Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T07:09:39.268Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Synthesis of low energy sensitive hybrid photovoltaic cells using carbon nanotubes: A 3D application device

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2017

Phong Tran Hoang ,
Sayeeda T.J. Aishee ,
Glenn Grissom ,
Ahmed Touhami ,
H. Justin Moore  and
M. Jasim Uddin
Phong Tran Hoang
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7772 Fax: 956-882-6692
Sayeeda T.J. Aishee
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7772 Fax: 956-882-6692
Glenn Grissom
Affiliation:
Department of Physics The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7772 Fax: 956-882-6692
Ahmed Touhami
Affiliation:
Department of Physics The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7772 Fax: 956-882-6692
H. Justin Moore
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7772 Fax: 956-882-6692
M. Jasim Uddin*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7772 Fax: 956-882-6692
*
*Corresponding Author: Email [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Over the last 30 years organic carbon nanotube-yarn (CNTY) based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received considerable interest. CNTY based DSSCs have become a main focus of alternative energy source research. CNTY based PV cells have an advantage over cells based on non-flexible substrates, such as fluorine doped tin oxide glass; as a foundation for dye-sensitized solar cells, CNTYs are superior due to their low-cost, environmental sustainability, high mechanical integrity, and numerous beneficial practical applications. CNTY based DSSCs also have additional advantages because of their low electrical resistance, excellent electrocatalytic activity, and ultra-high mechanical integrity. Additionally, quantum dots and polymers have shown great promise for photovoltalic application due to their tunable bandgap and wide photon absorption range. This research explores the barrier characteristics associated with new absorbing photovoltaic materials that promote electron/hole pair separation and transportation. Utilizing the hybrid bandgap structures of quantum dots and polymers as well as the flexibility of CNTY, we reported a 3D flexible DSSC with an efficiency of 2.9%.

Keywords

photovoltaicenergy generationhydrothermal
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 2 , Issue 14: Nanomaterials , 2017 , pp. 791 - 798
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

O’Regan, B. and Grätzel, M., “A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films,” Nature, vol. 353, no. 6346, pp. 737–740, Oct. 1991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Che, G., Lakshmi, B. B., Fisher, E. R., and Martin, C. R., “Carbon nanotubule membranes for electrochemical energy storage and production,” Nature, vol. 393, no. 6683, pp. 346–349, May 1998.Google Scholar
Niu, C., Sichel, E. K., Hoch, R., Moy, D., and Tennent, H., “High power electrochemical capacitors based on carbon nanotube electrodes,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 70, no. 11, pp. 1480–1482, 1997.Google Scholar
Guldi, D. M., “Nanometer scale carbon structures for charge-transfer systems and photovoltaic applications,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., vol. 9, no. 12, pp. 1400–1420, Mar. 2007.Google Scholar
Zhang, Q., Huang, J.-Q., Zhao, M.-Q., Qian, W.-Z., and Wei, F., “Carbon nanotube mass production: principles and processes,” ChemSusChem, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 864–889, Jul. 2011.Google Scholar
Yan, J., Uddin, M. J., Dickens, T. J., and Okoli, O. I., “Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enrich the solar cells,” Sol. Energy, vol. 96, pp. 239–252, Oct. 2013.Google Scholar
Batmunkh, M., Biggs, M. J., and Shapter, J. G., “Carbon Nanotubes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” Small, vol. 11, no. 25, pp. 2963–2989, Jul. 2015.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uddin, M. J. et al. ., “A high efficiency 3D photovoltaic microwire with carbon nanotubes (CNT)-quantum dot (QD) hybrid interface: A high efficiency 3D photovoltaic microwire with carbon nanotubes (CNT)-quantum dot (QD) hybrid interface,” Phys. Status Solidi RRL - Rapid Res. Lett., vol. 8, no. 11, pp. 898–903, Nov. 2014.Google Scholar
Yan, J., Uddin, M. J., Dickens, T. J., Daramola, D. E., and Okoli, O. I., “3D Wire-Shaped Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells in Solid State Using Carbon Nanotube Yarns with Hybrid Photovoltaic Structure,” Adv. Mater. Interfaces, vol. 1, no. 6, Sep. 2014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papageorgiou, N., “Counter-electrode function in nanocrystalline photoelectrochemical cell configurations,” Coord. Chem. Rev., vol. 248, no. 13–14, pp. 1421–1446, Jul. 2004.Google Scholar
Murakami, T. N. and Grätzel, M., “Counter electrodes for DSC: Application of functional materials as catalysts,” Inorganica Chim. Acta, vol. 361, no. 3, pp. 572–580, Feb. 2008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, T. et al., “Intertwined Aligned Carbon Nanotube Fiber Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” Nano Lett., vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 2568–2572, May 2012.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, Y.-L., Chi, C.-F., and Liau, S.-Y., “CdS/CdSe Co-Sensitized TiO 2 Photoelectrode for Efficient Hydrogen Generation in a Photoelectrochemical Cell †,” Chem. Mater., vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 922–927, Feb. 2010.Google Scholar
Kim, D. H. et al. ., “Enhancement of Field-Effect Mobility Due to Surface-Mediated Molecular Ordering in Regioregular Polythiophene Thin Film Transistors,” Adv. Funct. Mater., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 77–82, Jan. 2005.Google Scholar
Manuel Stephan, A. and Teeters, D., “Charge–discharge studies on a lithium cell composed of PVdF-HFP polymer membranes prepared by phase inversion technique with a nanocomposite cathode,” J. Power Sources, vol. 119–121, pp. 460–464, Jun. 2003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uddin, M. J. et al. ., “Photoactive TiO2 films on cellulose fibres: synthesis and characterization,” J. Photochem. Photobiol. Chem., vol. 189, no. 2–3, pp. 286–294, Jun. 2007.Google Scholar
Uddin, M. J., Dickens, T., Yan, J., Chirayath, R., Olawale, D. O., and Okoli, O. I., “Solid state dye-sensitized photovoltaic micro-wires (DSPMs) with carbon nanotubes yarns as counter electrode: Synthesis and characterization,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, vol. 108, pp. 65–69, Jan. 2013.Google Scholar
Wright, M. and Uddin, A., “Organic—inorganic hybrid solar cells: A comparative review,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, vol. 107, pp. 87–111, Dec. 2012.Google Scholar
Pawar, S. A. et al. ., “Quantum dot sensitized solar cell based on TiO2/CdS/CdSe/ZnS heterostructure,” Electrochimica Acta, vol. 203, pp. 74–83, Jun. 2016.Google Scholar
Lee, Y.-L., Huang, B.-M., and Chien, H.-T., “Highly Efficient CdSe-Sensitized TiO 2 Photoelectrode for Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell Applications,” Chem. Mater., vol. 20, no. 22, pp. 6903–6905, Nov. 2008.Google Scholar
Uddin, M. J., Davies, B., Dickens, T. J., and Okoli, O. I., “Self-aligned carbon nanotubes yarns (CNY) with efficient optoelectronic interface for microyarn shaped 3D photovoltaic cells,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, vol. 115, pp. 166–171, Aug. 2013.Google Scholar
Fan, X. et al. ., “Wire-Shaped Flexible Dye-sensitized Solar Cells,” Adv. Mater., vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 592–595, Feb. 2008.Google Scholar
Fan, X. et al. ., “Fibrous flexible solid-type dye-sensitized solar cells without transparent conducting oxide,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 92, no. 11, p. 113510, 2008.Google Scholar