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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100504
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Intermediate Band Solar Cells Based on Triplet-Triplet Annihilation. This project seeks to develop a new technology which allows solar cells to harvest a broader range of light from the sun, including red and infrared light, to increase solar-to-electric conversion efficiency. It is proposed that this would be accomplished through a series of chemical reactions which allow electrical power to be generated either by conventional means or a multi-step process in which low energy light is ‘glued’ t ....Intermediate Band Solar Cells Based on Triplet-Triplet Annihilation. This project seeks to develop a new technology which allows solar cells to harvest a broader range of light from the sun, including red and infrared light, to increase solar-to-electric conversion efficiency. It is proposed that this would be accomplished through a series of chemical reactions which allow electrical power to be generated either by conventional means or a multi-step process in which low energy light is ‘glued’ together. This is of interest in relation to emerging technologies such as dye-sensitised solar cells, which are low cost, architecturally appealing and amenable to flexible substrates. It is anticipated that this project will provide a means for substantial improvement in solar cell efficiencies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100773
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,446.00
Summary
Electric power and useful chemicals co-generation. This project aims to design and develop a fuel cell-reactor that can simultaneously produce electric power and value-added useful chemicals by utilising abundant and cheap gaseous fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal-seam gas. This project expects to realise zero greenhouse gas emissions during the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, meanwhile opening up a new strategy in the development of highly efficient electro-catalysts for th ....Electric power and useful chemicals co-generation. This project aims to design and develop a fuel cell-reactor that can simultaneously produce electric power and value-added useful chemicals by utilising abundant and cheap gaseous fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal-seam gas. This project expects to realise zero greenhouse gas emissions during the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, meanwhile opening up a new strategy in the development of highly efficient electro-catalysts for the advanced energy conversion and storage devices. The new technology developed in this project will lead to new breakthroughs in the commercial viability of fuel cell industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100812
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,888.00
Summary
Is degradation of photovoltaic modules predictable and preventable? This project aims to determine the fundamental properties of the hydrogen related defect causing degradation of commercial solar modules and develop models to predict its impact. The defect causes up to 16% power loss and is likely to affect all photovoltaics due to the universal behaviour of hydrogen in semiconductors. Through new techniques combining deuterium (heavy hydrogen) and machine learning, the key project outcomes are ....Is degradation of photovoltaic modules predictable and preventable? This project aims to determine the fundamental properties of the hydrogen related defect causing degradation of commercial solar modules and develop models to predict its impact. The defect causes up to 16% power loss and is likely to affect all photovoltaics due to the universal behaviour of hydrogen in semiconductors. Through new techniques combining deuterium (heavy hydrogen) and machine learning, the key project outcomes are new knowledge of hydrogen behaviour, mitigation of degradation and predictive models to test and forecast the future output of affected modules. This is critical for system design and reliability, manufacturer warranty terms, investor returns, consumer confidence, and ultimately mitigating the climate crisis.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100620
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. This project aims to understand hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. Most silicon solar cells use low-quality wafers with defects that can reduce performance by >10%. Commercial devices use hydrogen to passivate defects and improve performance. Despite decades of research, these passivation mechanisms are controversial and industrial methods are ineffective. This project will investigate hydrogen charge-state control and ....Hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. This project aims to understand hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells. Most silicon solar cells use low-quality wafers with defects that can reduce performance by >10%. Commercial devices use hydrogen to passivate defects and improve performance. Despite decades of research, these passivation mechanisms are controversial and industrial methods are ineffective. This project will investigate hydrogen charge-state control and transient hydrogenation processes, and correlate reaction rates and material properties. This should improve the understanding of hydrogen passivation mechanisms and lead to more effective hydrogenation processes that potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of sustainable electricity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100268
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Advanced Recombination-based Loss Analysis Methods for Solar Cells. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are too expensive to become a viable solution for the challenges facing humanity. Increasing solar cell efficiency can reduce the cost of PV-generated power. Improved efficiency requires the ability to identify and quantify loss mechanisms, many of which are recombination related. Thus, innovative analysis methods need to be developed to facilitate improved understanding and identification of variou ....Advanced Recombination-based Loss Analysis Methods for Solar Cells. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are too expensive to become a viable solution for the challenges facing humanity. Increasing solar cell efficiency can reduce the cost of PV-generated power. Improved efficiency requires the ability to identify and quantify loss mechanisms, many of which are recombination related. Thus, innovative analysis methods need to be developed to facilitate improved understanding and identification of various loss mechanisms. The project aims to investigate recombination processes that deteriorate solar cells performance, using a novel measurement system in combination with advanced simulation tools. The project aims to assist with development of advanced processes to improve device performance.Read moreRead less
