Current research programs

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Active programs:

US AirForce AOARD-06-4041

N.Motta, J.M. Bell, R. Goh, T. Tesfamichel, E. Waclawik, F. Rosei*

*Univ. du Quebec - Canada

Microscopic study of a polymer-nanotube mixture for organic photovoltaics applications

• Funding: 40K AU$
• year: 2006

The key aspect of OPV operation to be investigated in this project is the role of the compound structure on charge transport.

Our goals are:

• To improve the local ordering of the compound.
• To understand the role of ordering on the solar cell performance.

Tasks of the project include:

• Synthesis and purification of short carbon nanotubes for photovoltaic application
• Optimisation of carbon nanotube dispersion in polymer
• Increase P3HT crystallinity
• Heterojunction Solar Cell Construction and Performance

ARC International Linkage 2005. LX0561885. 

J.M. Bell, E. Waclawik, B. Wei, H. Zhou, N. Motta.

Modifying Structure and properties of carbon Nanotubes for Devices applications 

• Funding: 115K AU$
• years: 2005-2007

The focus of this project is to develop new heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials for use in conjugated-polymer composite photovoltaic cells. Synthesis of boron and of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the US researchers will be complemented by ion-implantation post-synthesis of CNTs by the Australian team, to gain a thorough and detailed understanding of how the CNTs can act effectively as both an electron acceptor and charge transport medium in a conjugated polymer. Outcomes will include fundamental advances in our understanding of charge transport in the composite devices and prototype organic photovoltaic devices of improved efficiency.