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Photonic crystals: The key to breaking the silicon-solar cell efficiency barrier. This project aims to investigate solar light harvesting using light trapping by photonic crystal on an amorphous-Silicon thin-film combining passivation technologies with light trapping. Using this new light trapping method, based on a specially designed periodic surface structure, the project expects to set a new standard in solar energy conversion efficiency. The expected outcomes of this project represent a ste ....Photonic crystals: The key to breaking the silicon-solar cell efficiency barrier. This project aims to investigate solar light harvesting using light trapping by photonic crystal on an amorphous-Silicon thin-film combining passivation technologies with light trapping. Using this new light trapping method, based on a specially designed periodic surface structure, the project expects to set a new standard in solar energy conversion efficiency. The expected outcomes of this project represent a step change in Silicon solar cell efficiency, applicable to different materials and especially useful for thin flexible cells. The project has the potential to benefit the renewable energy sector, increasing the efficiency of sustainable energy production, with positive economic and environmental impacts.Read moreRead less
Concepts towards the next generation of dye-sensitised solar cells: tandem and plasmonic solar cells. This project aims at exploring the feasibility of novel device concepts to enhance the performance of dye-sensitised solar cells. These concepts include tandem solar cells as well as novel energy relay systems based on the ability of nanoparticles to effectively act as antenna systems that can funnel energy towards a sensitising dye molecule.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101249
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,000.00
Summary
Nanotechnology-based multifunctional smart window development. This project aims to develop a multifunctional smart window which combines thermal regulation of the indoor environment with solar energy harvesting by regulating thermal and light transmittance through the window while harvesting solar energy. This project expects to generate a low-energy building fabric for green building construction. The new product is expected to lead to a reduction in heating and cooling energy consumption in b ....Nanotechnology-based multifunctional smart window development. This project aims to develop a multifunctional smart window which combines thermal regulation of the indoor environment with solar energy harvesting by regulating thermal and light transmittance through the window while harvesting solar energy. This project expects to generate a low-energy building fabric for green building construction. The new product is expected to lead to a reduction in heating and cooling energy consumption in building and industrial applications, a reduction in carbon emissions and electricity generation for indoor lighting. This will provide significant benefits by expanding fundamental knowledge of material science and advanced manufacturing, and enhancing Australia's research capacity by promoting high quality research opportunities for early career researchers.Read moreRead less
Advanced metallisation for III-V Photovoltaic Solar Power Systems. This project aims to augment the overall electrical efficiency of concentrator photovoltaic solar systems that provide large-scale generation of cheap, clean electricity. Existing concentrator solar cells are highly efficient (>40%) but their performance is hampered by thick front-metal contacts that shade the cell. The project is expected to develop a new concentrator solar cell metalisation and insulation technology. The benefi ....Advanced metallisation for III-V Photovoltaic Solar Power Systems. This project aims to augment the overall electrical efficiency of concentrator photovoltaic solar systems that provide large-scale generation of cheap, clean electricity. Existing concentrator solar cells are highly efficient (>40%) but their performance is hampered by thick front-metal contacts that shade the cell. The project is expected to develop a new concentrator solar cell metalisation and insulation technology. The benefit of the project will be a direct increase in the system efficiency and simplified manufacturing of the concentrator solar receiver, which in turn reduces the cost of the concentrator power plant constructed by our Australian project partner RayGen Resources Pty Ltd.Read moreRead less
Wet Particulate Materials - Flow or Fracture? Most advanced materials are produced from starting materials in the form of fine particles. Powders, especially in ceramic engineering, are first processed wet into near-final shape. Improved understanding of the fracture of particle networks is critical in order to process nano-sized advanced ceramic materials for use in solar energy harvesting and extreme heat engine applications as well as minimising drying cracks in paints and coatings. The resea ....Wet Particulate Materials - Flow or Fracture? Most advanced materials are produced from starting materials in the form of fine particles. Powders, especially in ceramic engineering, are first processed wet into near-final shape. Improved understanding of the fracture of particle networks is critical in order to process nano-sized advanced ceramic materials for use in solar energy harvesting and extreme heat engine applications as well as minimising drying cracks in paints and coatings. The research aims to identify the fundamental link between particle network strength and structure and the fracture of wet powder bodies. The microscopic mechanisms that control the behaviour will be investigated with a particular focus on toughening mechanisms including the influence of plasticity.Read moreRead less
Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety o ....Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety of surfaces. Given their remarkable properties, such disruptive technology for consumer/industrial-scale production will provide tremendous opportunities for their application in electronics, energy and catalysis, among other uses.Read moreRead less
High-performance smart solar powered on-chip capacitive energy storage. High performance and environmentally friendly on-chip power system is the key bottleneck issue limiting the further performance improvement and miniaturisation of ever-increasing portable optoelectronic devices. Building on previous work, including recent breakthroughs of on-chip photonic devices in patterned graphene oxide thin film and the record-breaking nanophotonics solar cells, the project aims to investigate a new con ....High-performance smart solar powered on-chip capacitive energy storage. High performance and environmentally friendly on-chip power system is the key bottleneck issue limiting the further performance improvement and miniaturisation of ever-increasing portable optoelectronic devices. Building on previous work, including recent breakthroughs of on-chip photonic devices in patterned graphene oxide thin film and the record-breaking nanophotonics solar cells, the project aims to investigate a new concept of super-resolution direct laser printing and simultaneous dopant activation of graphene oxide thin films. It is expected that the conceptually new development of the functional graphene oxide film patterning will allow for smart solar-powered on-chip power systems that outperform the state-of-the-art pollution generating batteries.Read moreRead less
A new defect-control approach for mismatched heteroepitaxy semiconductors. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for silicon-germanium heteroepitaxial semiconductor systems to provide a route for high-throughput, low-cost, high-efficiency silicon tandem solar cells. Mismatched heteroepitaxy of semiconductors is of considerable interest for fabricating novel devices. However, the use of highly-mismatched heteroepitaxial semiconductors has been limited due to the high densitie ....A new defect-control approach for mismatched heteroepitaxy semiconductors. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for silicon-germanium heteroepitaxial semiconductor systems to provide a route for high-throughput, low-cost, high-efficiency silicon tandem solar cells. Mismatched heteroepitaxy of semiconductors is of considerable interest for fabricating novel devices. However, the use of highly-mismatched heteroepitaxial semiconductors has been limited due to the high densities of crystal defects which degrade the performance of both majority and minority carrier devices. This project aims to develop a new defect-control approach for heteroepitaxial semiconductors by continuous wavelength diode laser processing. With heteroepitaxial silicon-germanium as an example, the project will investigate the mechanism underlying defect-cleaning, optimised designs for best performance, and designs for high-efficiency tandem solar cells.Read moreRead less
Kesterite solar cell coated architectural stainless steel. This project aims to develop cost-effective, high-performance kesterite architectural stainless steel coated with solar cells for application in roofing, skin and facades of smart buildings. The project will integrate expertise in producing kesterite solar cells with expertise in manufacturing new steel to eliminate toxic, scarce materials and high-cost processes employed in conventional solar-driven steel. The initial target of the proj ....Kesterite solar cell coated architectural stainless steel. This project aims to develop cost-effective, high-performance kesterite architectural stainless steel coated with solar cells for application in roofing, skin and facades of smart buildings. The project will integrate expertise in producing kesterite solar cells with expertise in manufacturing new steel to eliminate toxic, scarce materials and high-cost processes employed in conventional solar-driven steel. The initial target of the project would be to increase kesterite cell efficiency to beyond 10 per cent, and ultimately beyond 17 per cent, but still at a low cost.Read moreRead less
Photonic crystals at visible wavelengths. Three dimensional sculptured nano-structures made at a very high spatial resolution will open way to control light emission, propagation, and transmission at the visible wavelengths. Optically thin and transparent solar cells will be able to harvest light using structures.