Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101252
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,000.00
Summary
Passivating Cadmium free Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell by contact engineering. The project aims to develop new solar cells made of low cost abundant elements. The cells are cadmium-free copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells formed by rear contact passivation and damage-free evaporated front layers. CZTS has the same efficiency potential as current commercial copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, but consists of low cost, abundant elements. Concepts and methods will be developed for passivatio ....Passivating Cadmium free Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell by contact engineering. The project aims to develop new solar cells made of low cost abundant elements. The cells are cadmium-free copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) cells formed by rear contact passivation and damage-free evaporated front layers. CZTS has the same efficiency potential as current commercial copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, but consists of low cost, abundant elements. Concepts and methods will be developed for passivation of CZTS solar cells via both back and front contact engineering. The cadmium- free buffer layer will be investigated and the application of CZTS will be expanded. This work may be applied to CIGS improvement and could give CZTS materials a significant role in the rapidly growing photovoltaic industry.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
High quality copper-zinc-tin-sulphide absorber by one-stage reactive sputtering technology: a route to high efficiency/low cost thin film solar cells. International studies show that electricity from solar cells is one of the cleanest future energy sources, able to almost completely displace fossil fuels. This project, proposed to fulfil such a key role, targets greatly improved efficiency/cost ratio, by producing high quality CZTS thin film absorbers with a cost-effective fabrication technique.
Copper-zinc-tin-sulphide thin film solar cells: earth-abundant, non-toxic alternative for terawatt photovoltaics. To allow large scale implementation of photovoltaics at multi-terawatt level for a low carbon emission future, technologies are required which are high in efficiency, cheap to produce, use abundant and benign materials. This project is devoted to developing such thin film solar cells by low-cost methods, which are scalable to mass production.
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
Defect control for high-performance green kesterites energy materials. This project will tackle the fundamental challenge of defect control of the quaternary compound kesterite, revolutionizing the way we can understand the hidden defect-evolution process and design accordingly effective defect-control approaches. This will be realized by a systematic approach integrating multiscale materials characterization, process and materials modeling, and linking microscopic local chemical potential and m ....Defect control for high-performance green kesterites energy materials. This project will tackle the fundamental challenge of defect control of the quaternary compound kesterite, revolutionizing the way we can understand the hidden defect-evolution process and design accordingly effective defect-control approaches. This will be realized by a systematic approach integrating multiscale materials characterization, process and materials modeling, and linking microscopic local chemical potential and macroscopic processing conditions, and associated compound properties and device performance to control defects evolution. Successfully achieved, this project will realize full potential of kesterite in photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications, and leading to new discoveries in other compound energy materials.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
Supercharged silicon wafer tandem solar cells using virtual germanium substrates. International studies show that electricity from solar cells is one of the cleanest future energy sources, able to almost completely displace fossil fuels. To fulfil such a key role, costs must greatly reduce. The project targets reduced cost by greatly improved performance by stacking high quality thin cells on top of a conventional silicon cell.
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100159
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
National facility for biased target deposition of alloyed nanolayers. This facility will enhance Australia's strengths and capabilities in fabricating structures, with applications in multiple research fields including opto-magneto-electronics, next generation lithium ion batteries and energy nanogenerators. It will enhance Australia's research profile as a leader in nanotechnology.