Fullerene (C60) decoration in oxygen plasma treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes for photovoltaic application

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were functionalized by oxygen plasma treatment. Photoelectron spectroscopy study of oxygen plasma treated MWNTs (O-MWNTs) shows surface modification with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. C60 decoration of MWNTs were carried out by thermal evaporation and more dense distribution of C60 was achieved on O-MWNTs. C60 decorated MWNTs were combined with poly(3-octylthiophene) for photovoltaic device fabrication. The device with C60 decorated O-MWNTs shows short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor, and power conversion efficiency (η) as 1.68mA∕cm2, 0.245V, 27%, and 0.11%, respectively. It is expected that C60 provide large surface area for photoexcitons dissociation and efficient electron transportation, whereas MWNTs provide efficient hole transportation.

Preparation and Characterization of Biobased Graphene from Kraft Lignin

“…The formation of CNTs could be attributed to the catalysis of iron particles and the decrease of vacuum degree in quartz tube during the cooling process. The grapheneCNTs system has significant technological advantages due to the combination of individual properties of graphene and CNTs in various applications (Kalita et al 2008;Rodríguez-Manzo et al 2009;Lee et al 2010;Zhang et al 2011).…”

Enhancing effect of KMnO4 oxidation of carbon nanotubes network embedded in elastic polyurethane on overall electro-mechanical properties of composite

“…The oxygen plasma treatment of carbon nanotubes preferentially forms hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of nanotubes, so that nanotubes can provide a strong affinity to liquid molecules and self-disperse into a liquid medium [6][7][8]. The plasma treatment has the advantage of being non-polluting and the amount of functional groups grafted on the nanotubes surface can be tailored.…”

High-work-function metal/carbon nanotube/low-work-function metal hybrid junction photovoltaic device

“…However, in these devices, SWNTs only acted as the conductive material or as the transparent electrode that conducted or collected the photogenerated charge carriers. The power conversion efficiency of these cells was low (~0.11%) 3 or was only slightly enhanced compared with that of the traditional cells without SWNTs. 5,6 To fully exploit the properties of SWNTs and produce high-performance photovoltaic devices, it is desirable to use SWNTs as the photosensitive material in the device.…”

“…In addition, they exhibit high carrier mobility and good mechanical strength. SWNTs have been used in some photovoltaic devices such as organic solar cells 3,4 and dye-sensitized solar cells 5,6 to improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency. However, in these devices, SWNTs only acted as the conductive material or as the transparent electrode that conducted or collected the photogenerated charge carriers.…”