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Published on: November 5, 2014
Aligned carbon nanotubes for high-efficiency Schottky solar cells
Jiangtao Di1, Zhenzhong Yong, Xinhe Zheng
1Key Laboratory of Nanodevices and Applications Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|March 7, 2013
Summary
Aligned carbon nanotube-silicon (CNT-Si) Schottky solar cells offer a low-cost, high-efficiency solution. This fabrication method achieves 10.5% power conversion efficiency (PCE), surpassing other CNT-Si designs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Silicon Schottky solar cells are crucial for renewable energy.
- Improving their efficiency and cost-effectiveness remains a key challenge.
- Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer unique electronic properties for solar cell applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel fabrication method for carbon nanotube-silicon (CNT-Si) Schottky solar cells.
- To enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of CNT-Si solar cells.
- To demonstrate a scalable and reproducible fabrication process.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of CNT-Si Schottky solar cells using aligned double-walled CNTs drawn from a CNT array.
- Formation of high CNT-Si junction density.
- Optimization of charge-transport paths within the solar cell structure.
Main Results:
- Achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.5%.
- Demonstrated superior performance compared to cells using pristine or random CNT networks.
- Confirmed the scalability of the fabrication process.
- Observed minimal PCE fluctuations across cells fabricated in a single batch.
Conclusions:
- Aligned CNTs significantly improve CNT-Si Schottky solar cell performance.
- The demonstrated fabrication approach is scalable and yields consistent results.
- This method presents a promising pathway for low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy conversion.
