A research breakthrough means conventional glass might soon be covered with solar cells enabling buildings to be powered entirely by sunlight within five years.
The breakthrough was outlined in a lecture at RMIT University by Professor Min Gu, Director of the Centre for Micro-Photonics at Swinburne University of Technology.
Professor Gu has a sustained record of authority, enterprise and innovation in the field of optics in Australia. He has played a central role in the development of three dimensional (3D) optical imaging theory for advanced modern optical microscopy and is regarded as a pioneer and an international leading authority on 3D optical imaging science.
Professor Gu’s current research project will establish a cutting-edge nanophotonic platform that will allow for the revolutionary scientific discoveries in 3D super-resolution optics, as well as technological breakthroughs in ultrafast compact nonlinear optical microscopy.
This research will accelerate the realisation of the new age of petabyte optical memory technology and enable innovative discoveries to be translated into practical nanophotonic devices with substantial commercial potential for Australia.
The announcement follows a recent story, covered in BPN, that skyscrapers could one day generate enough power to offset much of their energy consumption, however that breakthrough in creating solar-cell windows by Australian researchers was said to be 10 years for becoming a reality.
After he was awarded his PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Optics, he moved to Australia and has conducted his research at The University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney and Victoria University.
Professor Gu is currently Vice-President of the International Commission for Optics, a council member for the Optical Society of America, and a Divisional Committee member for the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
