Synthesis of low energy sensitive hybrid photovoltaic cells using carbon nanotubes: A 3D application device
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Synthesis of low energy sensitive hybrid photovoltaic cells using carbon nanotubes: A 3D application device Phong Tran Hoang a, Sayeeda T.J. Aishee a, Glenn Grissomb, Ahmed Touhamib, H. Justin Moorea, M. Jasim Uddin *a aDepartment
of Chemistry and bDepartment of Physics 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]
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 dyesensitized 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%.
INTRODUCTION Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are considered as a class of thin film solar cells, which were first developed by Gratzel and Regan in 1991[1]. The low material cost and simple fabrication associated with DSSCs show great potential for affordable manufacturing and allowing for large-scale implementation of solar energy harvesting. Nonetheless, conventional DSSCs still have low efficiency while traditional flat FTO substrates with high efficiency are rigid and have a high fabrication costs. Multiple attempts have been made to bring down the cost of DSSCs and increase the flexibility while still maintaining the efficiency using advanced materials such as carbon nanotube-yarn (CNTY), quantum dots (QDs) and solid electrolytes.
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CNTs have been known for their high surface area, electrochemical activity, optoelectronic properties, electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance[2]–[4]. Moreover, CNTs are suitable materials for flexible devices and are also available for mass production[5]. Due to their excellent physical and chemical properties, CNTs have been applied to almost all components of DSSCs to boost the performance and reduce t
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