Nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells. The expected outcome from the project is a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the most benign technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future ....Nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells. The expected outcome from the project is a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the most benign technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future energy needs. A cleaner environment in the future than would otherwise be likely is another expected outcome as is the creation of major new opportunities for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560683
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,953.00
Summary
A furnace stack for advanced photovoltaic, photonic and microfabrication applications. Advanced silicon photovoltaic, photonic, optoelectronic and micro-electromechanical devices require state of the art processing equipment for the deposition of thin dielectric films and for controlled doping of the devices. Key techniques include the deposition of stoichiometric and silicon rich silicon nitride and silicon dioxide films, and the controlled wafer doping with boron and phosphorus. A state of the ....A furnace stack for advanced photovoltaic, photonic and microfabrication applications. Advanced silicon photovoltaic, photonic, optoelectronic and micro-electromechanical devices require state of the art processing equipment for the deposition of thin dielectric films and for controlled doping of the devices. Key techniques include the deposition of stoichiometric and silicon rich silicon nitride and silicon dioxide films, and the controlled wafer doping with boron and phosphorus. A state of the art furnace stack is to be procured which will satisfy these requirements on industrially relevant wafer sizes up to 150mm. The equipment will support a broad range of research projects in the above fields, ranging from fundamental investigations to applied research carried out in collaboration with industry partners.Read moreRead less
High efficiency III-V solar cells based on low-dimensional quantum confined heterostructures. There is no doubt that clean and sustainable solar energy is one of the most viable energy sources to address the issues of climate change, global warming and depletion of conventional energy sources. With the great advantages offered by quantum confined nanostructures and nanotechnology, this project may lead to substantial efficiency improvement of current III-V solar cells (already higher efficiency ....High efficiency III-V solar cells based on low-dimensional quantum confined heterostructures. There is no doubt that clean and sustainable solar energy is one of the most viable energy sources to address the issues of climate change, global warming and depletion of conventional energy sources. With the great advantages offered by quantum confined nanostructures and nanotechnology, this project may lead to substantial efficiency improvement of current III-V solar cells (already higher efficiency than Si solar cells), making great contribution to the society and Nation in the areas of science, technology, environment, and economy.Read moreRead less
Materials Optimization and Interfacial Engineering of Cobalt and Europium Codoped ZnO for Multifunctional Spintronic Devices. Recent advances in new materials engineering holds a promise of surmounting the miniaturization limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin of electrons in semiconductors. Spin transistor is among a number of nanoscale devices that may revolutionize telecommunications, computing and daily life. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semico ....Materials Optimization and Interfacial Engineering of Cobalt and Europium Codoped ZnO for Multifunctional Spintronic Devices. Recent advances in new materials engineering holds a promise of surmounting the miniaturization limits of silicon technology by exploiting the spin of electrons in semiconductors. Spin transistor is among a number of nanoscale devices that may revolutionize telecommunications, computing and daily life. Current transistors are electronic circuits that make up most semiconductors; an international market will grow to US$1000bn per year in 2013. In a few years, the spin transistor will be on par with electronics. Success of this program will facilitate the development of spintronic materials and technologies, and also generated patents and intellectual properties, thus resulting in revenue for Australia through their commercialisations.Read moreRead less
Biomedical imaging with spins in nanoparticles: from single cell to whole-body scanning. The engineering of new biomedical technology is critical in underpinning our understanding of physiology and in the early detection of disease. This project will construct novel instrumentation for investigating normal and diseased physiology using bioagents based on diamond and ruby nanoparticles. The imaging and tracking techniques proposed are non-invasive, nontoxic, and provide high-resolution access to ....Biomedical imaging with spins in nanoparticles: from single cell to whole-body scanning. The engineering of new biomedical technology is critical in underpinning our understanding of physiology and in the early detection of disease. This project will construct novel instrumentation for investigating normal and diseased physiology using bioagents based on diamond and ruby nanoparticles. The imaging and tracking techniques proposed are non-invasive, nontoxic, and provide high-resolution access to specific physiological interactions of paramount importance in, for instance, understanding cancer pathways and developing strategies for targeted drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668446
