With the continuously increasing energy conversion efficiency and reduced cost of solar cells, electricity generated from photovoltaics (PV) is becoming the most important energy source for human beings in the next decades. PV is also an essential weapon to confront the threat of climate change we are facing. Among the many scientific research studies and breakthroughs that are at the forefront of such a development for PV, the last few years have witnessed the outstandingly quick rise of p...

School
Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Research Area
Emerging photovoltaics, Metrology

In this project, you will work with the ACDC Research Group at UNSW. The group that is focusing on the characterisation of solar cells and is made up of around 20 researchers and students. It has a very friendly environment. We have students who finished a ToR project with us, stayed for their 4th-year thesis, and later transitioned as PhD students in the group.

You will mainly work with Dr Félix Gayot. He joined the group about a year ago to work on the luminescence-based characterisation of tandem solar cells, after having completed his PhD in material sciences (applied to the field of PVK-based PV) in France. Being relatively new in the team and on his current research topic makes him understand the difficulties of doing research in an unfamiliar area. Therefore, he is willing to spend time sharing the necessary knowledge and skills. Pr Ziv Hameiri, ACDC group supervisor, will also be part of your dedicated supervision team to help you with experience-backed advice. They will ensure a smooth start to your project, and throughout its duration, you will have a better chance to develop independent research skills.

Within our research lab, you will have access to SPREE rooftop facilities to implement your own monitoring system as well as many measurement instruments to play with. You will also be provided by academic (and eventually, industrial) partners with PVK and PVK-Si tandem cells that are at the actual forefront of PV research.

Apart from guidance from Dr Félix Gayot and Pr Ziv Hameiri, you will also have the chance to get advice from other members of the ACDC group. We will use our experience and expertise to help you build the capabilities to solve any problems you might encounter. Besides, through our regular group meetings, you will have the opportunity to learn about various leading-edge research topics.

The outcomes of this project include:

  • new outdoor performance monitoring capabilities (hardware and software) specific for PVK-based PV,
  • data on the performance degradation of PVK solar cells and PVK-Si tandem solar cells,
  • and a better understanding of the degradation dynamics for this emerging technology.
You will potentially have the opportunity to present your work at research conferences, or even publish your results as a journal paper.
But of course, the most important outcome of the project will be you, an undergraduate student who enjoys doing research and understanding the basic skills needed for conducting good research!

Researcher Felix Gayot
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 Ziv Hameiri
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