Abstract
We present the photovoltaic properties of heterojunctions made from single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) fibers and n-type silicon wafers. The use of the opaque SWNT fiber allows photo-generated holes to transport along the axis direction of the fiber. The heterojunction solar cells show conversion efficiencies of up to 3.1% (actual) and 10.6% (nominal) at AM1.5 condition. In addition, the use of strong, environmentally benign carbon nanotube fibers provides excellent structural stability of the photovoltaic devices.
Highlights
As a symbolic nanomaterial, carbon nanotube (CNT) with unique properties like high strength, high electrical conductivity, and chemical inertness has found important applications in optoelectronics [1], being an ideal candidate for various components in photovoltaic devices [2]
Our recent work on CNT/Si heterojunction solar cells [4,5] have stimulated a series of studies on the photovoltaic properties of various heterostructures, including CNT/Si [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16], CNT/CdTe [17], and graphene/Si Schottky junctions [18,19]
The single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) fiber became stronger and tougher thanks to the closer contact and improved load transfer between nanotubes due to the enhanced van der Waals forces and friction, which is consistent with previously reported results [27,29,30]
Summary
Carbon nanotube (CNT) with unique properties like high strength, high electrical conductivity, and chemical inertness has found important applications in optoelectronics [1], being an ideal candidate for various components in photovoltaic devices [2]. Our recent work on CNT/Si heterojunction solar cells [4,5] have stimulated a series of studies on the photovoltaic properties of various heterostructures, including CNT/Si [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16], CNT/CdTe [17], and graphene/Si Schottky junctions [18,19] Among these devices, the CNT film serves multiple functions as a hole collector, charge transport path, and transparent electrode.
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