Rational design of highly efficient flexible and transparent p-type composite electrode based on single-walled carbon nanotubes. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rajanna, Pramod M.; Meddeb, Hosni; Sergeev, Oleg; Tsapenko, Alexey P.; Bereznev, Sergei; Vehse, Martin; Volobujeva, Olga; Danilson, Mati; Lund, Peter D.; Nasibulin, Albert G.
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 67(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Transparent p-type electrode -- Flexible -- Single-walled carbon nanotubes -- Composite -- Hybrid thin film solar cells; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104183
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Transparent electrodes are of great importance in electronics and energy technologies. At present, transparent conductive oxides are mainly n-type conductors dominating the market and have restricted the technological advancements. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have recently emerged as promising p-type transparent conductor owing to their superior hole mobility, conductivity, transparency, flexibility and possibility to tune the work function. Here, we develop a novel rational design of p-type flexible transparent conductive film (TCF) based on SWCNTs combined with poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), molybdenum oxide and SWCNT fibers. In a configuration of SWCNTs-MoO3 -PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT fibers, we achieved a record equivalent sheet resistance of 17 Ω/sq with a transmittance of 90% at 550 nm and a high degree of flexibility. We demonstrate that our solar cells developed on the basis of the proposed electrode and hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) yield an outstanding short-circuit current density of J sc = 15.03 mA/cm 2 and a record power conversion efficiency of PCE = 8.8% for SWCNTs/a-Si:H hybrid solar cells. We anticipate that this novel rationally designed p-type TCF opens a new avenue in widespread energy technologies, where high hole conductivity and transparency of the material are prerequisites for their successful implementation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Novel p-type flexible transparent conductive film (TCF). Record low equivalent sheet resistance of 17 Ω/sq at 90% transmittance. Mechanical flexibility with ≤ 5% change in resistance. Hybrid solar cell with p-type TCF and a-Si:H with record efficiency of 8.8%.