Precision luminescent solar concentrators from robust quantum dot arrays. Precision luminescent solar concentrators from robust quantum dot arrays. This project aims to make luminescent solar concentrators that can harness solar energy from surfaces not suited for conventional solar cells, such as car windows. It will design, synthesise and conduct detailed energy transfer studies of robust inorganic quantum dot arrays with fit-for-purpose precise spectral properties. Synthetic light-harvesting ....Precision luminescent solar concentrators from robust quantum dot arrays. Precision luminescent solar concentrators from robust quantum dot arrays. This project aims to make luminescent solar concentrators that can harness solar energy from surfaces not suited for conventional solar cells, such as car windows. It will design, synthesise and conduct detailed energy transfer studies of robust inorganic quantum dot arrays with fit-for-purpose precise spectral properties. Synthetic light-harvesting dye arrays have often been proposed to solve bottleneck challenges in the solar energy sector but there are issues with stability, processing and their photophysical output matching market needs. This project’s dyes are expected to create market opportunities for Australian luminescent solar concentrator technology.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured Upconvertors for Advanced Solar Energy Harvesting. The efficiency of many solar energy conversion processes, such as solar photovoltaic and solar hydrogen, can be improved by management of the solar spectrum. One photon management strategy is up-conversion, whereby two lower energy, unusable photons are conjoined to bring about a higher energy photon. Photochemical up-conversion, where light harvesting and energy-pooling is performed in organic molecules, has been rapidly advanced ....Nanostructured Upconvertors for Advanced Solar Energy Harvesting. The efficiency of many solar energy conversion processes, such as solar photovoltaic and solar hydrogen, can be improved by management of the solar spectrum. One photon management strategy is up-conversion, whereby two lower energy, unusable photons are conjoined to bring about a higher energy photon. Photochemical up-conversion, where light harvesting and energy-pooling is performed in organic molecules, has been rapidly advanced in recent years, and promises to deliver the efficiencies required to find real-world application. This project brings together laser spectroscopy, organic and materials chemistry and nanotechnology to realise efficient up-convertors which will be applied to solar cells and solar fuels.Read moreRead less
Porphyrin arrays - Light Harvesting in three dimensions. The emulation of photosynthesis, the efficient and sustainable utilization of solar energy using renewable materials represents one of the great scientific challenges. This project will explore one aspect of this by determining the nature and scope of using assemblies of artificial chlorophylls for three dimensional light harvesting in titania solar cells.
Photochemical upconversion for third generation photovoltaic devices. Most solar cells cannot utilise infrared light, as the photons in this spectral region are not energetic enough to promote electrons across the energy threshold. This project will harvest this low energy light, and by 'gluing' the photons together in a process known as upconversion, the project will improve the light harvesting efficiencies of solar cells.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101721
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Probing the excited states of organic semiconductor systems with photoinduced absorption spectroscopy. Plastic semiconductors have the potential to revolutionise consumer electronics by enabling cheap, flexible and low power devices. The success of these devices depends on our understanding of the optical and electronic properties of the materials, which this project aims to address through the use of photoinduced absorption spectroscopy.
Designing reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous water-splitting catalysts using muti-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies. New classes of heterogeneous manganese-calcium water splitting catalysts analogous to the unique biological water splitting cofactor have recently emerged but with far lower catalytic rates than seen for the biological system. These new materials are promising targets for large-scale hydrogen fuel production with low cost, high efficiency and ease of manufacture. ....Designing reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous water-splitting catalysts using muti-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies. New classes of heterogeneous manganese-calcium water splitting catalysts analogous to the unique biological water splitting cofactor have recently emerged but with far lower catalytic rates than seen for the biological system. These new materials are promising targets for large-scale hydrogen fuel production with low cost, high efficiency and ease of manufacture. To achieve this, the performance gap between these materials and the homogenous biological catalyst must be bridged. Multi-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies, including magneto/optical resonance methods which are aimed to be developed in this project are expected to provide new, atomic level understanding of properties needed to achieve high catalytic efficiency, thus guiding rational catalyst design.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,000.00
Summary
Australian high field electron paramagnetic resonance facility. This project aims to establish Australia’s first a high-field (3 T, 94 GHz) high-field pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) facility. EPR is a powerful technique to study chemical, biological and materials systems. It represents a sensitive, non-invasive, site-selective spectroscopy for the analysis of both molecular and macroscopic properties. This facility will allow the further development and implementation of new multidi ....Australian high field electron paramagnetic resonance facility. This project aims to establish Australia’s first a high-field (3 T, 94 GHz) high-field pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) facility. EPR is a powerful technique to study chemical, biological and materials systems. It represents a sensitive, non-invasive, site-selective spectroscopy for the analysis of both molecular and macroscopic properties. This facility will allow the further development and implementation of new multidimensional pulse EPR techniques, enabling domestic and international collaborations with diverse applications in structural biology, solvation science and catalysis.Read moreRead less
Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both a ....Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both academia and industry. The expected outcomes from this project include the creation of opportunities to explore the manufacture and commercialisation of high-value products with Australian industry. This will provide significant benefits, such as reduction in the carbon footprint of homes, businesses and other applicable structures due to passive power generation, while creating jobs and up-skilling the workforce.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100158
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Supercontinuum fibre laser consortium for the chemical and materials sciences. A supercontinuum fibre laser facility will be established across nodes at The University of Adelaide and The University of Melbourne, and used to probe the chemical basis of photosynthesis, explore the properties of organic solar cell materials and biomaterials, develop efficient metal catalysts, and detect metal vapours in gases.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100107
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,000.00
Summary
Time-resolved terahertz and optical spectroscopy facility. Time-resolved terahertz and optical spectroscopy facility:
This project aims to use time-resolved terahertz and optical spectroscopy as techniques to probe the photogenerated exciton and charge carrier dynamics at the heart of solar energy technologies. The dynamics of electrons and nuclei following the absorption of light involves processes which occur on timescales from femtoseconds to microseconds. The ability to probe these dynamics ....Time-resolved terahertz and optical spectroscopy facility. Time-resolved terahertz and optical spectroscopy facility:
This project aims to use time-resolved terahertz and optical spectroscopy as techniques to probe the photogenerated exciton and charge carrier dynamics at the heart of solar energy technologies. The dynamics of electrons and nuclei following the absorption of light involves processes which occur on timescales from femtoseconds to microseconds. The ability to probe these dynamics is of great importance for understanding the underlying photophysics and photochemistry of a range of technologies including solar photovoltaics and solar photocatalysis. This facility would enable researchers to deeply understand the photophysical processes occurring in advanced photovoltaic and photocatalysis materials and devices and may facilitate the development of advanced materials for renewable energy. Read moreRead less