scholarly journals Gas Sensing with Solar Cells: The Case of NH3 Detection through Nanocarbon/Silicon Hybrid Heterojunctions

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2303
Author(s):  
Giovanni Drera ◽  
Sonia Freddi ◽  
Tiziano Freddi ◽  
Andrea De Poli ◽  
Stefania Pagliara ◽  
...  

Photovoltaic (PV) cells based on single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/silicon (Si) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/Si junctions were tested under exposure to NH3 in the 0–21 ppm concentration range. The PV cell parameters remarkably changed upon NH3 exposure, suggesting that these junctions, while being operated as PV cells, can react to changes in the environment, thereby acting as NH3 gas sensors. Indeed, by choosing the open-circuit voltage, VOC, parameter as read-out, it was found that these cells behaved as gas sensors, operating at room temperature with a response higher than chemiresistors developed on the same layers. The sensitivity was further increased when the whole current–voltage (I–V) curve was collected and the maximum power values were tracked upon NH3 exposure.

2003 ◽  
Vol 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Guimard ◽  
N. Bodereau ◽  
J. Kurdi ◽  
J.F. Guillemoles ◽  
D. Lincot ◽  
...  

AbstractCuInSe2 and Cu(In, Ga)Se2 precursor layers have been prepared by electrodeposition, with morphologies suitable for device completion. These precursor films were transformed into photovoltaic quality films after thermal annealing without any post-additional vacuum deposition process. Depending on the preparation parameters annealed films with different band gaps between 1eV and 1.5 eV have been prepared. The dependence of resulting solar cell parameters has been investigated. The best efficiency achieved is about 10,2 % for a band gap of 1.45 eV. This device presents an open circuit voltage value of 740 mV, in agreement with the higher band gap value. Device characterisations (current-voltage, capacitance-voltage and spectral response analysis) have been performed. Admittance spectroscopy at room temperature indicates the presence of two acceptor traps at 0.3 and 0.43 eV from the valance band with density of the order of 2. 1017 cm-3 eV-1.


2015 ◽  
Vol 654 ◽  
pp. 94-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Yatskiv ◽  
María Verde ◽  
Jan Grym

Arrays of vertically well aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) were prepared on nanostructured ZnO films using a low temperature hydrothermal method. We propose the use of the low cost, environmentally friendly electrophoretic deposition technique (EPD) as seeding procedure, which allows the obtaining of homogeneous, well oriented nanostructured ZnO thin films. ZnO nanorod arrays were covered with graphite in order to prepare graphite/ZnO NRs junctions. These nanostructured junctions showed promising current-voltage rectifying characteristics and gas sensing properties at room temperature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Md. Zahidul Islam ◽  
Shigeki Arata ◽  
Kenya Hayashi ◽  
Atsuki Kobayashi ◽  
Kiichi Niitsu

Solid-state complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible glucose fuel cells, with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films and different amounts of carbon nanotube (wt%) were investigated. Those with a SWCNT content of 3 wt% were found to develop the highest open circuit voltage (OCV) of 400 mV, together with a high electrical conductivity, a power density of 0.53 μW/cm2 and current density of 1.31 μA/cm2. Measurements were performed by dipping the anode into a 30 mM glucose solution. The OCV and power density increased together with the fuel cell concentration. The developed fuel cell uses materials that are biocompatible with the human body (single-walled carbon nanotube-glucose). As a result, it was possible to attain an OCV of 400 mV with a single-walled carbon nanotube content of 3 wt% while improvements in the performance of the CMOS-compatible glucose fuel cell were obtained, and the parameters affecting the performance of the fuel cell were identified. This bio-fuel cell was fabricated using CMOS semiconductor processes on a silicon wafer. These findings are significant to realizing mobile or implantable devices that can be used for biomedical applications.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgi Xosrovashvili ◽  
Nima E. Gorji

The performance and characteristics of a hybrid heterojunction single-walled carbon nanotube and GaAs solar cell are modelled and numerically simulated using AMPS-1D device simulation tool. The device physics and performance with different junction parameters are analysed. The results suggest that the open-circuit voltage changes very slightly by changing the electron affinity, acceptor and donor density while the other electrical parameters reach an optimum value. Increasing the concentration of a discrete defect density in the absorber layer decreases the electrical parameters. The current-voltage characteristics, quantum efficiency, band gap, and thickness variation of the photovoltaic response will be quantitatively considered.


2005 ◽  
Vol 862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koeng Su Lim ◽  
Joong Hwan Kwak ◽  
Seong Won Kwon ◽  
Seung Yeop Myong

AbstractWe have developed highly stabilized (p-i-n)-type protocrystalline silicon (pc-Si:H) multilayer solar cells. However, the source of the superior light-induced stability of the pc-Si:H multilayer absorbers compared to conventional amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) absorbers remains unclear. Photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measured at room temperature produce strong evidence that nano-sized silicon grains embedded in regularly arranged highly H2-diluted sublayers suppress the photocreation of dangling bonds. To achieve a high conversion efficiency, we applied a double-layer p-type amorphous siliconcarbon alloy (p-a-Si1-xCx:H) structure to the pc-Si:H multilayer solar cells. The less pronounced initial short wavelength quantum efficiency variation as a function of bias voltage, and the wide overlap of dark current - voltage (JD-V) and short-circuit current - open-circuit voltage (Jsc-Voc) characteristics prove that the double p-a-Si1-xCx:H layer structure successfully reduces recombination at the p/i interface. Thus, we achieved a highly stabilized efficiency of 9.0 % without any back reflector.


2007 ◽  
Vol 124-126 ◽  
pp. 1173-1176
Author(s):  
Hong Quang Nguyen ◽  
Shao Lin Zhang ◽  
Gi Hong Rue ◽  
Jeung Soo Huh

The paper presents the effect of acid treatment on the structure of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles and on the characteristics of SWNT-based gas sensors. The commercial SWNT powder was treated with a mixture of concentrated H2SO4:HNO3 (3:1 in volume) before used to fabricate sensors for ammonia (NH3) detection at room temperature. The Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images indicated that the acid treatment not only removed most of catalytic particles from the SWNT bundles, but also caused SWNT bundles to be fragile. The fracture of the SWNT facilitated for gas molecules to adsorb in the SWNT sites, leading to an enhancement in sensitivity of the sensors. Upon exposing to 50 ppm NH3 in 450 sccm of nitrogen flowing rate at room temperature, the resistance of the 2-h-stirred sensors increased to 38% compared to 22% of the 1-h-stirred sensor. The recovery of the SWNT sensor was also accelerated owing to the treatment. These findings opened a new direction to improve the characteristics of SWNT-based gas sensors.


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