Celebrating Excellence: Charlotte Fell Awarded ANU University Medal

We warmly congratulate Charlotte (Charli) Fell who has been awarded the ANU University Medal for Engineering, as part of her double degree in Engineering (Honours) and Asian Studies (which included a year living in Seoul, South Korea).

Charli’s thesis explored the degradation pathways of single junction wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells under light and heat stress. She worked with cells fabricated by the ANU Perovskite Group, exposing them to stressors and analysing performance degradation using techniques like XRD and PL spectroscopy. The goal was to better understand how these cells degrade, which is crucial for improving their stability and efficiency in renewable energy applications.

Charli Fell received the ANU University Medal for Engineering for her research into degradation mechanisms of perovskite solar cells.

Her results were accepted for publication at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Solar Research Conference.

Charlotte explained what drives her work. “Climate change is intensifying global risks, and renewable energy is key to mitigating these effects. Solar PV must continue to improve in efficiency and affordability to meet global targets. Perovskite-silicon tandem cells offer promising efficiency gains, but stability remains a challenge.

"My research contributes to understanding degradation mechanisms, helping pave the way for more reliable and cost-effective solar technologies."

Charlotte has received several accolades for her work. She said, “I was honoured to receive the Love Prize, which recognises academic excellence as well as leadership and community impact. My motivation has always been to use engineering to create lasting positive change for communities in Australia and our region.”

“I’ve worked on projects like working with a First Nations resident in Vanuatu designing energy systems for safe houses in Vanuatu. I’ve volunteered with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), and led outreach programs to promote inclusive and impactful engineering. These experiences have shaped my commitment to a profession that reflects and serves diverse communities.”

Charlotte has recently relocated to Melbourne to join Tilt Renewables as a Graduate Engineer. She said, “The program includes rotations in Project Development, Engineering, and Asset Management. It’s exciting to be part of a company driving Australia’s renewable energy future.”

Charli’s research was supervised by Associate Professor Heping Shen, whose research is supported by ACAP.

Professor Heping Shen said, “Charli's research provides extensive experimental data to demonstrate the stability of solar cells and contributes to a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms, which is impactful for advancing stability in the field.”

“The study of perovskite stability is inherently multidisciplinary, encompassing engineering, chemical engineering, physics, and materials science. Charli has demonstrated an exceptional ability to rapidly learn and apply knowledge across these fields.”

“Charli’s research ideas are genuinely innovative, and she has demonstrated outstanding critical and analytical skills, synthesising her findings with remarkable depth and clarity. Her hands-on capabilities are equally remarkable.”

“She is always open to share, receive, and collaborate on ideas.”

Charlotte said, “I’m deeply grateful to my supervisors, Associate Professor Heping Shen and Dr Daniel Walter, and the ANU Perovskite team. Thanks also to the Australian National Fabrication Facility and the Research School of Chemistry for their support. Their guidance and expertise made my research possible.”