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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.
Fabrication of silicon solar cells in a Lunar-like vacuum environment. In-situ power generation on the Moon is essential for the advancement of space exploration and habitation. At present this involves transportation of solar cells to the Moon. This proposal aims to pave the way for manufacture of solar cells on the Moon from Lunar materials. Utilising the future extraction and purification of silicon, abundant in lunar regolith, the project will focus on fabrication of silicon solar cells. Thi ....Fabrication of silicon solar cells in a Lunar-like vacuum environment. In-situ power generation on the Moon is essential for the advancement of space exploration and habitation. At present this involves transportation of solar cells to the Moon. This proposal aims to pave the way for manufacture of solar cells on the Moon from Lunar materials. Utilising the future extraction and purification of silicon, abundant in lunar regolith, the project will focus on fabrication of silicon solar cells. This will provide power for: water mining, oxygen extraction, vehicles and habitats on the Moon and delivery of materials to Low Earth Orbit. The proposed research aims to develop solar cells that can be manufactured on the Moon, using materials abundant there, and techniques exploiting the natural vacuum of space.Read moreRead less
Engineering stable, efficient perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address and resolve a critical issue facing perovskite solar cells which have enormous potential as a future technology for the large-scale generation of cheap, clean electricity: their instability under actual operating conditions. The project is expected to make significant fundamental advances in compositional, structural and interface engineering. This project will benefit the environment by paving the way for the wi ....Engineering stable, efficient perovskite solar cells. This project aims to address and resolve a critical issue facing perovskite solar cells which have enormous potential as a future technology for the large-scale generation of cheap, clean electricity: their instability under actual operating conditions. The project is expected to make significant fundamental advances in compositional, structural and interface engineering. This project will benefit the environment by paving the way for the widespread adoption of cheaper and more efficient solar cells.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
Innovative high-efficiency hybrid technology for commercial solar cells. The purpose of this project is to develop improved photovoltaic devices of significantly higher efficiency and lower cost than conventional screen-printed solar cells. This in turn will contribute to greatly reduced electricity costs from non fossil-fuel based sources.
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
Characterising and Manipulating Triplet Interactions. Organic optoelectronic devices are based on organic semiconductors and are found throughout modern life. They underpin technologies such as phone and television displays, low-energy lighting, and solar cells.
The project Aims to use spectroscopy to comprehensively understand the underlying physics of organic optoelectronic device materials. This is Significant enabling science that will accelerate development of light-emitting diodes, solar ....Characterising and Manipulating Triplet Interactions. Organic optoelectronic devices are based on organic semiconductors and are found throughout modern life. They underpin technologies such as phone and television displays, low-energy lighting, and solar cells.
The project Aims to use spectroscopy to comprehensively understand the underlying physics of organic optoelectronic device materials. This is Significant enabling science that will accelerate development of light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and new quantum information technologies. Expected outcomes include new knowledge about organic semiconductors, enhanced Australian research capacity, and international collaboration. Benefits include device innovations and the training of researchers in synthesis, fabrication, and spectroscopy.Read moreRead less
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells: a pathway to 30 per cent efficiency. This project aims to develop a new type of solar cell that is much more efficient than today’s commercial silicon solar cells. Increasing cell efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of solar electricity, but silicon cells are approaching practical and theoretical limits. This project expects to boost the efficiency of silicon solar cells by adding a low-cost solar cell on top to create a tandem d ....Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells: a pathway to 30 per cent efficiency. This project aims to develop a new type of solar cell that is much more efficient than today’s commercial silicon solar cells. Increasing cell efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of solar electricity, but silicon cells are approaching practical and theoretical limits. This project expects to boost the efficiency of silicon solar cells by adding a low-cost solar cell on top to create a tandem device. The expected outcome is a solar cell that can convert more than 30 per cent of incident sunlight into electricity, compared to 20-25 per cent for current cells. Developing cheap, high efficiency solar cells should further reduce the cost of solar electricity, and accelerate the uptake of clean energy.Read moreRead less