping. Many machines require reciprocating motion and achieve it by mechanical conversion of rotary motion. In particular, pistons for liquid pumping and gas compression are usually driven by a crank on a rotary electric motor. Driving the piston directly by a linear motor eliminates the cost, weight, inefficiency and wear of the mechanical conversion. This project will design, construct and test high efficiency, tubular, linear permanent magnet motors for fluid pumping. Further, an intelligent electronic controller will be developed to control the motor speed and reversals without sensors in the motor. Initial applications will be solar powered water pumping and purification.Read moreRead less
New techniques for modelling, diagnosis and counter measures for cardiac related sleep disordered breathing. Around 50% of congestive heart failure sufferers have some form of sleep disordered breathing. However, little has been done so far to simultaneously monitor, analyse and treat the two conditions. Therefore, this project proposes to develop new technology incorporating mathematical models for heart rate variability, considering the links between sleep disordered breathing and cardiovasc ....New techniques for modelling, diagnosis and counter measures for cardiac related sleep disordered breathing. Around 50% of congestive heart failure sufferers have some form of sleep disordered breathing. However, little has been done so far to simultaneously monitor, analyse and treat the two conditions. Therefore, this project proposes to develop new technology incorporating mathematical models for heart rate variability, considering the links between sleep disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease. This innovation will enable, for the first time, a device capable of accurate and reliable diagnosis of various sleep disorders using only conventional ECG data. Such technology has the potential to produce significant community health benefits, and save several millions of lives worldwide.Read moreRead less
CONTROL AND INTERFACING OF GRID-CONNECTED IGBT INVERTERS FOR SMALL-SCALE WIND GENERATORS. The project aims to investigate methods for extracting and converting intermittent energy from variable speed wind generators and supplying to electricity grids. Low cost power conditioning units for integrating small-scale wind generators will be designed, developed and commercialised. It is expected that this project will lead to a systematic design procedure for grid connected inverter technology using ....CONTROL AND INTERFACING OF GRID-CONNECTED IGBT INVERTERS FOR SMALL-SCALE WIND GENERATORS. The project aims to investigate methods for extracting and converting intermittent energy from variable speed wind generators and supplying to electricity grids. Low cost power conditioning units for integrating small-scale wind generators will be designed, developed and commercialised. It is expected that this project will lead to a systematic design procedure for grid connected inverter technology using a novel current control technique, and extraction of more energy from small scale wind turbines especially at low wind speeds. Successful commercialisation will result in significant reduction in cost resulting wider application of wind turbines, substantial economic benefit to the commercial partners as well as Australian communities in rural areas.Read moreRead less
Development of an advanced semiconductor characterisation capability for infrared focal plane array applications. Australian access to world leading technology in state-of-the-art infrared detectors is key to future advanced systems for defence surveillance and sensing, mineral exploration, biomedical instrumentation, precision agriculture, environmental monitoring and homeland security. This project will ensure that Australia contributes to an integral component required in the development of t ....Development of an advanced semiconductor characterisation capability for infrared focal plane array applications. Australian access to world leading technology in state-of-the-art infrared detectors is key to future advanced systems for defence surveillance and sensing, mineral exploration, biomedical instrumentation, precision agriculture, environmental monitoring and homeland security. This project will ensure that Australia contributes to an integral component required in the development of these technologies allowing early access to future systems. It will also enable Austarlia to play a leading role in setting the research directions for infrared materials that will place Australian research at the forefront in this area.Read moreRead less
Hardware Verification Techniques for Complex High Performance Systems-on-a-chip. Verifying the correctness of modern integrated circuit designs is a critical success factor from both economic and technological perspectives. Rapid advances in semiconductor manufacturing technology are not matched by similar gains in hardware design verification methodology. This creates a widening verification gap that threatens the viability of future complex integrated circuits. This project aims to address th ....Hardware Verification Techniques for Complex High Performance Systems-on-a-chip. Verifying the correctness of modern integrated circuit designs is a critical success factor from both economic and technological perspectives. Rapid advances in semiconductor manufacturing technology are not matched by similar gains in hardware design verification methodology. This creates a widening verification gap that threatens the viability of future complex integrated circuits. This project aims to address this issue by developing novel hardware verification techniques targeting complex high performance systems-on-a-chip. The research outcome will be a set of verification techniques and tools that directly benefit the advancement of future integrated circuit development, verification and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Optimal Transcutaneous Energy Transmission System (TETS) for an Implanted Artificial Heart. This project aims to devise the best way to get electrical power to devices implanted in the human body. The immediate application, the VentrAssist artificial heart, is under pilot trial, in three people to date. In the trial model, the electric lead passes through a hole in the skin, which poses a high infection risk. This project will research a novel, provisionally patented method of inductively transm ....Optimal Transcutaneous Energy Transmission System (TETS) for an Implanted Artificial Heart. This project aims to devise the best way to get electrical power to devices implanted in the human body. The immediate application, the VentrAssist artificial heart, is under pilot trial, in three people to date. In the trial model, the electric lead passes through a hole in the skin, which poses a high infection risk. This project will research a novel, provisionally patented method of inductively transmitting power and signals across the skin, exploiting new ferromagnetic materials, biocompatible coatings and software-controlled electronic circuits. The method should be efficient, secure and infection-proof, with world market potential for all powered medical implants.Read moreRead less