Kylie R. Catchpole FAA FTSE is a solar energy researcher, who was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2024. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences. She is a professor at the Australian National University.[1]

Kylie R. Catchpole
EducationAustralian National University
OccupationSolar energy researcher
EmployerAustralian National University
Known forPhotovoltaics
TitleProfessor
Websitehttps://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/catchpole-kr

Education

edit

Catchpole has an undergraduate degree in physics (hons) from ANU,[2] and a PhD in engineering, also from ANU.[3] She subsequently published much in physical chemistry journals, having worked at ANU since 2017 to present.[2] In describing her early life and career path, she mentioned that:

"I have an undergraduate degree in physics. At the time I was not sure what I wanted to do with that. I thought maybe studying particle physics – I was very curious about the origins of the universe. At the same time, I wanted to do something to help the environment, but I didn’t have an idea of how I could use my interests and skills to do that. Then I discovered solar cell research. It was a perfect fit of my analytical bent and curiosity to a research field that could really make a difference to the world."[4]

Career

edit

Catchpole is a researcher in the field of solar energy. Her work on the mechanisms of nanoscale interaction between light and semiconductors contributed to new approaches to improve light absorption in solar cells. She was involved in the development of perovskite solar cells and tandem solar cells with notable efficiencies, focusing on how ions, electrons, and device structure affect solar cell performance. She has also been involved in the creation of solar hydrogen technology, which has been recognized for its efficiency in hydrogen generation using low-cost materials.[5]

Her work has shown that:

"include showing that the efficiency of thin solar cells can be improved using tiny metal particles, which act like antennas to direct light into the solar cell. This has opened up a range of new possibilities for reducing the cost of solar electricity."[6]

Catchpole has many ARENA-funded projects on perovskite-silicon solar cells.[7]

Publications

edit

Catchpole has an H number of 58, as at May 2024, and over 17,969 citations according to her Google Scholar page.[8] Select publications are listed below:

  • KR Catchpole, A Polman (2008) Plasmonic solar cells. Optics express 16 (26), 21793–21800.[9]
  • KR Catchpole, A Polman (2008) Design principles for particle plasmon enhanced solar cells. Applied Physics Letters 93 (19).[10]

Media

edit

Catchpole has four articles published in The Conversation, on topics ranging from Net Zero,[11] renewables,[12] electricity costs,[13] and solar roofs.[14][15]

Awards

edit
  • 2024 – Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences.[16]
  • 2022 – Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.[17]
  • 2015 – John Booker Academy of Science prize for engineering.[18]
  • 2011 – Episode winner on ABC TV's New Inventors.[2]
  • 2010 – MIT Technological Review's '10 most important emerging technologies'[2]
  • 2009 – Tall Poppy – ACT.[19]

References

edit
  1. ^ "FAA awardees". pubs.aip.org. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  2. ^ a b c d "ORCID". orcid.org. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  3. ^ "Kylie Catchpole". The Conversation. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  4. ^ "ARENA spotlights" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Kylie Catchpole". www.science.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  6. ^ "Academy awards | NCI". nci.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  7. ^ "ARENA" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Kylie Catchpole". scholar.google.com.au. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  9. ^ "Optica Publishing Group". opg.optica.org. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  10. ^ "APL". pubs.aip.org. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  11. ^ Jotzo, Frank; Baldwin, Ken; Catchpole, Kylie; Walker, Kylie; Blackhall, Lachlan; Howden, Mark (2023-09-21). "Net zero by 2050? Too late. Australia must aim for 2035". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  12. ^ Bruce, Anna; MacGill, Iain (2016-03-27). "FactCheck Q&A: is Australia the world leader in household solar power?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  13. ^ Catchpole, Kylie (2013-08-15). "Renewables will reduce electricity costs – if we have a carbon price". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  14. ^ Catchpole, Kylie (2013-07-30). "How do we get to the next million solar roofs?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  15. ^ "Kylie Catchpole". The Conversation. 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  16. ^ "Academy announces 2024 Fellows for outstanding contributions to science | Australian Academy of Science". www.science.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  17. ^ "Kylie Catchpole FTSE". ATSE. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  18. ^ Kelly, Emma (2014-11-24). "Canberra scientists scoop up Academy of Science awards". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  19. ^ "Dr Kylie Catchpole". AIPS. Retrieved 2024-05-25.