Fundamental electronic transport in emerging one-dimensional nanoelectronic devices. This project aims to understand the mechanisms limiting electronic transport in one-dimensional nanoelectronic devices and structures at temperatures relevant for practical device operation. One-dimensional nanoelectronic devices will be the building blocks of future technological innovation. This project will use a characterisation approach, numerical modelling and simulation, which promise to deliver knowledge ....Fundamental electronic transport in emerging one-dimensional nanoelectronic devices. This project aims to understand the mechanisms limiting electronic transport in one-dimensional nanoelectronic devices and structures at temperatures relevant for practical device operation. One-dimensional nanoelectronic devices will be the building blocks of future technological innovation. This project will use a characterisation approach, numerical modelling and simulation, which promise to deliver knowledge and analysis tools for ongoing innovation and optimisation in semiconductor nanoelectronics.Read moreRead less
Ultrathin III-V Solar Cells via Crack-Assisted Layer Exfoliation. III-V semiconductors are excellent photovoltaic materials with highest demonstrated solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, but find limited usage in terrestrial applications due to high material and fabrication costs. This project aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of III-V solar cells by developing ultrathin III-V semiconductors via crack-assisted layer transfer approach and epitaxy-free fabrication via heterojunction ....Ultrathin III-V Solar Cells via Crack-Assisted Layer Exfoliation. III-V semiconductors are excellent photovoltaic materials with highest demonstrated solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, but find limited usage in terrestrial applications due to high material and fabrication costs. This project aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of III-V solar cells by developing ultrathin III-V semiconductors via crack-assisted layer transfer approach and epitaxy-free fabrication via heterojunction architectures, paving the way for cost-effective, high-efficiency, flexible solar cells. The expected outcomes include a disruptive technology for integrated photovoltaics, novel contact and passivation materials, as well as new knowledge generated in materials science and optoelectronics disciplines.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100067
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A femtosecond Mmd-IR optical parametric amplifier source for waveguide nonlinear optics. The mid-infrared is an immensely important region of the optical spectrum for sensing toxic or illicit molecules or pollutants using their spectral fingerprints. The equipment will facilitate the development of new techniques for sensing based on nonlinear processes in waveguides.
Nanowire infrared avalanche photodetectors towards single photon detection. This project aims to demonstrate semiconductor nanowire based infrared avalanche photodetectors (APDs) with ultra-high sensitivity towards single photon detection. By employing the advantages of their unique one-dimensional nanoscale geometry, the nanowire APDs can be engineered to different device architectures to achieve performance superior to their conventional counterparts. It is expected that this project will mak ....Nanowire infrared avalanche photodetectors towards single photon detection. This project aims to demonstrate semiconductor nanowire based infrared avalanche photodetectors (APDs) with ultra-high sensitivity towards single photon detection. By employing the advantages of their unique one-dimensional nanoscale geometry, the nanowire APDs can be engineered to different device architectures to achieve performance superior to their conventional counterparts. It is expected that this project will make significant contributions to the development of next generation high performance, fast speed, small size and low cost infrared photodetector technology platform enabling numerous emerging fields in modern transportation, communication, quantum computation and information processing to revolutionise our life and society.Read moreRead less
III-V semiconductor nanowire solar cells without p-n junctions. This project proposes a new class of nanowire solar cells that do not rely on conventional electrical (p-n) junction for photo-generated charge carrier separation. Instead the band structure of the semiconductors is engineered to form a misalignment which leads to the spatial separation of carriers. This approach is expected to fundamentally change the design of solar cells, eliminating the technologically challenging need for formi ....III-V semiconductor nanowire solar cells without p-n junctions. This project proposes a new class of nanowire solar cells that do not rely on conventional electrical (p-n) junction for photo-generated charge carrier separation. Instead the band structure of the semiconductors is engineered to form a misalignment which leads to the spatial separation of carriers. This approach is expected to fundamentally change the design of solar cells, eliminating the technologically challenging need for forming good electrical junctions, while retaining all advantages inherent to III-V semiconductor nanowire solar cells. More importantly, the device concept proposed is expected to have implications for a wider class of solar cells based on exotic/novel materials or nanostructures where achieving both n- and p-doping may be challenging.Read moreRead less
