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Researcher

Dr Ran Chen

Biography

Ran Chen submitted her PhD in March 2017 which focused on technology development for advanced hydrogenation in p-type multi wafers and solving light-induced degradation in such silicon. She has published numerous related papers and been an inventor on 7 patents for innovative approaches for controlling the charge state of hydrogen atoms in silicon. Her patent for using sub-bandgap photons to convert H- into H0 is of particular importance for...view more

Ran Chen submitted her PhD in March 2017 which focused on technology development for advanced hydrogenation in p-type multi wafers and solving light-induced degradation in such silicon. She has published numerous related papers and been an inventor on 7 patents for innovative approaches for controlling the charge state of hydrogen atoms in silicon. Her patent for using sub-bandgap photons to convert H- into H0 is of particular importance for the new n-type advanced hydrogenation technology being developed in her PhD has been awarded Category 1 research funding from the Australian Research Energy Agency (ARENA) and also She is an expert on solving contact resistance problems originating during hydrogenation due to passivation of metal/silicon interfaces and the adhesion of the metal contacts. 


My Grants

1. Lead Chief Investigator on Australia Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) project 2017/RND003 titled "Improving World-Record Commercial High-Efficiency n-type Solar Cells through Recombination Analysis & Innovative Passivation".

2. Chief Investigator on ARENA project 2017/RND010 titled "Development of novel hydrogen trapping techniques for breakthrough Si casting and wafering technologies".

3. Chief Investigator on ARENA project 2020/RND005 titled "Next-generation selective-emitters for commercial PERC and TOPCon solar panels".

4. Investigator on Netherland government granted project titled "Light and Elevated Temperature Induced Degradation Repair Approach".


My Qualifications

Awarded PhD from the School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE), UNSW, Sydney, Australia in 2017. Thesis topic is titled "Low-temperature hydrogenation for plated silicon solar cells".


My Awards

2018 Staff excellence award in Industry Engagement from Faculty of Engineering, UNSW

2020 Staff excellence award in Equity and Diversity as part of the "Early Career Academics Committee" from Faculty of Engineering, UNSW.

2020 Staff excellence award in Equity and Diversity as part of the "The Commercial Solar Cells Defect Engineering Team" from Faculty of Engineering, UNSW.


My Research Activities

Light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID) for n- and p-type silicon solar cells

Advanced hydrogen charge state control techniques for high-efficiency n-type silicon solar cells 

Defect Engineering for industrial n-type silicon solar cells

Ring defect studies for n- and p-type silicon materials

Investigation of contact resistance problem caused by hydrogenation at metal/Si interface for high-efficiency n-type Si solar cells

Adhesion studies for different metal contacts for Si solar cells


My Research Supervision


Supervision keywords


Areas of supervision

Previous supervised students and area of topics:

Daniel Chen, a former PhD Candidate, who has worked on degradation in n-type silicon submitted his thesis in February 2020. His thesis title is “Elucidating the Mechanics Behind Light- and Elevated Temperature-Induced Degradation in Silicon Solar Cells”.   The success of the project has provided trainings to Daniel, now Daniel is approached to work at Sundrive, the first manufacturing/researching n-type SHJ solar cells company in Australia.

 

Xingru Tan, a former Master of philosophy (Mphil) candidate, has worked on the bulk and surface degradation in n-type silicon industry cells, submitted his thesis in August 2020.  His thesis title is “Insights into the Mechanisms of Bulk and Surface Related Degradation in Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells”. The success of the project has provided valuable trainings and skills to Xingru, now he is working at Jihua laboratory, a research institute in Guangdong, China.

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