Dr Mingrui He
2011 - 2015 - B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Korea
2015 - 2017 - M.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Korea
2017 - 2021 - Ph.D. in Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia
Mingrui He is an Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) research fellow at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, in the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering.
He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Chonnam National University (CNU), Korea, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. During his studies, under the mentorship of Prof. Jin Hyeok Kim, Mingrui focused on the development of earth-abundant chalcogenide compounds for use in photovoltaics.
After completing his master's degree in 2017, He continued his academic journey at UNSW for his doctoral studies. There, he expanded his research on earth-abundant compounds, delving into their applications in photovoltaic solar cells and hydrogen fuel technologies, supervised by Prof. Xiaojing Hao.
In October 2021, he began a postdoctoral fellowship in the same research group, focusing on perovskite materials development. By November 2023, he had earned an ACAP research fellowship, aiming to enhance the stability of wide-bandgap perovskite materials.
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2023 - Present - ACAP Fellowship, $65,200
2024-2026 - JA Solar Green to Global grant, $644,984
2023 - Present - ACAP Fellowship
Kesterite Thin-Film Solar Cells
Kesterite is not only a mineral but also represents a class of compounds utilized in thin-film solar cells. These compounds typically have the chemical formula Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) or Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe). Kesterite solar cells are noted for their use of abundant and non-toxic materials, making them an environmentally friendly option in photovoltaic technology. I am engaged in a detailed investigation into the mechanisms underlying the doping/alloying strategy and surface passivation, focusing on their impact on enhancing the device efficiency of kesterite-based solar cells. Simultaneously, my research also encompasses the exploration of novel dopants and passivation agents, specifically tailored for kesterite solar cells.
Perovskite Thin-Film Solar Cells
Perovskite refers to a group of materials sharing a common crystal structure, known as the perovskite structure. In the realm of solar cell technology, perovskite materials are celebrated for their high efficiency and straightforward manufacturing processes. They are particularly renowned in the photovoltaic sector for their rapidly advancing efficiency rates in converting solar energy into electrical power. In my studies, I am addressing the stability challenge inherent in perovskite materials, which currently hinder their commercial viability. This involves employing compositional engineering at the bulk level and enhancing surface quality through passivation techniques. Our goal is to develop stable perovskite structures suitable for both narrow and wide bandgap applications. The fabrication methodology primarily revolves around a two-step process, incorporating an evaporation method for the large-scale fabrication of cells.
Tandem Solar Cells
Tandem solar cells are an innovative approach in photovoltaics, comprising multiple layers of light-absorbing materials. Each layer is engineered to absorb a distinct portion of the solar spectrum. This multilayer composition, often combining materials like silicon with perovskite, enables tandem cells to surpass the efficiency of traditional single-junction solar cells, heralding a new era in solar energy capture. I am engaged in the development of perovskite/Si tandem solar cells, utilizing the stable wide-bandgap perovskite single junctions that have been developed within our research group.
Solar Water Splitting
Solar water splitting is a groundbreaking method where sunlight is harnessed to dissociate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This process is typically carried out using photoelectrochemical cells. The hydrogen generated is a viable clean fuel, making this technology a cornerstone in the pursuit of renewable energy and storage solutions. We are endeavoring to utilize earth-abundant chalcogenide compounds as photocathodes for solar-driven water splitting cells. Our approach includes the development of interface engineering techniques aimed at enhancing the stability of these systems.
Guest editor - Energies - MDPI
Guest editor - Materials - MDPI
My Research Supervision
Hongrui Zhang (Master by Research)
Duojie Jinmei (Master by Coursework)
My Teaching
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP): Space Power Systems