Understanding and controlling of photoferroelectricity for photoenergy uses. The project seeks to develop high performance photoferroelectric materials for a wide range of photoenergy conversion technologies like photovoltaics and photocatalytics. For the past 50 years, ferroelectric photovoltaics have only been an academic curiosity due to their low energy conversion efficiency relative to the popular semiconductor photovoltaics. This project aims to unlock the potential of ferroelectric photov ....Understanding and controlling of photoferroelectricity for photoenergy uses. The project seeks to develop high performance photoferroelectric materials for a wide range of photoenergy conversion technologies like photovoltaics and photocatalytics. For the past 50 years, ferroelectric photovoltaics have only been an academic curiosity due to their low energy conversion efficiency relative to the popular semiconductor photovoltaics. This project aims to unlock the potential of ferroelectric photovoltaics by introducing an ion co-substitution, which is coupled with electron-pinning, into promising ferroelectric materials and investigating the resultant photo-excited electronic and electrical properties. It is anticipated that the outcomes from this proposed project will provide a solution for optimal ferroelectric visible light absorption to achieve high power conversion efficiency in ferroelectric materials for practical photoenergy applications.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
Efficient, durable and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel. This project aims to develop a long-life, stable, high-performance, and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel, which is expected to offer a shapable truly green building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product for building deployment. This will be realized by synergising multidiscipline expertise, integrating established technologies of steel surface treatment, steel and solar cell integration and shaping, high-effi ....Efficient, durable and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel. This project aims to develop a long-life, stable, high-performance, and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel, which is expected to offer a shapable truly green building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product for building deployment. This will be realized by synergising multidiscipline expertise, integrating established technologies of steel surface treatment, steel and solar cell integration and shaping, high-efficiency chalcopyrite, identified strategies for tackling its durability and toxicity, and advanced macro-to-micro characterizations. The project completion will accelerate the transition to the zero-emission building, establish Australia's excellence in green steel for BIPV, and access a share in the soaring BIPV market.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
Next generation, very high efficiency thin silicon cells. A new type of thin silicon solar cell, with an efficiency potential of 21% or greater, is to be developed and characterized.
These cells should be cheaper, and have better efficiency, power to weight ratio and radiation tolerance than existing commercial silicon solar cells opening interesting possible applications. Novel solar cell designs and associated interconnection and encapsulation schemes for the cells suitable for space and hi ....Next generation, very high efficiency thin silicon cells. A new type of thin silicon solar cell, with an efficiency potential of 21% or greater, is to be developed and characterized.
These cells should be cheaper, and have better efficiency, power to weight ratio and radiation tolerance than existing commercial silicon solar cells opening interesting possible applications. Novel solar cell designs and associated interconnection and encapsulation schemes for the cells suitable for space and high altitude aircraft applications superior to existing technologies are expected to be developed. This should lead to a new, internationally competitive Australian industry.
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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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560959
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$165,000.00
Summary
The Macquarie National Low Temperature Optoelectronic Thin Film Growth Facility. Funding is requested for an Australian facility for the growth of nitride and oxide thin films with in-situ optical analysis equipment for the monitoring of growth parameters. It is envisaged that this facility would be for the development of materials and device structures for photonic, electronic and optoelectronic applications. The facility will also provide a leading Australian source of these materials for fund ....The Macquarie National Low Temperature Optoelectronic Thin Film Growth Facility. Funding is requested for an Australian facility for the growth of nitride and oxide thin films with in-situ optical analysis equipment for the monitoring of growth parameters. It is envisaged that this facility would be for the development of materials and device structures for photonic, electronic and optoelectronic applications. The facility will also provide a leading Australian source of these materials for fundamental material studies utilising nuclear analysis and implantation technologies, high resolution X-ray diffraction, high spatial resolution micro-cathodoluminescence and other forms of analysis. Ex-situ optical analysis equipment is also requested for post-growth evaluation to compliment and evaluate the in-situ analysis.Read moreRead less
Ion implantation processing in Silicon Carbide for microelectronic applications. The aim of this project is to study the application of ion implantation to silicon carbide for dopant incorporation and defect engineering. The successful dopant incorporation, especially p-type doping will be crucial for SiC high power and high frequency devices. The outcomes of the project are (a) the understanding of extended and point defect formation in silicon carbide from ion implantation. (b) detailed charac ....Ion implantation processing in Silicon Carbide for microelectronic applications. The aim of this project is to study the application of ion implantation to silicon carbide for dopant incorporation and defect engineering. The successful dopant incorporation, especially p-type doping will be crucial for SiC high power and high frequency devices. The outcomes of the project are (a) the understanding of extended and point defect formation in silicon carbide from ion implantation. (b) detailed characterisation of the extended defects formed by ion implantation (c) establishment of dose regimes for point defects and extended defect formation and (d) development of procedures for the incorporation of dopants with minimum residual defect formation.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100569
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Ultra-Porous Devices by Synergistic Aerosol and Atomic Layer Depositions. The project aspires to develop a scalable low-cost approach for the synthesis and integration of ultra-porous films in nanodevices. The project intends to deposit atomic layers onto aerogel-like nanoparticle networks, self-assembled by thermophoresis of flame-made aerosols. This would increase the atomically-deposited layer mass by several hundred-fold per cycle and result in ultra-porous films with electrochemically activ ....Ultra-Porous Devices by Synergistic Aerosol and Atomic Layer Depositions. The project aspires to develop a scalable low-cost approach for the synthesis and integration of ultra-porous films in nanodevices. The project intends to deposit atomic layers onto aerogel-like nanoparticle networks, self-assembled by thermophoresis of flame-made aerosols. This would increase the atomically-deposited layer mass by several hundred-fold per cycle and result in ultra-porous films with electrochemically active surface areas. It is intended that the project will demonstrate the fabrication of solid–gas, solid–liquid and solid–solid nanointerfaces, which will be applicable to key emerging technologies such as wearable medical diagnostics.Read moreRead less