Single-wall carbon nanotubes chemically modified with cysteamine and their application in polymer solar cells: influence of the chemical modification on device performance.
In order to improve the dispersion of single-wall carbon nanotubes in a matrix of poly(3-hexylthiophene), this paper reports the modification of single-wall carbon nanotubes with COOH groups followed by reaction with cysteamine that introduced thiol groups along the tubes. The resulting modified single-wall carbon nanotubes were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The modified carbon nanotubes were applied, in combination with poly(3-hexylthiophene), in a bulk heterojunction solar cell. After passing through a post-treatment process to obtain debundied modified single-wall carbon nanotubes, solar cells with improved performance were obtained. After the treatment sequence, both the open circuit voltage and short-circuit current increased in comparison to the non-treated modified single-wall carbon nanotubes polymer solar cells.
Conturbia
Giovanni
G
Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Solar Energy, Institute of Chemistry, PO Box 6154, University of Campinas-UNICAMP 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Vinhas
Rita de Cássia G
Rde C
Landers
Richard
R
Valente
Gustavo M S
GM
Baranauskas
Vitor
V
Nogueira
Ana Flávia
AF