title: Wiring-up carbon single wall nanotubes to polycrystalline inorganic semiconductor thin films: low-barrier, copper-free back contact to CdTe solar cells.
abstract: We have discovered that films of carbon single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) make excellent back contacts to CdTe devices without any modification to the CdTe surface. Efficiencies of SWNT-contacted devices are slightly higher than otherwise identical devices formed with standard Au/Cu back contacts. The SWNT layer is thermally stable and easily applied with a spray process, and SWNT-contacted devices show no signs of degradation during accelerated life testing.
authors.affiliation: Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio 43606, United States.
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Rajendra R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Khanal
authors.forename: Zhaoning
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zartman
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: DeWitt
authors.forename: Jon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Victor V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Plotnikov
authors.forename: Chad W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stayancho
authors.forename: Randall J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ellingson
authors.forename: Alvin D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Compaan
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Heben