MEMSI forum: Nanocarbons in Novel Solar Cells

Monash Energy and Materials Systems Institute (MEMSI) Forums are focussed on exploring the trends, challenges and ideas that are changing the face of the global energy sector. Through these events, we hope to build public awareness on energy related topics and strengthen collaboration between industry, academia and government to help accelerate the realisation of a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

MEMSI is delighted to welcome Prof. Joe Shapter, Dean of School of Science and Physical Sciences at Flinders University, who will discuss new architectures and carbon nanomaterials for solar cells.

Nanocarbons in Novel Solar Cells

LePing Yu, Munkhbayar Batmunkh, Mahnaz Dadkhah, Cameron J. Shearer, Daniel Tune and Joe Shapter

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, AUSTRALIA

One of the most important issues facing society is the ability to supply the world’s energy requirements via both environmentally responsible and sustainable means. Renewable energy, and in particular solar energy, has the potential to address current issues in energy production but costs, both in terms of the energy required for production and final price to the consumer, as well flexibility in terms of system deployment are problems that will need to be addressed. This talk will focus on work using carbon nanomaterials to make new architectures for solar cells. Several possible structures will be explored and the disadvantages and advantages of each will be examined.

Prof. Shapter obtained his Ph. D. from the University of Toronto in 1990 working with Prof. J. C. Polanyi on the detection of small molecules and the determination of their energies. From 1990 to 1996, he worked at the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario) building a scanning tunnelling microscope and lecturing first year chemistry. He was appointed as a lecturer at Flinders in 1996, promoted to Senior lecturer at the start of 2000, promoted to Associate Professor in 2004 and made full Professor in June 2008. He is currently the Dean of School of Chemical & Physical Sciences.