2D MXene: A Potential Candidate for Photovoltaic Cells? A Critical Review

Abstract

The 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides (2D MXenes) are a versatile class of 2D materials for photovoltaic (PV) systems. The numerous advantages of MXenes, including their excellent metallic conductivity, high optical transmittance, solution processability, tunable work-function, and hydrophilicity, make them suitable for deployment in PV technology. This comprehensive review focuses on the synthesis methodologies and properties of MXenes and MXene-based materials for PV systems. Titanium carbide MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ), a well-known member of the MXene family, has been studied in many PV applications. Herein, the effectiveness of Ti 3 C 2 T x as an additive in different types of PV cells, and the synergetic impact of Ti 3 C 2 T x as an interfacial material on the photovoltaic performance of PV cells, are systematically examined. Subsequently, the utilization of Ti 3 C 2 T x as a transparent conductive electrode, and its influence on the stability of the PV cells, are discussed. This review also considers problems that emerged from previous studies, and provides guidelines for the further exploration of Ti 3 C 2 T x and other members of the 2D MXene family in PV technology. This timely study is expected to provide comprehensive understanding of the current status of MXenes, and to set the direction for the future development in 2D material design and processing for PVs.

RETRACTED: Cathode Interlayer Engineering for Efficient Organic Solar Cells under Solar Illumination and Light-Emitting Diode Lamp

“…During the past decade, solution-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) have attracted immense attention for use in a promising renewable energy harvester due to numerous benefits such as cost-effectiveness, high stability, low weight, improved transparency, and scalable processing methods [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Besides, bandgap tuneability, high absorption coefficients, and availability of organic semiconductor materials in range of colors matches well with the spectral response of indoor light sources (light-emitting diode (LED), fluorescent (FL) lamps, etc.)…”

Functionalized MXene Nanosheets and Al-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles for Flexible Transparent Electrodes

“…The work function of MXenes can be increased by a UV ozone treatment and decreased through treatment with hydrazine by the oxidation and reduction of MXenes, respectively. It can be thus tuned in a range from 4.08 to 5.33 eV. − The tunable work function MXene was used to design various photovoltaic cells with Ti 3 C 2 -based ETLs and HTLs, respectively. , A similar phenomenon was observed in the amine (NH 2 )-functionalized self-assembled monolayer of graphene where the work function of graphene was reduced due to the n-doping by amine …”

Recent progress in use of MXene in perovskite solar cells: for interfacial modification, work-function tuning and additive engineering

“…[19][20][21][22] To deal with these issues currently there are many processing approaches in which 2D materials are now employed in the perovskite absorbing layer as well as in the charge extraction layers in PSCs, to improve the compatibility at the interfaces, which has striking impacts on the morphology and photovoltaic performance of the perovskite solar cells. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Nanomaterials with a thickness of at least one atomic layer are known as two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. Many different types of 2D material 30,31 have been used as charge transport materials in PSCs or as additives in perovskite layers to boost the power conversion efficiency and stability.…”