Towards high performance compound semiconductor nanowire array solar cells. Semiconductor nanowires have great potential for photovoltaic applications due to their unique structural, electrical and optical properties. This project aims to establish a new research program to integrate highly sophisticated theoretical modelling, material growth and nanofabrication capabilities to develop high performance III-V compound semiconductor nanowire array solar cells. New concepts, strategies and technolo ....Towards high performance compound semiconductor nanowire array solar cells. Semiconductor nanowires have great potential for photovoltaic applications due to their unique structural, electrical and optical properties. This project aims to establish a new research program to integrate highly sophisticated theoretical modelling, material growth and nanofabrication capabilities to develop high performance III-V compound semiconductor nanowire array solar cells. New concepts, strategies and technologies developed by this project will not only advance the fundamental understanding of many intriguing physics in nanowire materials and devices, but also pave the way towards high efficiency photovoltaics to address the world’s energy-related issues. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100125
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$837,000.00
Summary
National Facility for Infrared Technologies. This project aims to establish a national facility for infrared (IR) technologies. The facility will include advanced imaging and spectroscopy facilities as well as unique tools for wafer-scale mapping of IR materials and devices. Combined, the facility will enable new diagnostic capabilities of supersonic combustion processes, aid establishment of wavelength agile integrated photonic chips and provide non-destructive quantitative electro-optical char ....National Facility for Infrared Technologies. This project aims to establish a national facility for infrared (IR) technologies. The facility will include advanced imaging and spectroscopy facilities as well as unique tools for wafer-scale mapping of IR materials and devices. Combined, the facility will enable new diagnostic capabilities of supersonic combustion processes, aid establishment of wavelength agile integrated photonic chips and provide non-destructive quantitative electro-optical characterisation of IR materials and devices. Establishment of these state-of-the-art capabilities across Australia will have clear benefits in fundamental sciences such as astronomy and quantum information as well as key industry branches in defence, aerospace, communications and security.Read moreRead less
Quantum microscopy meets photovoltaics: new tools for solar cell research. This project aims to create an innovative platform to characterise solar cells, based on recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable direct imaging of the current flow in operating photovoltaic devices, providing a new window into key processes such as charge collection and recombination. The platform will be applied to a range of industry-relevant photovoltaic materials and devices. Anticipated outcomes ....Quantum microscopy meets photovoltaics: new tools for solar cell research. This project aims to create an innovative platform to characterise solar cells, based on recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable direct imaging of the current flow in operating photovoltaic devices, providing a new window into key processes such as charge collection and recombination. The platform will be applied to a range of industry-relevant photovoltaic materials and devices. Anticipated outcomes include new insights into recombination processes and the effect of device degradation, which could facilitate optimisation of the power conversion efficiency and reliability of next-generation solar cells. Additional benefits include new instruments and methods that may find use in the solar cell manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100775
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Using nanostructured scaffolds to understand and engineer neuronal circuits. This project aims to understand the formation of neuronal circuits in the brain. While the role of biochemical features in the brain is well understood, it is not clear how the biophysical properties of the brain affect circuit formation. The outcomes of this project will improve our understanding of neuronal circuit formation as well as provide design rules for creating scaffolds to repair neuronal circuits after brain ....Using nanostructured scaffolds to understand and engineer neuronal circuits. This project aims to understand the formation of neuronal circuits in the brain. While the role of biochemical features in the brain is well understood, it is not clear how the biophysical properties of the brain affect circuit formation. The outcomes of this project will improve our understanding of neuronal circuit formation as well as provide design rules for creating scaffolds to repair neuronal circuits after brain damage. This project will integrate Australia’s strengths in nanotechnology and neurosciences, bringing Australian research at the forefront of neural engineering.Read moreRead less
Nitride-based Compound Semiconductors for Solar Water Splitting. Global warming warrants urgent investment in clean and sustainable energy generation. This project aims to investigate the use of nitride semiconductors, a commonly used material for LEDs, and solar energy to generate hydrogen by splitting water molecules. These semiconductors have excellent light absorption efficiency and can be designed to better match the solar spectrum. The project will explore the underlying mechanism of light ....Nitride-based Compound Semiconductors for Solar Water Splitting. Global warming warrants urgent investment in clean and sustainable energy generation. This project aims to investigate the use of nitride semiconductors, a commonly used material for LEDs, and solar energy to generate hydrogen by splitting water molecules. These semiconductors have excellent light absorption efficiency and can be designed to better match the solar spectrum. The project will explore the underlying mechanism of light interaction with the semiconductor through band bending and surface engineering, and determine how this interaction affects the dissociation of water molecules. The concepts demonstrated in the project are expected to pave the way for further development of this technology for future applications. Read moreRead less