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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/M024938/1
Title Plasma-based synthesis of low-cost and environmentally friendly quantum dots with tailored energy band structure
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 50%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr D Mariotti
No email address given
Nanotechnology and Adv Materials Inst
University of Ulster
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 27 July 2015
End Date 30 September 2019
Duration 50 months
Total Grant Value £419,837
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region Northern Ireland
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr D Mariotti , Nanotechnology and Adv Materials Inst, University of Ulster (99.999%)
  Other Investigator Professor P Maguire , Nanotechnology and Adv Materials Inst, University of Ulster (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , University of Ulster (0.000%)
Project Contact , University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), USA (0.000%)
Project Contact , Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Current photovoltaic (PV) technologies rely on physical principles that fundamentally limit the maximum solar cell efficiency, i.e. first and second generation technologies cannot produce efficiencies above ~31%. Both silicon-based and non-silicon devices are progressively approaching this limit with improved stability and device performance at reduced costs. It follows that significant improvement in device efficiency can be achieved only by deploying technologies that rely on new physical principles, so called third generation PV; this has been clearly highlighted in relevant UK and international PV roadmaps. In third generation solar cells quantum dots (QDs) often represent an important component and therefore methods to produce QDs that are low-cost, non-toxic and environmentally friendly are required. Currently the most efficient third generation solar cells use elements such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te) which are either toxic or rare or expensive. This research program deals with the synthesis and study of novel, low-cost, non-toxic and sustainable QDs from a combination of elements such as silicon, nitrogen, carbon and a range of low-cost, non-toxic and abundant metals. Furthermore the research will produce QDs with processes based on atmospheric pressure plasmas that are highly suitable to produce tailored properties and lead to material compositions not achievable with other methods. These proposed plasma processes can also be easily integrated in manufacturing lines for the production of full third generation solar cells
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Added to Database 20/08/15