Recent research recruitment
Two postdoctoral positions in advanced PV technology were recently advertised, supporting silicon-cell and module manufacturing research.
Metallisation @ Sustainability Lab · UNSW
Sustainable solar-cell manufacturing.
A UNSW research group advancing silver-lean contact structures, silicon-cell reliability and resource-efficient photovoltaic manufacturing.
Research contribution
Silver-lean contact design
The design map shows how reducing silver-contact area and print height creates a practical pathway from 12.6 mg/W towards 5 and 2 mg/W.
PhD opportunities
Strong candidates are welcome year-round across PV materials, metallisation, reliability and advanced manufacturing.
Two new major projects
Two major projects have been secured for 2026; project titles and details will be announced when they become public.
Research & industry collaboration
We welcome partnerships with cell manufacturers, materials and equipment suppliers, and research organisations.
Research
Connecting materials with manufacturing.
Our work combines contact formation, silicon defect engineering and sustainability analysis with production-relevant processes.
Silver-lean metallisation
Fine-line printing and novel pattern designs for industrial silicon solar cells to increase efficiency and reduce cost.
TOPCon · PERC · SHJ · XBC · TandemHydrogen passivation & stability
Hydrogen passivation, laser processing and degradation control to improve the performance and long-term stability of silicon solar cells.
Passivation · LeTID · Boron–oxygen defects · Photothermal processingAbundant metallisation alternatives
Low-silver and silver-free metallisation compatible with silicon solar cells, reducing dependence on precious metals and scarce elements for sustainable PV.
Copper · Silver-coated copper · Aluminium · Paste sintering & curingResearch translation
Advancing technology readiness through pilot-line testing and prototype development.
Patented inventions · Process-window optimisation · Industry collaborationIndustry technology watch
Research directions moving into manufacturing.
Public industry disclosures show how layered contacts, reduced contact area and abundant conductive materials are entering high-volume photovoltaic manufacturing.
A silver contact layer beneath an Ag–Cu conductor
Publicly available data indicates a layered TOPCon electrode: a thin silver contact layer forms the silicon contact, while an overlying silver-coated copper layer provides bulk conduction. Laser-assisted firing supports contact formation at a lower thermal budget.
Why it matters
Read source↗The functional separation between contact formation and current transport closely parallels seed-layer metallisation research.
Nano-alloy matrix contact enters mass production
LONGi describes ACM as a silver-free nano-alloy contact that separates a small-area current-collection layer from a high-conductivity transmission layer. Industry reporting further characterises the stack as a seed or barrier layer coupled to a copper-based alloy conductor.
Why it matters
Read source↗The architecture independently demonstrates the industrial value of separating interface contact from high-conductivity current transport.
Summaries are based on publicly available industry and patent information. Similarities in technical direction do not imply licensing, technology transfer or use of UNSW intellectual property.
People
Research leadership
The group brings together expertise in silicon photovoltaics, metallisation, reliability and technology translation.
Research lead · Associate Professor & Scientia Fellow
Brett Hallam
Brett leads research on sustainable photovoltaic manufacturing, advanced cell architectures, hydrogen passivation, laser processing and material constraints at scale.
View UNSW profile↗
Translation & reliability · Senior Lecturer
Catherine Chan
Catherine works across industrial silicon solar cells, laser processes, hydrogen passivation, degradation control and technology translation.
View UNSW profile↗
Research & partnerships · Senior Lecturer
Li Wang
Sustainable PV materials & metallisation · Industry translation · Ultra-thin silicon PV
View UNSW profile↗Wider team
Researchers & collaborators
A broader network contributes expertise across photovoltaic sustainability, silicon reliability, industrial processing and circular manufacturing.
MK
Lecturer
↗BSMoonyong Kim
PV sustainability · Silicon reliability
Senior Research Associate
↗ZYBruno Vicari Stefani
Light-induced degradation · Transparent oxides
Postdoctoral Researcher · Senior Engineer
↗YWZhen Yang
Solar-cell manufacturing · Industrial research · Photovoltaic systems (vehicle-integrated PV)
Research Associate
↗Yansong Wang
III–V devices · Advanced photovoltaics
Research environment
From laboratory process to manufacturing relevance.
The programme connects device fabrication and characterisation with the process conditions used in solar-cell manufacturing.
News & activities
Research in motion
Publications, conferences, project milestones and news from across the group’s research programme.
Rethinking silver for industrial solar manufacturing
ACAP featured the team’s production-compatible, silver-lean contact approach and its pathway towards materially sustainable photovoltaics.
View ↗Highest-ranked abstract at SiliconPV 2025
Li Wang presented Ultra-Lean Silver Screen-Printing for Sustainable Terawatt-Scale PV at the SiliconPV conference in Oxford.
View ↗Production-Ready Silver Revolution at APSRC
A conference presentation on reducing silver consumption in industrial TOPCon cells through screen-printing metallisation.
View ↗Silver-lean manufacturing and sustainable PV systems
Two ARENA-supported programmes led by Brett Hallam address silver consumption and material use at terawatt scale.
View ↗80% reduction in silver consumption for industrial TOPCon
Peer-reviewed work demonstrating a silver-lean screen-printing route for industrial solar-cell manufacturing.
View ↗Sustainability and circularity at EU PVSEC
UNSW researchers presented work spanning deployment emissions, PV manufacturing and end-of-life module recycling.
View ↗Join & collaborate
PhD research and long-term partnerships.
We welcome enquiries throughout the year from prospective doctoral researchers, research organisations and industry partners.
PhD opportunities
We are continually interested in strong PhD candidates working across silicon photovoltaics, metallisation, reliability, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.
Contact the group↓Research & industry collaboration
We work with cell manufacturers, materials and equipment suppliers, research institutes and technology partners on applied research and translation.
Contact the group↓Research & collaboration
Contact us
For research collaboration, industry enquiries and potential projects, please contact Li Wang.
Research & industry enquiries
li.wang3@unsw.edu.au↗Li Wang
Senior Lecturer