Surface Micro-/Nanotextured Hybrid PEDOT:PSS-Silicon Photovoltaic Cells Employing Kirigami Graphene

Abstract

Kirigami graphene allows a two-dimensional material to transform into a three-dimensional structure, which constitutes an effective transparent electrode candidate for photovoltaic (PV) cells having a surface texture. The surface texture of an inverted pyramid was fabricated on a Si substrate using photolithography and wet etching, followed by metal-assisted chemical etching to obtain silicon nanowires on the surface of the inverted pyramid. Kirigami graphene with a cross-pattern array was prepared using photolithography and plasma etching on a copper foil. Then, kirigami graphene was transferred onto hybrid heterojunction PV cells with a poly­(ethylene terephthalate)/silicone film. These cells consisted of poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly­(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the p-type semiconductor, Si(100) as the inorganic n-type semiconductor, and a silver comb electrode on top of PEDOT:PSS. The conductivity of PEDOT:PSS was greatly improved. This improvement was significantly higher than that achieved by the continuous graphene sheet without a pattern. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy results revealed that the greater improvement with kirigami graphene was due to the larger contact area between PEDOT:PSS and graphene. By using two-layer graphene having a kirigami pattern, the power conversion efficiency, under simulated AM1.5G illumination conditions, was significantly augmented by up to 9.8% (from 10.03 to 11.01%).

Materials for Implantable Surface Electrode Arrays: Current Status and Future Directions

“…[157] Similarly, carbon nanomaterials can be embedded in an elastomer to create carbon-based conductive composites, [158,159] and recently, a combination of graphene and PEDOT:PSS in an elastomeric matrix has been reported to improve conductivity. [160] The mechanical properties of composite electrodes coated with conductive hydrogels can approach the biological range. Both nanoparticles of metals [161][162][163] or conductive clays such as Laponite [78] (Laponite is a trademark of the company BYK Additives Ltd.), and PEDOT:PSS [164][165][166] can be integrated in a hydrogel matrix, most commonly composed of PVA or polyacrylamide.…”

“…[ 157 ] Similarly, carbon nanomaterials can be embedded in an elastomer to create carbon‐based conductive composites, [ 158,159 ] and recently, a combination of graphene and PEDOT:PSS in an elastomeric matrix has been reported to improve conductivity. [ 160 ]…”

“…Substrate materials are typically highly stretchable elastomers, and tend to be 100–200 µm thick to avoid large compression of the underlying tissue. The electrical tracks are designed in either a serpentine fashion [ 97,98 a] or using inspirations of kirigami [ 101,160 ] to minimize the likelihood for mechanical fracture and allow the electrical paths to remain functional when the surface array is stretched. Porous composites are also able to release mechanical stress, and offer enhanced conformability and stretchable behaviors.…”

Design of Silicon Nanowire Array for PEDOT:PSS-Silicon Nanowire-Based Hybrid Solar Cell

“…For nanowire-based hybrid solar cell, the design requirements of the other material are that it should be (i) a p-type material; (ii) able to passivate SiNW surfaces; (iii) is highly transparent and (iv) a highly conductive material. As PEDOT:PSS can fulfill all above requirements therefore it can be referred as the best choice for SiNW p-n junction and is reported by many researchers [36][37][38][39][40]. Each of the above p-n junction types as discussed above have some advantages and disadvantages but practically only the radial p-n junction can favor for the PEDOT:PSS-SiNW hybrid solar cell.…”

Synthesis of a grape-like conductive carbon black/Ag hybrid as the conductive filler for soft silicone rubber

“…Conductive llers including metal nanoparticles, 18 conductive carbon nanomaterials [19][20][21] and conductive polymers [22][23][24][25] can form the conductive network in matrix singly. Metal nanomaterials such as silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) have prominent conductive properties and have been fully researched and applied in microelectronics.…”