Student research opportunities

Nanostructure III-V solar cells

Project Code: CECS_556

This project is available at the following levels:
Engn4200
Please note that this project is only for undergraduate students.

Supervisor:

Outline:

Compared with Si solar cells, III-V solar cells have several superior properties such as greater conversion efficiency, lower weight and better radiation resistance. III-V materials are also able to withstand high operating currents and temperatures, therefore higher solar concentration ratio >1000 x can be used to further improve the efficiency. The current world record efficieny of 41.1% (2009) is based on multi-junction solar cells combining different III-V semiconductor materials.
Based on the extensive experience in the areas of III-V material epitaxial growth, device design and fabrication, the ANU group has developed the MOCVD growth and fabrication technology for single junction III-V solar cells and established new experimental facilities for solar cell characterisation. By understanding the fundamental material properties of these quantum confined structures, it is expected that solar cells with improved efficiencies can be developed.

Through the project, the student will develop skills in the area(s) of:
* MOCVD growth of low-dimensional quantum confined structures
* Material processing and device fabrication technology within a cleanroom environment
* Structural, optical and electrical characterisation of semiconductor materials
* Solar cell design and characerisation
* Data acquisition, analysis and intepretation
* Multi-disciplinary research

Contact:

Lan Fu