Improving Efficiency, Durability & Cost-effectiveness of III-V Semiconductors
Improving Efficiency, Durability & Cost-effectiveness of III-V Semiconductors
This research project focusses on developing material technologies for the direct production of gaseous hydrogen using sunlight and seeks to demonstrate a photoelectrochemical system using III-V multi-junction semiconductors through cost-effective epitaxial lift-off techniques that are surface modified for robust operation.
| Lead participants:
The Australian National University (ANU) |
Classification:
Research and development
|
Status:
In progress |
Estimated cost:
AUD$3.52 million |
| Research partners:
MicroLink Devices, Inc., University of Michigan |
Main supply chain category:
Hydrogen production |
Location:
Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
Announced funding:
AUD$1.31 million – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) |
Research description
This project seeks to demonstrate a photoelectrochemical system using III-V multi-junction semiconductors through cost-effective epitaxial lift-off techniques that are surface modified for robust operation.
This project focusses on developing material technologies for the direct production of gaseous hydrogen using sunlight. Direct solar to hydrogen conversion presents a promising approach for achieving both high operating efficiency and lower costs. Photoelectrochemical solar water splitting via III-V multi-junction semiconductors is technically shown to be an efficient way of producing hydrogen directly from sunlight but suffers from high material costs and photodegradation. This project aims to tackle these challenges.
ANU will work with MicroLink Devices Inc. and the University of Michigan (USA) combining their expertise in epitaxial lift-off and semiconductor photocatalysis, respectively, with the III-V semiconductor epitaxial growth expertise of ANU.
More details on the research, including contact information, can be found at the ARENA webpage for this project.
This research project was part of a suite of projects for which ARENA announced AUD$22.1 million of funding in September 2018.
This description was reviewed by the lead research participant in July 2020.