Space Power Systems

The research includes:

• Developing photovoltaics (PV), betavoltaics (BV) and laser beaming systems for space applications 
• Designing flexible PV and BV energy harvesting devices and integrated IoT solutions
• Enhancing PV efficiency and stability in space 
• Improving BV device efficiency through new semiconductor materials that have greater energy conversion and increased radiation resistance 
• Designing the ‘solar (power) ring’ device to power IoT networks
• Designing and fabricating PV and BV devices for IoT applications
• Designing and fabricating integrated power ring prototypes
• Researching radiation tolerance of PV devices
• Investigating the performance of several types of solar cells under low light intensities, different spectra and a wide range of temperatures 
• Investigating new materials and their efficiencies 
• Fabricating solar cells in lunar-like environments 
• Improving the operation, transfer efficiency and pointing accuracy of laser power beaming
• Improving welding of space solar cell interconnects
• Integrating different power systems for space missions to the Moon and for LEO CubeSats 
• Developing power systems for IoT devices
• Developing database and data analysis capabilities for completed IoT solutions
• Addressing the EQE (external quantum efficiency) artefacts in multijunction solar cells
• Undertaking vacuum deposition of solar cell materials under conditions similar to those on the Moon 
• Combining antennas and solar cells for dual use on satellites

Research Areas:

• Photovoltaics
• Betavoltaics
• Space Science
• Power Systems
• Photovoltaics
• Data science
• Internet of Things
• Laser physics
• Radio-isotopes

• Photovoltaics engineering 
• Nuclear engineering 
• Mechanical engineering 
• Electrical engineering 
• Electrical circuit design 
• Wireless sensor networks 
• Bio-engineering 
• Physics