High-Conductivity Solution-Processed Carbon Nanotube Networks as Transparent Electrodes in Organic Solar Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 1537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aminy E. Ostfeld ◽  
Siân Fogden ◽  
Amélie Catheline ◽  
Kee-Chan Kim ◽  
Kathleen Ligsay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Aqueous Dispersion ◽  
Transparent Electrodes ◽  
Conductive Films ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Carbon Nanotube Networks

ABSTRACTSolutions of individual, unbroken single-walled carbon nanotubes in organic solvent were fabricated in a reductive dissolution process. Transparent conductive films deposited from these organic inks gave a significantly higher conductivity to absorptivity ratio than those cast from an aqueous dispersion of carbon nanotubes. For example, films from the organic ink have achieved a sheet resistance of 250 Ω/□ with transmittance of 92% at 550 nm wavelength, compared to 76% transmittance for a 250 Ω/□ film from the aqueous dispersion. The promise of these films as transparent electrodes has been demonstrated by their incorporation into organic solar cells with power conversion efficiency of 2.3%, comparable to that of solar cells produced using indium tin oxide transparent electrodes.

Chemically-treated single-walled carbon nanotubes as digitated penetrating electrodes in organic solar cells

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (33) ◽  
pp. 7034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Yuan Su ◽  
Ang-Yu Lu ◽  
Yi-Ling Chen ◽  
Ching-Yen Wei ◽  
Pen-Cheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Single Walled Carbon ◽  
Chemically Treated ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

scholarly journals Incorporating semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes as efficient charge extractors in organic solar cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 106 (12) ◽  
pp. 123305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waranatha L. Abeygunasekara ◽  
Pritesh Hiralal ◽  
Lilantha Samaranayake ◽  
Chih-Tao Chien ◽  
Abhishek Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Single Walled Carbon ◽  
Efficient Charge ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

scholarly journals Efficient Inverted ITO-Free Organic Solar Cells Based on Transparent Silver Electrode with Aqueous Solution-Processed ZnO Interlayer

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Zhizhe Wang ◽  
Dazheng Chen ◽  
Chunfu Zhang ◽  
Zhenhua Lin ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Low Bandgap ◽  
Lower Root ◽  
Electron Extraction

Efficient inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) with the MoO3(2 nm)/Ag (12 nm) transparent cathode and an aqueous solution ZnO electron extraction layer processed at low temperature are investigated in this work. The blend of low bandgap poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl]] (PTB7) and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methylester (PC71BM) is employed as the photoactive layer here. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.55% is achieved for such indium tin oxide- (ITO-) free OSCs under AM 1.5G simulated illumination, comparable to that of ITO-based reference OSCs (PCE of 6.11%). It is found that this ZnO interlayer not only slightly enhances the transparency of MoO3/Ag cathode but also obtains a lower root-mean-square (RMS) roughness on the MoO3/Ag surface. Meanwhile, ITO-free OSCs also show a good stability. The PCE of the devices still remains above 85% of the original values after 30 days, which is slightly superior to ITO-based reference OSCs where the 16% degradation in PCE is observed after 30 days. It may be instructive for further research of OSCs based on metal thin film electrodes.

scholarly journals Organic solar cells using few-walled carbon nanotubes electrode controlled by the balance between sheet resistance and the transparency

2009 ◽  
Vol 94 (12) ◽  
pp. 123302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyu Feng ◽  
Xiaohui Ju ◽  
Wei Feng ◽  
Hongbo Zhang ◽  
Yingwen Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Sheet Resistance ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

scholarly journals Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edigar Muchuweni ◽  
Edwin T. Mombeshora ◽  
Bice S. Martincigh ◽  
Vincent O. Nyamori
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Carrier Transport ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Optical Transmittance ◽  
Interpenetrating Networks ◽  
Research Attention

In recent years, carbon-based materials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have gained intensive research attention in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs) due to their outstanding physicochemical properties, low-cost, environmental friendliness and the natural abundance of carbon. In this regard, the low sheet resistance and high optical transmittance of CNTs enables their application as alternative anodes to the widely used indium tin oxide (ITO), which is toxic, expensive and scarce. Also, the synergy between the large specific surface area and high electrical conductivity of CNTs provides both large donor-acceptor interfaces and conductive interpenetrating networks for exciton dissociation and charge carrier transport. Furthermore, the facile tunability of the energy levels of CNTs provides proper energy level alignment between the active layer and electrodes for effective extraction and transportation of charge carriers. In addition, the hydrophobic nature and high thermal conductivity of CNTs enables them to form protective layers that improve the moisture and thermal stability of OSCs, thereby prolonging the devices’ lifetime. Recently, the introduction of CNTs into OSCs produced a substantial increase in efficiency from ∼0.68 to above 14.00%. Thus, further optimization of the optoelectronic properties of CNTs can conceivably help OSCs to compete with silicon solar cells that have been commercialized. Therefore, this study presents the recent breakthroughs in efficiency and stability of OSCs, achieved mainly over 2018–2021 by incorporating CNTs into electrodes, active layers and charge transport layers. The challenges, advantages and recommendations for the fabrication of low-cost, highly efficient and sustainable next-generation OSCs are also discussed, to open up avenues for commercialization.

scholarly journals Low-temperature synthesis of carbon nanotubes on indium tin oxide electrodes for organic solar cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 524-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Capasso ◽  
Luigi Salamandra ◽  
Aldo Di Carlo ◽  
John Marcus Bell ◽  
Nunzio Motta
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Hole Transport ◽  
Electrical Performance ◽  
Oxide Electrodes

The electrical performance of indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass was improved by including a controlled layer of carbon nanotubes directly on top of the ITO film. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, using ultrathin Fe layers as catalyst. The process parameters (temperature, gas flow and duration) were carefully refined to obtain the appropriate size and density of MWCNTs with a minimum decrease of the light harvesting in the cell. When used as anodes for organic solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), the MWCNT-enhanced electrodes are found to improve the charge-carrier extraction from the photoactive blend, thanks to the additional percolation paths provided by the CNTs. The work function of as-modified ITO surfaces was measured by the Kelvin probe method to be 4.95 eV, resulting in an improved matching to the highest occupied molecular orbital level of the P3HT. This is in turn expected to increase the hole transport and collection at the anode, contributing to the significant increase of current density and open-circuit voltage observed in test cells created with such MWCNT-enhanced electrodes.

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