High efficiency dye-sensitised solar cells containing multiple sensitisers. This project aims to develop a new scalable approach suitable for industrial production of high efficiency dye-sensitised solar cells (DSCs) on both glass and flexible polymer substrates. The success of the project would be a breakthrough in DSC technology, bringing the technology a significant step closer to wide-spread commercial applications.
Wet Particulate Materials - Flow or Fracture? Most advanced materials are produced from starting materials in the form of fine particles. Powders, especially in ceramic engineering, are first processed wet into near-final shape. Improved understanding of the fracture of particle networks is critical in order to process nano-sized advanced ceramic materials for use in solar energy harvesting and extreme heat engine applications as well as minimising drying cracks in paints and coatings. The resea ....Wet Particulate Materials - Flow or Fracture? Most advanced materials are produced from starting materials in the form of fine particles. Powders, especially in ceramic engineering, are first processed wet into near-final shape. Improved understanding of the fracture of particle networks is critical in order to process nano-sized advanced ceramic materials for use in solar energy harvesting and extreme heat engine applications as well as minimising drying cracks in paints and coatings. The research aims to identify the fundamental link between particle network strength and structure and the fracture of wet powder bodies. The microscopic mechanisms that control the behaviour will be investigated with a particular focus on toughening mechanisms including the influence of plasticity.Read moreRead less
Nanoparticle inks for electronic applications employing nanostructured thin-films. The development of next-generation technologies requires careful engineering of materials at the nanoscale. Using nanoparticle inks, many of the engineering difficulties which exist at these length scales can be overcome, thus allowing for technologies such as thin-film solar cells to become cheaper and more efficient.
Colloidal quantum dot solar cells on silicon solar cells: Ultra-high efficiency silicon tandems. This project aims to produce ultra-high efficiency solar cells using nanoparticle colloids. Wide bandgap cells will be fabricated and applied on top of the high efficiency silicon solar cells pioneered at The University of New South Wales. Colloidal nanoparticles offer tunable electronic bandgaps, low process temperatures and uniform size dispersions from industrially feasible processes. A simple mod ....Colloidal quantum dot solar cells on silicon solar cells: Ultra-high efficiency silicon tandems. This project aims to produce ultra-high efficiency solar cells using nanoparticle colloids. Wide bandgap cells will be fabricated and applied on top of the high efficiency silicon solar cells pioneered at The University of New South Wales. Colloidal nanoparticles offer tunable electronic bandgaps, low process temperatures and uniform size dispersions from industrially feasible processes. A simple modification eliminates direct series connections between stacked nanoparticle solar cells, greatly improving device performance. The immense potential of these advantages set target efficiencies for combined colloidal nanoparticle and high efficiency silicon tandem cells above 30 per cent.Read moreRead less
Colloidal quantum dot solar cells on silicon solar cells: Ultra-high efficiency silicon tandems. This project aims to produce ultra-high efficiency solar cells using nanoparticle colloids. Wide bandgap cells will be fabricated and applied on top of the high efficiency silicon solar cells pioneered at The University of New South Wales. Colloidal nanoparticles offer tunable electronic bandgaps, low process temperatures and uniform size dispersions from industrially feasible processes. A simple mod ....Colloidal quantum dot solar cells on silicon solar cells: Ultra-high efficiency silicon tandems. This project aims to produce ultra-high efficiency solar cells using nanoparticle colloids. Wide bandgap cells will be fabricated and applied on top of the high efficiency silicon solar cells pioneered at The University of New South Wales. Colloidal nanoparticles offer tunable electronic bandgaps, low process temperatures and uniform size dispersions from industrially feasible processes. A simple modification eliminates direct series connections between stacked nanoparticle solar cells, greatly improving device performance. The immense potential of these advantages set target efficiencies for combined colloidal nanoparticle and high efficiency silicon tandem cells above 30 per cent.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Scanning auger microscope facility for elemental imaging and characterisation of surfaces and interfaces. This project will establish a scanning auger microprobe facility as part of the Australian microscopy and microanalysis research facility. It will provide advanced characterisation and ultra-high resolution imaging of elemental species on surfaces, for researchers working in the areas of nano- and green technologies, and minerals processing.
Interactions, phase behavior and self-assembly of colloidal nanorods: Establishing design rules for creating new nano-structured materials. This project aims to apply new computational methods developed by the applicant to characterise the interactions between colloidal nanorods and their self-assembly in the presence of interfaces and directional interactions. While nanoparticles can currently be made in a staggering array of shapes, patterns and materials, organising such objects into extended ....Interactions, phase behavior and self-assembly of colloidal nanorods: Establishing design rules for creating new nano-structured materials. This project aims to apply new computational methods developed by the applicant to characterise the interactions between colloidal nanorods and their self-assembly in the presence of interfaces and directional interactions. While nanoparticles can currently be made in a staggering array of shapes, patterns and materials, organising such objects into extended structures that could revolutionise technology remains a challenge. The expected outcome is a robust strategy for making monolayer films of rods aligned perpendicular to a variety of interfaces for the fabrication of solar cells, microfiltration membranes and biosensors.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100427
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells. At present, manufacturing solar panels involves expensive high temperature and high vacuum processes. The bottleneck to cheaper solar power is the ability to design new methods of manufacturing. The ability to print the active components of a solar cell is an excellent way to mitigate these costs. This project aims to focus on developing the knowledge to print the most crucial component of a solar cell - the light absorbin ....All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells. At present, manufacturing solar panels involves expensive high temperature and high vacuum processes. The bottleneck to cheaper solar power is the ability to design new methods of manufacturing. The ability to print the active components of a solar cell is an excellent way to mitigate these costs. This project aims to focus on developing the knowledge to print the most crucial component of a solar cell - the light absorbing layer. Innovative nanoscience will be used to develop novel solar inks composed of tiny semiconductor crystals. The formulation and transformation of these inks into efficient semiconductor light absorbing layers, with a clear view to cheaper printed solar cells, will be the key objective of this project.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: Le130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Summary
Scanning auger microscope facility for elemental imaging and characterisation of surfaces and interfaces. This project will establish a scanning auger microprobe facility as part of the Australian microscopy and microanalysis research facility. It will provide advanced characterisation and ultra-high resolution imaging of elemental species on surfaces, for researchers working in the areas of nano- and green technologies, and minerals processing.
Tuning the electrolytes for high efficiency solar splitting of water. This project will develop a new technology that uses ionic liquids and sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen to be used as a clean fuel. Australia has abundant sunlight, is very close to the growing energy markets of the Asia-Pacific region, and is ideally placed to benefit from this new technology.