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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100163
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,780.00
Summary
Overcoming the Intrinsic Instability of Perovskites Materials and Devices. This project aims to improve the intrinsic stability of metal halide perovskite energy materials for advanced optoelectronic applications. The key concept is to suppress the phase-segregation for alloyed perovskite by interstitial management as well as develop low-temperature crystallization for non-alloyed perovskite through rational design of the intermediate phase evolution, which has the potential to generate new know ....Overcoming the Intrinsic Instability of Perovskites Materials and Devices. This project aims to improve the intrinsic stability of metal halide perovskite energy materials for advanced optoelectronic applications. The key concept is to suppress the phase-segregation for alloyed perovskite by interstitial management as well as develop low-temperature crystallization for non-alloyed perovskite through rational design of the intermediate phase evolution, which has the potential to generate new knowledge in addressing the key challenge on the operational stability of perovskite devices. The outcomes are expected to deliver valuable intellectual property to accelerate the commercialization of perovskite technology, enabling low-cost utilization of solar energy for a sustainable and low carbon-emission economy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101368
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Silicon 2.0: The nature of grown-in defects in very high-purity silicon. This project aims to produce technologies to maximise the electronic quality of silicon and mitigate the negative impacts of defects on high-efficiency solar cells. The intended outcomes are the development of novel solar cell processes to produce defect-free silicon and new characterisation techniques to image defects in silicon wafers. This would allow high efficiency solar cells to overcome their current limits and unloc ....Silicon 2.0: The nature of grown-in defects in very high-purity silicon. This project aims to produce technologies to maximise the electronic quality of silicon and mitigate the negative impacts of defects on high-efficiency solar cells. The intended outcomes are the development of novel solar cell processes to produce defect-free silicon and new characterisation techniques to image defects in silicon wafers. This would allow high efficiency solar cells to overcome their current limits and unlock the potential of current processes to produce solar cells with efficiency above 26 per cent, providing more efficient and affordable solar electricity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100453
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,408.00
Summary
Nervous tissue stimulation using Multi-Junction Silicon Photodiodes. Currently, in order to stimulate different areas in nervous tissue, brain-machine-interfaces (BMIs) usually rely on multi electrode arrays where each electrode is connected to a wire, that connects to other electronics, all of which has to be safely encapsulated, thus increasing the size of the devices and complicating the surgical procedure for implanted devices. This project aims to develop a silicon multi-junction photodiode ....Nervous tissue stimulation using Multi-Junction Silicon Photodiodes. Currently, in order to stimulate different areas in nervous tissue, brain-machine-interfaces (BMIs) usually rely on multi electrode arrays where each electrode is connected to a wire, that connects to other electronics, all of which has to be safely encapsulated, thus increasing the size of the devices and complicating the surgical procedure for implanted devices. This project aims to develop a silicon multi-junction photodiode that can provide a photovoltage high enough to efficiently excite nervous tissue. A BMI based on this approach could be much smaller and could be powered optically via thin fibres, thus in the long run enabling smaller and safer implants for restoring function in disabled people.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100637
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,154.00
Summary
An integrated electrolyser for CO2 conversion from capture media. This project aims to develop an efficient electrochemical method to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to valuable chemicals. It expects to displace the energy-costly step of its upstream CO2 capture process. The key novelty is the use of flow-through electrodes and optimal solvents to promote CO2 conversion at high rates. Expected outcomes include enhanced efficiency of CO2 sequestration, and new techniques to develop electrodes with w ....An integrated electrolyser for CO2 conversion from capture media. This project aims to develop an efficient electrochemical method to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to valuable chemicals. It expects to displace the energy-costly step of its upstream CO2 capture process. The key novelty is the use of flow-through electrodes and optimal solvents to promote CO2 conversion at high rates. Expected outcomes include enhanced efficiency of CO2 sequestration, and new techniques to develop electrodes with well-controlled local reaction environments, which are essential for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. This will benefit Australia's environment and industries such as cement and aluminium manufacturing in managing carbon emissions, and accelerate Australia’s transition to a carbon-neutral economy.Read moreRead less