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Carbon Nanotubes in Polymer Photovoltaic Cells: Enhancing Efficiency and Performance

This article presents the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymer photovoltaic cells (PPCs) and discusses the science, design, and fabrication procedures involved. It also explores the potential advantages and current disadvantages of using CNTs in PPCs and outlines the goals and results of the research. Future work and market projections for photovoltaics are also addressed.

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Carbon Nanotubes in Polymer Photovoltaic Cells: Enhancing Efficiency and Performance

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  1. JESUS GUARDADO, LEAH NATION, HUY NGUYEN, TINA RO The Effect of Carbon Nanotubes in Polymer Photovoltaic Cells May 13, 2010

  2. Overview of Market • Goal of Project • Science & Design of Cell • Fabrication Procedures • Results • Analysis • Future Work Agenda

  3. Current Market Projection for Photovoltaics • Investments on the rise • Photovoltatic capacity is increasing • Avg growth rate >40% for past 5 years

  4. Increased market focus on diversifying solar technologies • Potential fabrication advantages • Low processing temperature • Printable • Unique application possibilities • Light weight • Flexible • Current disadvantages • Lifetime instability • Lower efficiency Our Focus: Polymer Photovoltaic Cells (PPC)

  5. Polymer Photovoltaic Cell Efficiency Growth 24.7% 20.3% Crystalline Si Cells (Single and Multi-crystalline) 12.1% Thin-Film Technologies (Amorphous Si:H) Organic Photovoltaics 5.4%

  6. Project Goals • Add carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to increase cell photovoltaic response • Make functional cells to validate photoresponse mechanism • Match current polymer photovoltaic cell (PPC) cell efficiency

  7. SWCNT at 80,000x • Single-walled carbon nanotubes • Large surface area • High e- affinity • Aids cells • Improve carrier transport • Induces crystallinity • Cost: +$8 per m2 Focus: sw-CNTs

  8. Cell Design • Based on past research • Cell parts: • Active layer (with CNTs) • Charge acceptors • Electrodes FTO – Fluoride Tin Oxide

  9. How It Works: • Photons => Exitons • Carbon Nanotubes: • Charge transport • Facilitate disassociation

  10. How It Works: Electron => TiO2 Hole => PEDOT

  11. How It Works: Electrodes accept charges

  12. 1 2 3 Procedures Prepare Solutions Fabricate Samples Test Samples

  13. Preparing the Solutions Evolution of the solutions Mix P3HT and solvent Add varying conc. of CNTs CNTs => main variable Sonicate & centrifuge to debundle CNTs

  14. Device Fabrication Taping pix here Prepare substrate Clean FTO substrate Separate layers with tape Spin Coat Must optimize rpm 800 rpm for thick layers 1200 rpm for thin layers Deposit top electrode Thermal vapor deposition

  15. Fabricated Cell

  16. Tests UV-Vis on solutions Confirms semiconductor properties Open circuit voltage No light vs desk lamp Tests for photoresponse IV-Curve Determines cell performance

  17. UV-Vis Spectroscopy • samples with CNTs show increased photo-response compared to control cells • absorption increases as the wt% CNTs increases

  18. CNT Concentration vs. Voc Trend

  19. I-V Curves • Observed Behavior • Resistors • Short circuit • Desired Behavior • Diode

  20. Typical IV curve of our samples • The symmetry about the 0V axis implies there is no bias in electron/hole travel IV Curves: Round I Sample 4, Concentration 1 Fabrication: 4/6 Testing: 4/14, 4/27

  21. IV Curve: Round II

  22. Verified Expectations Summary Sources of Error Geng, J.; Zeng, T. Journal of the American Chemical Society2006, 128, 16827-16833.  

  23. Future Work • Materials • Investigate the effects of the TiO2 layer • Study alternative materials to P3HT • Explore different materials for the heterostructure’s layers Fabrication & Testing • Experiment with the engineering parameters for fabrication • Standardize testing

  24. Acknowledgements Helen Zeng  Yin-lin Xie   Jill Rowehl Prof. Yet-Ming Chiang 3.042 – Materials Project Laboratory Staff Facilities: Institute of Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) Organic Nanostructure Electronics (ONE) Lab

  25. Thank you. Questions?You may reach us at nanosol@mit.eduhttp://web.mit.edu/course/3/3.042/team1_10

  26. Appendix

  27. Renewable Energy Comparison

  28. Current Progress & Future Schedule

  29. Cost Estimation $/gram mg/mL L/slide slides/meter $/meter 100 0.1875 0.0001 4444.44 8.33 PRODUCTION COSTS, to be added to other company's approximation of $/meter CNT $ 15-20% cnts

  30. Profilometry: Ag/TiO2 Border Image Silver TiO2

  31. Profilometry: Active Layer/PEDOT Image ACTIVE LAYER PEDOT

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