Carbon nanotube--poly(3-octylthiophene) composite photovoltaic cells.
The effects of varying nanotube loading/concentration in carbon nanotube-poly(3-octylthiophene) blends used as thin film photovoltaic cells, have been studied. The network of single walled nanotubes clearly aids in exciton separation and modifies carrier mobility within the active layer as suggested by a bulk heterojunction model. Further, modifications to the metal-polymer interface occur with the addition of nanotubes leading to variations in the observed VOC of the photovoltaic cells. Finally, the "nanocomposite" devices exhibit significant enhancements to external power conversion efficiencies, with the overall efficiency strongly dependent on device design parameters such as the addition of buffer layers.
Carroll
David L
DL
Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA.
Czerw
Richard
R
Harrison
Benjamin
B
D004553:Electric Conductivity; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008839:Microelectrodes; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D013876:Thiophenes; C088351:poly(3-octylthiophene)