Professor Yi-Bing Chen

Solar cells are capable of converting the sun’s energy to electricity with little emission to the environment. The key is to discover a way to reduce the costs involved. Dr Cheng’s aim has been to improve the performance of solar cells by developing nanostructured working electrodes through changing their morphology and chemistry. In conjunction with colleagues in the Department of Materials Engineering and in the School of Chemistry, Dr Cheng is developing dye sensitised solar cells which are a better alternative to silicon wafer-based solar cells.

Dr Cheng’s group is also investigating the development of nanoceramic materials to be used as components in the generators of the next generation nuclear power stations. Whilst Dr Cheng is not specifically engaged in nuclear related work, the team is attempting to produce a material component which is stable at high temperatures and in a corrosive environment. It is important that it is also resistant to neutron radiation.

Since 2000, Dr Cheng intentionally has moved his focus of research to energy and environment related issues. “My work is a small contribution to a huge global push forward in these areas. If we all do our bit of research it will have a huge impact in the years to come.”

Success has been achieved in these areas by a multi-disciplined approach to developing materials, and to producing devices. Dr Cheng has collaborated widely, with Professor Maria Forsyth from Materials Engineering at Monash’s Engineering Faculty and, from the School of Chemistry, Professor Doug McFarlane, Dr Udo Bach and Dr Leone Spiccia. Dye sensitised solar cells (DSSC) are Dr Spiccia’s and Dr Bach’s particular areas of expertise. Internationally, the team has consolidated investigations with Professor Michael Gratzel, the original inventor of DSSC. The DSCC research team is also a major partner in the Victorian Consortium for Organic Solar Cells (VICOSC).

Above: Nano Titanium Oxide film developed at Monash for flexible dye sensitised solar cells.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) supplies funding for some of these research activities. The ACES was established to encourage collaboration on the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology related to the movement of electric charge within and between materials.

Another major area of interest for Dr Cheng is investigation into novel ceramic-polymer composites for fire-performance cable applications in the Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers (CRC of Polymers). He has developed a polymer which is flexible and tough at room temperature. When exposed to fire, this polymer converts to a strong ceramic capable of maintaining its insulating properties (see image below). The product was commercialised in 2004. Dr Cheng is now engaged in extending this technology to other areas of fire performance, like door and window seals.

Above: Ceramifiable polymers are developed, through CRC for Polymers, for manufacturing fire-performance cables by a local company in 2004.

This collaborative work has won three awards, the CRC-Polymer Chairman’s Award, the CRC Association’s Awards for Excellence in Innovation, and the Business/High Education Round Table Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Collaboration in Research & Development and Education & Training.