Dr. Caixia Li

Associate Lecturer

UNSW Sydney

My research centers on next-generation tandem photovoltaic (PV) technologies, with the goal of simultaneously achieving higher efficiency, lower cost, and scalable manufacturing for real-world deployment. Tandem solar cells represent a critical pathway beyond conventional silicon photovoltaics by combining materials that absorb different portions of sunlight to exceed the efficiency limits of single-junction devices.
My work focuses on integrating a range of emerging high-bandgap solar cells—including perovskite, CIGS, CZTS, and SbSSe—with industrial silicon solar cells to form high-performance tandem devices. A key contribution of my research is the independent development of novel fabrication and integration strategies that enable different sub-cells to be combined without the high cost, strict interface requirements, or demanding processing conditions associated with existing approaches. These advances significantly improve the practical viability of tandem photovoltaics and have clear pathways toward large-scale implementation. Driven by this commercial potential, I have contributed to the establishment of a research spin-out company to accelerate technology translation.
Beyond device efficiency, I actively explore new functions and applications of tandem photovoltaics, including solar-driven chemical processes such as ammonia production from nitrate. This expands the role of photovoltaics from electricity generation to broader energy and sustainability applications.
My research has also attracted strong engagement from industry, leading to collaborations with leading solar cell manufacturers and major photovoltaic power plant operators. These partnerships address critical challenges across the PV value chain, including the stability mechanisms of commercial silicon solar cells and accurate power-generation forecasting for large-scale PV systems. Overall, my research bridges advanced photovoltaic materials and devices with commercial technologies and energy-system-level impact.