Development of new membrane-electrode assemblies for low temperature fuel cells. New electrodes and electrolytes for low temperature fuel cells will herald in a new epoch in the hydrogen economy for Australia. The IP developed in this project will form the basis for new transportation systems that do not lead to chemical pollution in Australia's cities. The new materials and processing techniques will lead to cheaper and more efficient fuel cells, allowing their use in portable computers, small ....Development of new membrane-electrode assemblies for low temperature fuel cells. New electrodes and electrolytes for low temperature fuel cells will herald in a new epoch in the hydrogen economy for Australia. The IP developed in this project will form the basis for new transportation systems that do not lead to chemical pollution in Australia's cities. The new materials and processing techniques will lead to cheaper and more efficient fuel cells, allowing their use in portable computers, small electrical appliances, public transport and in private cars in about ten years. Read moreRead less
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
Dopants, defects and related issues in Zinc Oxide. ZnO is a promising semiconductor for optoelectronic devices namely green, blue, ultraviolet (UV) and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and ultimately UV lasers. It can also act as a transparent conductive oxide which has applications in flat panel displays and photovoltaic devices. Because of these potential applications, ZnO is the 'hottest' semiconductor with abounding literature and four new international conferences organised on progress in ....Dopants, defects and related issues in Zinc Oxide. ZnO is a promising semiconductor for optoelectronic devices namely green, blue, ultraviolet (UV) and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and ultimately UV lasers. It can also act as a transparent conductive oxide which has applications in flat panel displays and photovoltaic devices. Because of these potential applications, ZnO is the 'hottest' semiconductor with abounding literature and four new international conferences organised on progress in this research area in recent years. This project is an excellent opportunity for Australia to increase its strength in optoelectronic device research and to provide an understanding of some fundamental issues in doping, defect formation, diffusion and annihilation in ZnO.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238960
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,000.00
Summary
High Performance Semiconductor Micromachining Facility. The purpose of this project is to make available to the Australian semiconductor research community a facility to undertake specialist deposition and etching tasks needed for fabrication of next generation solar cells, microelectronics, optronics, and micro-electromechanical systems. The facility will have the flexibility to allow independent control of major process parameters, allowing development of new fabrication technologies which wi ....High Performance Semiconductor Micromachining Facility. The purpose of this project is to make available to the Australian semiconductor research community a facility to undertake specialist deposition and etching tasks needed for fabrication of next generation solar cells, microelectronics, optronics, and micro-electromechanical systems. The facility will have the flexibility to allow independent control of major process parameters, allowing development of new fabrication technologies which will be generic to a wide range of semiconductor materials. In particular, the facility will be unique in its ability to perform processes at low temperatures, and under conditions that allow optimisation of the deposition and etching processes, without compromising the performance of delicate devices or exceeding the maximum process temperature limitations found in many mainstream semiconductor materials technologies.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
Investigation of P Type Emitters for Future Generation Photovoltaics. The overseas market for photovoltaic panels is large and rapidly expanding - it is expected to grow six-fold over the next decade, to nearly US$10 billion per annum. Australia is well placed to capture a significant share of this market, creating employment and export earnings. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, ....Investigation of P Type Emitters for Future Generation Photovoltaics. The overseas market for photovoltaic panels is large and rapidly expanding - it is expected to grow six-fold over the next decade, to nearly US$10 billion per annum. Australia is well placed to capture a significant share of this market, creating employment and export earnings. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, since the results of the research are expected to lead to improved manufacturing processes. In addition, photovoltaics will be a key technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus mitigate the magnitude and severity of the effects of global warming. Read moreRead less
Epitaxial Nanowires for Optoelectronic Device Applications. Nanotechnology is expected to make a major impact in all industrial sectors and multi-trillion dollar economic activity is expected by 2020. Nanowires are considered to be new building blocks for future electronics and photonics technologies and our aim is to develop nanowire based technologies which are of benefit to Australian industry. This project will develop patentable technologies as well as enhance international links with UK, ....Epitaxial Nanowires for Optoelectronic Device Applications. Nanotechnology is expected to make a major impact in all industrial sectors and multi-trillion dollar economic activity is expected by 2020. Nanowires are considered to be new building blocks for future electronics and photonics technologies and our aim is to develop nanowire based technologies which are of benefit to Australian industry. This project will develop patentable technologies as well as enhance international links with UK, China, Sweden and Norway. Training of postgraduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the field of nanotechnology will be of immense benefit to Australian industries, research and academic institutions. Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL0992306
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,753,841.00
Summary
Nanowire Quantum Structures for Next Generation Optoelectronics. This innovative project on quantum nanowire optoelectronics will bring international kudos to Australian science in a hot research area of immense international interest, allow us to build new capabilities in nanotechnology, strengthen international linkages and lead to training of a world class high tech work force for Australian industries. This project has the potential to lead to fundamental discoveries and technologies of imm ....Nanowire Quantum Structures for Next Generation Optoelectronics. This innovative project on quantum nanowire optoelectronics will bring international kudos to Australian science in a hot research area of immense international interest, allow us to build new capabilities in nanotechnology, strengthen international linkages and lead to training of a world class high tech work force for Australian industries. This project has the potential to lead to fundamental discoveries and technologies of immense international and industrial interest. In addition to high impact publications, this project has the potential to lead to high tech start up companies and patentable technologies of benefit to Australian industry. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0667994
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
National Nanolithography Facility. Nanotechnology is expected to have a major impact on quality of life and global economy. It is predicted to generate revenues as big as the ICT sector in 20 years time. The National Nanolithography Facility will enhance the Australian capability in the field of nanoscale science and technology. This will enable Australian researchers to achieve major impacts in many areas of nanotechnology with a strong potential impact on industry sectors such as computers, ....National Nanolithography Facility. Nanotechnology is expected to have a major impact on quality of life and global economy. It is predicted to generate revenues as big as the ICT sector in 20 years time. The National Nanolithography Facility will enhance the Australian capability in the field of nanoscale science and technology. This will enable Australian researchers to achieve major impacts in many areas of nanotechnology with a strong potential impact on industry sectors such as computers, communications, defence, health, bio-security. This facility has the potential for developing new technologies of fundamental as well as applied interest.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882262
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,000.00
Summary
Photoluminescence imaging equipment for advanced silicon materials and solar cells. As the search for carbon-neutral sources of electricity intensifies during this century, an early lead in key technologies will be of great importance. Photovoltaics, in which Australian research is world-class, is clearly one such technology. The proposed equipment would enable Australia to maintain and extend its leading role in the development of silicon photovoltaics. As a result, it will help Australia take ....Photoluminescence imaging equipment for advanced silicon materials and solar cells. As the search for carbon-neutral sources of electricity intensifies during this century, an early lead in key technologies will be of great importance. Photovoltaics, in which Australian research is world-class, is clearly one such technology. The proposed equipment would enable Australia to maintain and extend its leading role in the development of silicon photovoltaics. As a result, it will help Australia take advantage of the growing global boom in solar energy. The proposal is likely to generate commercially valuable outcomes, as well as scientific knowledge of intrinsic value. It will also increase support for Australia's existing photovoltaic industry.Read moreRead less