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
Unlocking the potential of n-type silicon for solar cells. This project will lead to an improved understanding of impurities in silicon, especially several emerging low-cost n-type silicon materials made especially for solar cells. This knowledge will enable the negative effects of these impurities to be eliminated or reduced, thus yielding higher efficiency modules that produce solar electricity at a lower cost. The potential benefits to Australia, which already has an established silicon solar ....Unlocking the potential of n-type silicon for solar cells. This project will lead to an improved understanding of impurities in silicon, especially several emerging low-cost n-type silicon materials made especially for solar cells. This knowledge will enable the negative effects of these impurities to be eliminated or reduced, thus yielding higher efficiency modules that produce solar electricity at a lower cost. The potential benefits to Australia, which already has an established silicon solar cell industry, are large. They include increased employment in well-paid high-technology jobs, increased export earnings, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. These benefits could grow rapidly, in line with the global photovoltaic industry growth rate of more than 30% per year.Read moreRead less
Indium arsenic antimony (InAsSb) Quantum Dots for Mid-Infrared Lasers. This proposal will open a new area of research for mid-infrared laser devices. Any achievement from this project will benefit various academic and industrial communities, such as national security, environmental monitoring and spectroscopy. The outcomes of this research could create a new generation of high-performance mid-infrared lasers and put Australian researchers in the forefront of the development in this field.
Growth and intermixing of quantum dots for multi-wavelength infrared photodetectors. Quantum dots are nano-scale structures grown by self-assembled epitaxial methods. In this project, intermixing of quantum dots, which is a novel technology to modify the opto-electronic properties of the dots will be studied using ion implantation and subsequent annealing. Optimised growth, implantation and annealing conditions will be used to grow and tune the detection wavelength of the infrared photodetectors ....Growth and intermixing of quantum dots for multi-wavelength infrared photodetectors. Quantum dots are nano-scale structures grown by self-assembled epitaxial methods. In this project, intermixing of quantum dots, which is a novel technology to modify the opto-electronic properties of the dots will be studied using ion implantation and subsequent annealing. Optimised growth, implantation and annealing conditions will be used to grow and tune the detection wavelength of the infrared photodetectors using intersubband transition. This will allow us to fabricate multi-wavelength infrared photodetectors for high performance infrared imaging system. This project involves an exciting combination of fundamental physics and device technology.Read moreRead less
New Directions in Silicon Solar Cell Technology. The fabrication of pure silicon is energy intensive, but solar cells can return 10 times more energy than is used to fabricate them. By investing in the development of silicon solar cells, Australia will develop a technology capable of encapsulating its vast coal resources within pure silicon. This has the potential to create an export market of clean energy and have an explosive effect on the growth of the local industry and skilled jobs.
Th ....New Directions in Silicon Solar Cell Technology. The fabrication of pure silicon is energy intensive, but solar cells can return 10 times more energy than is used to fabricate them. By investing in the development of silicon solar cells, Australia will develop a technology capable of encapsulating its vast coal resources within pure silicon. This has the potential to create an export market of clean energy and have an explosive effect on the growth of the local industry and skilled jobs.
This project will bolster the already prominent position of Australia in the field of photovoltaic solar energy by establishing collaborations with the top international organisations in the field. It will also coordinate efforts with all the main university research groups in the country. 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
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
Lifetime spectroscopy of impurities in silicon solar cells. This project aims to apply recently developed experimental techniques to the important problem of characterising impurities in silicon, with a strong focus on solar cell applications. These new spectroscopic techniques, which are based on carrier lifetime measurements, are more sensitive and less ambiguous than most existing methods. The results will have important implications for solar cell technologies in two independent ways - first ....Lifetime spectroscopy of impurities in silicon solar cells. This project aims to apply recently developed experimental techniques to the important problem of characterising impurities in silicon, with a strong focus on solar cell applications. These new spectroscopic techniques, which are based on carrier lifetime measurements, are more sensitive and less ambiguous than most existing methods. The results will have important implications for solar cell technologies in two independent ways - firstly, by allowing accurate diagnosis of the performance-limiting impurities in standard silicon solar cells - and secondly, by identifying particular impurities which could boost cell performance beyond the conventional limit through the impurity photovoltaic effect.Read moreRead less
Spray-on Hydrogenated Films for Solar Cells. A successful project will contribute to a reduction in the cost of photovoltaic solar energy. This goal might be reached directly, via the development of spray-on hydrogenated films, or indirectly, through an improved knowledge of hydrogen passivation. Either way, the project will provide Australian Partner Investigator, Spark Solar, with a manufacturing edge over its global competitors. In so doing, it will support the burgeoning photovoltaic industr ....Spray-on Hydrogenated Films for Solar Cells. A successful project will contribute to a reduction in the cost of photovoltaic solar energy. This goal might be reached directly, via the development of spray-on hydrogenated films, or indirectly, through an improved knowledge of hydrogen passivation. Either way, the project will provide Australian Partner Investigator, Spark Solar, with a manufacturing edge over its global competitors. In so doing, it will support the burgeoning photovoltaic industry in Australia, providing jobs in manufacturing and research, and increasing the viability of photovoltaic energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. The project will also help keep Australia at the forefront of advances in photovoltaics and semiconductors.Read moreRead less