Perpetual photothermal modulation with scalable hybrid graphene films. This project aims to develop a perpetual photothermal modulation theory and device to deliver a highly selective and tunable broadband spectral filter across the entire visible and infrared wavelength range. The tuned nanostructure of the hybrid film can provide an environmentally-friendly solution for efficient thermal energy manipulation. This project significantly contributes to the fundamental understanding of photo-phono ....Perpetual photothermal modulation with scalable hybrid graphene films. This project aims to develop a perpetual photothermal modulation theory and device to deliver a highly selective and tunable broadband spectral filter across the entire visible and infrared wavelength range. The tuned nanostructure of the hybrid film can provide an environmentally-friendly solution for efficient thermal energy manipulation. This project significantly contributes to the fundamental understanding of photo-phonon interactions. The high performance photothermal modulation devices are low-cost and scalable, rendering them of tremendous value for other highly relevant sectors involving thermal energy.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional 2D materials for sustainable energy applications. This project seeks to explore the great potential of novel graphene-like two dimensional (2-D) materials for energy applications. 2-D materials, which possess atomic or molecular thickness and infinite planar lengths, are regarded as a building block for many applications due to their unique nanostructures, electronic and mechanical properties. This project is focused on the design and exploration of layered two-dimensional artifi ....Multifunctional 2D materials for sustainable energy applications. This project seeks to explore the great potential of novel graphene-like two dimensional (2-D) materials for energy applications. 2-D materials, which possess atomic or molecular thickness and infinite planar lengths, are regarded as a building block for many applications due to their unique nanostructures, electronic and mechanical properties. This project is focused on the design and exploration of layered two-dimensional artificial graphene and graphene analogues with ‘on-demand’ properties to exploit advanced energy applications. There is now a pressing need to integrate graphene sheets into multidimensional and multifunctional systems with spatially well-defined configurations, and integrated systems with a controllable structure and predictable performance. Project outcomes may lead to next-generation devices in energy storage and other applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100188
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
Epitaxial growth facility for advanced materials. An advanced materials fabrication facility accessible to all Australian researchers will be established. This will allow crystal growth at the atomic level for novel materials with applications including fundamental physics, nanocomposites, energy storage and conversion systems, and solar cells.
Anodisation methods and materials for solar water splitting. This project aims to convert and chemically store solar energy as hydrogen. Photoactive materials could harness solar energy. With fabrication methods, these thin films often suffer from poor charge transport and stability, hindering their wider application. Fabrication by anodization could potentially overcome these problems. This project will develop thin film fabrication methods based on anodization that synthesise robust, nanostruc ....Anodisation methods and materials for solar water splitting. This project aims to convert and chemically store solar energy as hydrogen. Photoactive materials could harness solar energy. With fabrication methods, these thin films often suffer from poor charge transport and stability, hindering their wider application. Fabrication by anodization could potentially overcome these problems. This project will develop thin film fabrication methods based on anodization that synthesise robust, nanostructured films with efficient compositions and structures. This will lead to photoelectrodes for efficient solar hydrogen generation, crucial for a sustainable energy future. It will also develop general design principles for photoelectrodes for devices.Read moreRead less
Overcoming the inherent instability of photocatalyst to produce solar fuels. This project aims to develop innovative materials engineering methods to suppress the intrinsic instability of novel photoactive semiconductor materials that are promising candidates for harnessing solar energy from water or industrial waste water. A number of potentially impactful photoactive materials are currently suffering from chemical- and photo-dissolution, thus hindering their practical applications. Attaining f ....Overcoming the inherent instability of photocatalyst to produce solar fuels. This project aims to develop innovative materials engineering methods to suppress the intrinsic instability of novel photoactive semiconductor materials that are promising candidates for harnessing solar energy from water or industrial waste water. A number of potentially impactful photoactive materials are currently suffering from chemical- and photo-dissolution, thus hindering their practical applications. Attaining fundamental knowledge on charge interaction at electrolyte-semiconductor interfaces will be crucial in developing the next generation of highly efficient photochemical systems in solar fuels applications.Read moreRead less
