Design. Fabricate. Innovate.
Solartronics is a student-led semiconductor manufacturing initiative where undergraduate students design, fabricate, and test real semiconductor devices while developing the next generation of solar-powered electronics.
VIP ChallENG research goals
- Build the future of solar electronics by integrating photovoltaics with semiconductor devices to create smarter, more capable energy systems.
- Train future semiconductor engineers through hands-on experience in device design, fabrication, characterisation, and testing.
- Make semiconductor prototyping accessible so students can transform their own ideas into working devices.
Vertically Integrated Projects
- Silicon photovoltaics
- Low-power circuits and wireless transmitters
- Low power IoT systems
- Electrical circuit design
- Device encapsulation
- What you'll work on
- Desired skills
- Why join Solartronics?
- Designing semiconductor devices, including solar cells, diodes, MOSFETs, BJTs, and integrated circuits.
- Developing new semiconductor fabrication processes.
- Exploring semiconductor manufacturing beyond conventional cleanrooms.
- Creating smart photovoltaic systems with integrated power management.
- Building self-powered electronic devices and energy-harvesting systems.
- Developing miniaturised sensors for environmental monitoring and precision measurement.
- Turning innovative concepts into fabricated and tested prototypes.
- Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications
- Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy
- Chemical Engineering
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Medicine
- Computer Science & Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
Credit: ✔ 6 UoC per course HOW IT WORKS
- Gain hands-on semiconductor fabrication experience rarely available to undergraduates.
- Work alongside researchers and industry partners on real engineering challenges.
- Learn the complete semiconductor development cycle—from design to fabrication and testing.
- Build technical skills that prepare you for careers in semiconductors, electronics, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.
- Contribute to research with the potential for publications, industry collaborations, and commercial impact.
2021 VIP Consortium Innovation Competition - 1st Place WINNER
Mini Solar - Fire Detection Team
The Mini Solar VIP Team is developing devices that provide fast, accurate information to the surrounding community and to authorities when bushfires break out. The devices include a dedicated miniature solar panel that converts sunlight into energy, an integrated miniature battery, and communications technology which creates a 24/7 monitoring and communications network. The team was established in 2020 in response to the devastating bushfire season in Australia.
Team Academic Leads
A/Prof. Torsten Lehmann
Sch: Electrical Eng & Telecom
t.lehmann@unsw.edu.au
Shona McNab
Research Associate
Sch: PV & Renewable Energ
shona.mcnab@unsw.edu.au