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
Nano-positioning facility for nano-scale measurement and manipulation. Nanotechnology is the science of understanding and control of matter at dimensions of 100 nanometers or less. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulation of matter at this level of precision. An important aspect of research in nanotechnology involves precision control and manipulation of devices and materials at a nanoscale, i.e. nanoposi ....Nano-positioning facility for nano-scale measurement and manipulation. Nanotechnology is the science of understanding and control of matter at dimensions of 100 nanometers or less. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulation of matter at this level of precision. An important aspect of research in nanotechnology involves precision control and manipulation of devices and materials at a nanoscale, i.e. nanopositioning. The primary goal of this proposal is the establishment of an experimental nanopositioning research facility to enable the development of a new generation of nanopositioners. Establishment of the facility will give Australia's nanotechnology researchers a unique enabling facility in this high-tech field.Read moreRead less
Photonic structures for high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Photovoltaics is a non-polluting, environmentally sustainable way of converting sunlight directly to electricity. The reduction of cost is the most important issue in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This project will lead to the development of solar cell structures and techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of thin film solar cells, which are the major contender for the lowest cost photovoltaic te ....Photonic structures for high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Photovoltaics is a non-polluting, environmentally sustainable way of converting sunlight directly to electricity. The reduction of cost is the most important issue in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. This project will lead to the development of solar cell structures and techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of thin film solar cells, which are the major contender for the lowest cost photovoltaic technology. If the cost of photovoltaics was sufficiently reduced it could have a major impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of growth strategies to fabricate wide band gap ferromagnetic semiconductors for spin electronics applications. Spin Electronics technology will enable a revolutionary class of electronic devices. Gallium nitride (GaN) containing transition metals (TM) (eg Mn, Ni and Fe) is a very promising dilute magnetic semiconductor for practical spintronics applications as this material exhibits magnetic behaviour above room temperature. However, electronic and magnetic properties of this new cl ....Development of growth strategies to fabricate wide band gap ferromagnetic semiconductors for spin electronics applications. Spin Electronics technology will enable a revolutionary class of electronic devices. Gallium nitride (GaN) containing transition metals (TM) (eg Mn, Ni and Fe) is a very promising dilute magnetic semiconductor for practical spintronics applications as this material exhibits magnetic behaviour above room temperature. However, electronic and magnetic properties of this new class of semiconductors have not yet been optimised. This project aims to develop and test a new growth strategy, known as the co-doping method for the fabrication of high quality TM doped GaN. A broad range of complementary advanced spectroscopic techniques will be used to evaluate and refine this new fabrication method.Read moreRead less
Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class tea ....Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class team of talented researchers and equipping them with world-class research infrastructure. The global market for nanotechnology is projected to be in the tens of billions of dollars by 2020. The proposed research will enhance Australia's competitive advantage through high-impact scientific and technological innovations in nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Solar Nano-photocatalytic Disinfection and Mineralization of Treated Wastewater from Sewage Treatment Plants. Reuse of the treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants (STPs) has become significantly important in Australia due to dwindling water resources. The poor quality of the wastewater has limited its use for agriculture and aquaculture. This project aims to develop a solar nano-photocatalytic tertiary wastewater treatment process for disinfection and mineralization of the treated waste ....Solar Nano-photocatalytic Disinfection and Mineralization of Treated Wastewater from Sewage Treatment Plants. Reuse of the treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants (STPs) has become significantly important in Australia due to dwindling water resources. The poor quality of the wastewater has limited its use for agriculture and aquaculture. This project aims to develop a solar nano-photocatalytic tertiary wastewater treatment process for disinfection and mineralization of the treated wastewater from STPs, making the wastewater suitable as a water resource. The newly developed nano-fibre catalysts and photocatalytic technology in the teatm will be used and further developed in this novel process. The research will focus on the water quality objectives in terms of technical reliability, and economic and environmental sustainability.Read moreRead less