Stable Non-toxic Organic-inorganic Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. The project aims to develop next-generation organic-inorganic halide solar cells which are stable and non-toxic. Although rapid progress has been made in the emerging perovskite solar cell technology, it currently relies on lead as a key perovskite component. The elimination of lead from organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells would greatly increase their acceptance as an alternative thin film photovoltaic solution because ....Stable Non-toxic Organic-inorganic Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. The project aims to develop next-generation organic-inorganic halide solar cells which are stable and non-toxic. Although rapid progress has been made in the emerging perovskite solar cell technology, it currently relies on lead as a key perovskite component. The elimination of lead from organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells would greatly increase their acceptance as an alternative thin film photovoltaic solution because of their low cost and non-toxic nature. The dearth of lead-free perovskite solar cell demonstrations and the relatively low conversion efficiencies demonstrated understate their potential. This project plans to improve understanding of their photovoltaic enabling attributes by characterising and modelling their optical and electrical properties. It then plans to apply new fabrication methods to develop lead-free solar devices.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102836
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A novel fully inorganic quantum dots based solar cell. A fully-inorganic quantum dots solar cell will be constructed by using cheap chemical solution techniques. The development of the new 3rd generation solar cell is aimed to realise the high-efficiency, low-cost, and well-stability of solar cells. It would dramatically increase commercial viability of quantum solar cells.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101501
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Printed back electrodes enabling low-cost perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address back electrode material, a bottleneck functional material in state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By engineering printable and conductive materials based on carbon and gold nanowires, the project expects to enable highly-efficient and scalable PSCs while reducing cost of materials and production. These expected outcomes are to be implemented in PSCs and their impact rigorously tested in rese ....Printed back electrodes enabling low-cost perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address back electrode material, a bottleneck functional material in state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By engineering printable and conductive materials based on carbon and gold nanowires, the project expects to enable highly-efficient and scalable PSCs while reducing cost of materials and production. These expected outcomes are to be implemented in PSCs and their impact rigorously tested in research cells to large-area PSCs modules produced through industry-relevant, scalable, and low-cost printing and coating methods. This will provide significant benefits to Australian industry, from small to medium enterprises to larger utility power companies, while creating economic opportunities and enabling sustainable societies.Read moreRead less
Novel Ionic Composites with superior transport and mechanical properties for Clean Energy Systems. Electroactive materials are key components of technologies desperately needed to allow the efficient production of energy from sustainable sources. Of equal importance, large amounts of this energy needs to be stored in safe, stable devices that also allow high rates of energy storage and release. This project addresses these requirements using both fundamental and applied aspects of electromateria ....Novel Ionic Composites with superior transport and mechanical properties for Clean Energy Systems. Electroactive materials are key components of technologies desperately needed to allow the efficient production of energy from sustainable sources. Of equal importance, large amounts of this energy needs to be stored in safe, stable devices that also allow high rates of energy storage and release. This project addresses these requirements using both fundamental and applied aspects of electromaterials science and electrochemistry. This project will design and characterise novel solid state electrolyte membranes composed of plastic crystals and polymer nanofibres. These materials will have enhanced physical and chemical properties, yielding advanced thin film membranes for application in a range of energy production and storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Supramolecular assembly of chromophores:the effects of nucleation kinetics on their molecular packing, fibre structure and light harvesting efficiency. This project aims to reveal the effects of nucleation kinetics of chromophores on their molecular packing, fibre structure and energy transfer efficiency, which are significant to the design of low cost and lightweight materials for high efficiency solar energy harvesting. The knowledge to be acquired addresses the bottleneck governing the effici ....Supramolecular assembly of chromophores:the effects of nucleation kinetics on their molecular packing, fibre structure and light harvesting efficiency. This project aims to reveal the effects of nucleation kinetics of chromophores on their molecular packing, fibre structure and energy transfer efficiency, which are significant to the design of low cost and lightweight materials for high efficiency solar energy harvesting. The knowledge to be acquired addresses the bottleneck governing the efficiency of a class of novel materials that mimic the natural light harvesting systems. It will bring about health, economic and environmental benefits to Australia. This project will foster multidisciplinary collaborations between world class research centres.Read moreRead less