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
Switching the light on cartilage repair. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability in adults and affects 15 per cent of the Australian population. This project will develop a revolutionary new approach to treat joint disorders using smart materials and stem cells. The novel materials and techniques developed will help Australia maintain its leading edge in biotechnology.
Low-temperature ceramic electrolysis cells for renewable energy technology. This project aims to develop advanced protonic ceramic electrolysis cells for greatly improving the efficiency of hydrogen production and carbon dioxide conversion using renewable energy. This will be achieved by nanoscale integration of proton-conducting two-dimensional materials with solid acids and ceramic proton conductors to lower the manufacturing costs and operating temperature of protonic ceramic electrolysis cel ....Low-temperature ceramic electrolysis cells for renewable energy technology. This project aims to develop advanced protonic ceramic electrolysis cells for greatly improving the efficiency of hydrogen production and carbon dioxide conversion using renewable energy. This will be achieved by nanoscale integration of proton-conducting two-dimensional materials with solid acids and ceramic proton conductors to lower the manufacturing costs and operating temperature of protonic ceramic electrolysis cells. Expected outcomes of the project include new intellectual property on materials formulation and process parameters for commercial development of this new type of ceramic electrolysis cell, thereby contributing to the growth of Australian manufacturing and renewable energy industries and reduction of carbon emissions.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
Development of new systems for the commercial collection, processing and storage of adipose stem cells. This project is aimed at developing a standardised method to commercially extract and expand stem cells from adipose tissue. This product will then be available commercially as a therapeutic treatment.
High-performance and Cost-effective Fibre Optic Distributed Sensing System. This project aims to provide enabling technologies to manufacture high-performance and cost-effective fibre optic distributed sensing systems. Coherent optical time domain reflectometry based on Rayleigh scattering in optical fibre has been explored for distributed vibration, strain and temperature sensing. However, its susceptibility to laser phase noise, amplitude and polarisation fading hinders its widespread applicat ....High-performance and Cost-effective Fibre Optic Distributed Sensing System. This project aims to provide enabling technologies to manufacture high-performance and cost-effective fibre optic distributed sensing systems. Coherent optical time domain reflectometry based on Rayleigh scattering in optical fibre has been explored for distributed vibration, strain and temperature sensing. However, its susceptibility to laser phase noise, amplitude and polarisation fading hinders its widespread application. This project aims to apply the technologies developed in coherent optical communication to fibre optic distributed sensing. The research is planned to include design, simulation, and experimental verification of the proposed sensing system.Read moreRead less
Optimising experimental design for robust product development: a case study for high-efficiency energy generation. This project tackles key mathematical challenges to provide a powerful new methodology and tool for optimal product design, making smarter use of limited information, minimising costly trials, shortening the product cycle, and boosting the competitiveness of both the Australian manufacturing and alternative energy production industries.
Tailoring smart film for energy efficient protected cropping. Cooling cost represents a major running cost for greenhouse, preventing the wide adoption of highly beneficial protected cropping technology. This project aims at solving this critical issue by developing a world-first tailored smart film that can simultaneously reject solar heat, cool down the greenhouse and maximise the yields of crops. This is made possible by advanced spectral engineering and light management with frontier nanostr ....Tailoring smart film for energy efficient protected cropping. Cooling cost represents a major running cost for greenhouse, preventing the wide adoption of highly beneficial protected cropping technology. This project aims at solving this critical issue by developing a world-first tailored smart film that can simultaneously reject solar heat, cool down the greenhouse and maximise the yields of crops. This is made possible by advanced spectral engineering and light management with frontier nanostructures combined with a scalable and low cost manufacturing process. Deliverables of the project include game-changing energy efficient solutions for protected cropping and marketable smart films readily integratable with existing greenhouse for dramatic energy saving and immediate economic and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability ....Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability and band gap tunability across the required range, enabled by quantum confinement. The outcome is the development of integrated self-powered IoT devices potentially impacting Advanced Manufacturing growth in Energy, Cyber Security, Food and Agribusiness, as all of these will ultimately rely on networked smart devices.Read moreRead less
Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resou ....Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resource management for distributed VPPs. The anticipated benefits from this institutional level collaborations are that VPPs help in enhancing national power grid operations during normal and disruptive conditions when more renewables are connected and also secure benefits of consumers, prosumers, and grid operators.Read moreRead less