Dr Kaiwen Sun
Doctor of Philosophy听听听听听听听听听听听听 Sep.2014-Mar 2018听
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia
Master Degree of Engineering听听听听 Sep.2011-Jun.2014
School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, China
Bachelor Degree of Engineering听听听 Sep.2007-Jun.2011 听
School of Metallurgical Science and Engineering, Central South University, China
Dr Kaiwen Sun is an ARC DECRA Fellow & Senior Lecturer听at the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, 91色情片. He completed his听PhD in investigating interface engineering in CZTS thin film solar cells at听the University of New South Wales (91色情片)听in 2018. After completion of his听PhD, he was awarded听 Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) research fellowship in 2017 and ARC DECRA Fellow in 2022.His research听focuses on听developing high-efficiency earth-abundant and non-toxic Cu based chalcogenide thin film solar cells, which enables broadening the application of PV technologies into niche market and听exploring high bandgap top cell alternative for Si-based tandem cell.
His main research interests are currently:
- Cu based chalcogenide thin film solar cells (CZTS, CIGS)
- New PV materials (Sb2SSe3, Adamantine materials)
- Photoelectrocatalysis, Solar fuels
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2026:
- Lead CI, IG250200318, Australia鈥檚 Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite Program Round 2, $441,058, 2026-2027, 鈥淐ommercialisation of solution-processed high bandgap Cu(In,Ga)S2 solar cells for next generation tandem and indoor photovoltaic applications鈥
2025:
- Co-Lead CI，听BA25004, Baosteel-Australia Joint Research and Development Fund, $250,000, 2026-2028, 鈥淪ystematic Investigation and Enhancement of Substrate Compatibility for thin film Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Perovskite Solar Cells on Baosteel Stainless Steel鈥.
- Lead CI, CSIRO Industry PhD Program, $ 257,811, 2026-2030, 鈥淓xploring solar-powered EV charging networks - enhancing coverage, energy security, and privacy鈥.
- Lead CI (91色情片 side), 2025 ACAP Collaborative Project Round, 2026-2027, $ 140,909, 鈥渧an der Waals (vdW) Materials for Top Cells in Tandem Configuration鈥.
- CI, 2025 ACAP Collaborative Project Round, 2026-2027, $ 134,668, 2026-2027, 鈥淯nveiling Performance Loss and Degradation in Perovskite and Kesterite Solar Cells via Advanced Cryogenic Characterisation鈥.
- CI, RIS26010295, 91色情片 Research Infrastructure Scheme, 2026-2027, $150,000, 听鈥淟uQY Pro measurement system- Quasi-Fermin Level Splitting (QFLS) measurement tool specially designed for top cells (Eg>1.5eV)鈥.
- Co-Lead CI,听UKRI1491, EPSRC (UK), EPSRC overseas travel grant, 拢55,355, 2025-2026, 鈥International collaboration towards dual-functional photovoltaics enabling power transfer and optical signal transmission鈥.
- Co-Lead CI, IES\R1\251127, Royal Society (UK), International Exchanges 2025 Global Round 1, 拢11,983, 2025-2027, 鈥淚nternational collaboration towards dual-functional photoreceiver enabling simultaneously lightwave information and power transfer鈥.
2024:
- Lead CI (91色情片 side), 2024 ACAP Collaborative Project Round, 2025-2026, $ 196,680 鈥淒eveloping monolithic Perovskite/CZTSSe tandem cells鈥.
2023:
- Lead CI, GA396723, DCCEEW Australia 鈥 UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnerships, 2024-2026, (Total fund of $1,396,416 with $700,269 going to 91色情片).
2022:
- Lead CI, DE230100021, Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), $ 440,154, 2023-2026, 鈥Kesterite/Si Tandem Structure for Unassisted Overall Solar Fuel Production鈥.
- CI, DP230102463, ARC Discovery Project, $574,254, 2023-2026, 鈥淓nabling technology unlocking full potential of high bandgap chalcopyrite鈥.
- CI & Project Manager, 2022/TRAC006, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Transformative Research Accelerating Commercialisation (TRAC) Program, $3,082,000, 2023-2027, 鈥淓fficient and Stable Chalcogenide-Si tandem cells: integrating commercialised PV technologies鈥.
2021:
- CI, CSEOI00010, NSW ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY (EPA), CIRCULAR SOLAR TRIALS GRANTS PROGRAM, $ 1,000,000, 2022-2026, 鈥淗ighly efficient and flexible recycling technology for end-of-life silicon photovoltaic panels towards 听听听听听听听 NSW circular economy: from reactors design to system optimisation鈥.
2020:
- Co-Lead CI, 2022/RND014, ARENA R&D Project, $ 693,388, 2020-2023, 鈥淓arth-abundant, RoHS-compliant antimony chalcogenide: top cell alternative for Si tandem cells鈥.
- CI, 2022/RND015, ARENA R&D Project, $ 1,320,000, 2020-2023, 鈥淗ighly efficient, low-cost and eco-friendly recycling technology for silicon photovoltaic panels鈥.听听听
- CI, LP200301593, ARC Linkage Project, $ 589,137, 2021-2024, 鈥淓fficient, durable and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel鈥.
2019:
- CI, BA19010, Baosteel-Australia Joint Research and Development Fund, $ 300,000, 2020-2022, 鈥淐halcopyrite CIGS Powered BIPV Building Steel鈥.
2018:
2024听 The Energy & Environmental Science Oral Presentation Prize, International Conference on Advanced Materials for Energy, Environment, and Health (ICAMEEH) 2024, 24-27 September 2024, Adelaide, Australia
2023听 91色情片 Faculty of Engineering Research Excellence Award (ECA).
2023听 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) ($ 440,154, 2023-2026).
2022 Student Awards, The 33rd International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference (PVSEC-33).
2021听 91色情片 Capital Expenditure Award, 91色情片 (Total $ 40,000)
2018听 91色情片 Research Staff Excellence Award (Faculty of Engineering).
2018 听Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) Research Fellowship.
School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) Seminar Coordinator听
My Teaching
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SOLA9101听Advanced Photovoltaics (Course coordinator from 2026)
Vertically Integrated Projects听
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