Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237874
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,000.00
Summary
Active Polymer Research Facility. Sustainable economic growth for Australia requires renewable, environmentally acceptable energy resources. Solar cells made from conducting polymers present the tantalising possibility of producing cheap electricity from sunlight. Future development of these devices depends critically upon ready access to the advanced equipment necessary to investigate their material, device and photovoltaic characteristics. This project aims to establish the first integrated ch ....Active Polymer Research Facility. Sustainable economic growth for Australia requires renewable, environmentally acceptable energy resources. Solar cells made from conducting polymers present the tantalising possibility of producing cheap electricity from sunlight. Future development of these devices depends critically upon ready access to the advanced equipment necessary to investigate their material, device and photovoltaic characteristics. This project aims to establish the first integrated characterisation facility in Australia dedicated to developing efficient polymer solar cells. The Active Polymer Research Facility will allow researchers from Newcastle, Wollongong and Massey University to maintain their position at the forefront of international research into polymer photovoltaic devices.Read moreRead less
Plastic Solar Cells: Polymers that Harvest Sunlight. Sustainable economic growth for Australia requires renewable, environmentally acceptable energy resources. The most attractive option for the future generation of electrical energy is via the direct conversion of sunlight. The utilisation of solar energy has significant advantages over other energy sources in that it is inexhaustible and does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants. Conventional photovoltaic technology is not cost effe ....Plastic Solar Cells: Polymers that Harvest Sunlight. Sustainable economic growth for Australia requires renewable, environmentally acceptable energy resources. The most attractive option for the future generation of electrical energy is via the direct conversion of sunlight. The utilisation of solar energy has significant advantages over other energy sources in that it is inexhaustible and does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants. Conventional photovoltaic technology is not cost effective. Solar cells made from conducting polymers present the tantalising possibility of producing cheap electricity from sunlight. This project brings together experts in the physics and chemistry of conducting polymers with the goal of developing efficient plastic solar cells.Read moreRead less
Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics. Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on polymer sola ....Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics. Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on polymer solar cells in order to maximise the efficiency of the cells and build prototype nanoscale polymer devices. This will lead to the improvement in devices delivering sustainable energy production - a technology which has the promise of producing energy cheaply from sunlight.Read moreRead less
Multi Tower Solar Array (MTSA) for combined heat and power applications in urban areas. The MTSA is a highly compact, middle-scale (0.5 - 10 MW) solar power concept designed for urban areas. It comprises an array of small towers with high mounted receivers which collect sunlight from a very densely packed reflector field below. Reflectors can be aimed at different towers during the day to minimise blocking and shading losses. A prototype MTSA system to be constructed will test new reflector modu ....Multi Tower Solar Array (MTSA) for combined heat and power applications in urban areas. The MTSA is a highly compact, middle-scale (0.5 - 10 MW) solar power concept designed for urban areas. It comprises an array of small towers with high mounted receivers which collect sunlight from a very densely packed reflector field below. Reflectors can be aimed at different towers during the day to minimise blocking and shading losses. A prototype MTSA system to be constructed will test new reflector modules developed in conjunction with Solahart Industries (Perth). Innovative receivers incorporating spectral control, and both photovoltaic and thermal electricity generation paths will also be developed.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
Organic Solar Cells Fabrication and Characterisation Facility. This application aims to provide key support to ongoing research projects in the area of organic solar cells, which will result in (1) an increase in quality and quantity of research publications and patents (2) a vital support that will establish the grounds for future industries in Australia and (3) a national contribution to the global fight against climate change.
Prediction of coronal mass ejections and their radio emissions. This project aims to explain in detail the motion and properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) leaving the sun, the radio emissions they generate, and space weather triggers for the sun and other stars. The project expects to create new knowledge in the fields of space, plasma, and astro-physics and space weather research. Expected outcomes include capabilities to accurately predict CMEs and space weather triggers from the sun to ....Prediction of coronal mass ejections and their radio emissions. This project aims to explain in detail the motion and properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) leaving the sun, the radio emissions they generate, and space weather triggers for the sun and other stars. The project expects to create new knowledge in the fields of space, plasma, and astro-physics and space weather research. Expected outcomes include capabilities to accurately predict CMEs and space weather triggers from the sun to Earth and theories for type II and IV solar radio bursts. Benefits include high-level training and enhanced human capital and scientific prominence for Australia.Read moreRead less
Integrated Observation, Theory, and Simulation of Type II Solar Radio Bursts. Type II solar radio bursts are associated with solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and space weather events at Earth. They are the archetype of collective radio emission associated with shocks. This project aims to: answer longstanding fundamental scientific questions about type IIs using the new Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and NASA spacecraft, while developing a new Australian capability in solar radio ph ....Integrated Observation, Theory, and Simulation of Type II Solar Radio Bursts. Type II solar radio bursts are associated with solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and space weather events at Earth. They are the archetype of collective radio emission associated with shocks. This project aims to: answer longstanding fundamental scientific questions about type IIs using the new Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and NASA spacecraft, while developing a new Australian capability in solar radio physics; perform new observations and theoretical calculations of relevant emission mechanisms, and, develop a new integrated data-tested theory and simulation capability for type II bursts that explains the emissions quantitatively, and positions us to predict the arrival of CMEs and related space weather at Earth. Read moreRead less
Prediction of solar activity and space weather by automated analyses of solar radio and magnetic field observations and simulations. This project will build world-recognised capabilities to forecast space weather events at Earth in time to take protective measures. It involves around the clock automated identification and analysis of specific solar radio bursts, forecasting solar activity that results in transients moving Earth-ward, and simulations to predict when these will reach Earth.
Space weather prediction via automated data analysis systems. The project will build world-recognised capabilities in forecasting space weather events at Earth, in time to take protective measures, identifying and analysing solar drivers of space weather, and modelling interplanetary space. Australia's scientific standing, expertise, and infrastructure will be strengthened in space science, complex systems, and multiple fields of physics. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionosphe ....Space weather prediction via automated data analysis systems. The project will build world-recognised capabilities in forecasting space weather events at Earth, in time to take protective measures, identifying and analysing solar drivers of space weather, and modelling interplanetary space. Australia's scientific standing, expertise, and infrastructure will be strengthened in space science, complex systems, and multiple fields of physics. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionospheric Prediction Service services to customers in government, industry, and society, leading to better communications, more assured access to space services, and reduced risks of damage to critical infrastructure. The project will enhance Australia's human capital and its role in global space efforts.Read moreRead less
Inception of a Practical, Biomimetic, Flexible Photovoltaic Device. This project will design and synthesise new, complex, functional organic molecules and assemble them to create a new type of photovoltaic cell. This device will be designed using biomimetic principles to emulate many of the efficient photosynthetic solar energy conversion processes that occur in plants. A key feature is that near atomic-level control will be achieved over the entire device structure, facilitating the establish ....Inception of a Practical, Biomimetic, Flexible Photovoltaic Device. This project will design and synthesise new, complex, functional organic molecules and assemble them to create a new type of photovoltaic cell. This device will be designed using biomimetic principles to emulate many of the efficient photosynthetic solar energy conversion processes that occur in plants. A key feature is that near atomic-level control will be achieved over the entire device structure, facilitating the establishment of a clear path towards the commercial production of solar cells that are simultaneously highly efficient, long lasting, flexible, and very cheap to manufacture.Read moreRead less