Home > Press > Nanotube composites increase the efficiency of next generation of solar cells
![]() |
The high degree of control of the method enables production of highly efficient nanotube networks with a very small amount of nanotubes compared to other conventional methods, thereby strongly reducing materials costs. |
Abstract:
Carbon nanotubes are becoming increasingly attractive for photovoltaic solar cells as a replacement to silicon. Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have discovered that controlled placement of the carbon nanotubes into nano-structures produces a huge boost in electronic performance. Their groundbreaking results are published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials.
Carbon nanotubes, CNTs, are one dimensional nanoscale cylinders made of carbon atoms that possess very unique properties. For example, they have very high tensile strength and exceptional electron mobility, which make them very attractive for the next generation of organic and carbon-based electronic devices.
There is an increasing trend of using carbon based nanostructured materials as components in solar cells. Due to their exceptional properties, carbon nanotubes are expected to enhance the performance of current solar cells through efficient charge transport inside the device. However, in order to obtain the highest performance for electronic applications, the carbon nanotubes must be assembled into a well-ordered network of interconnecting nanotubes. Unfortunately, conventional methods used today are far from optimal which results in low device performance.
In a new study, a team of physicists and chemists at Umeå University have joined forces to produce nano-engineered carbon nanotubes networks with novel properties.
For the first time, the researchers show that carbon nanotubes can be engineered into complex network architectures, and with controlled nano-scale dimensions inside a polymer matrix.
"We have found that the resulting nano networks possess exceptional ability to transport charges, up to 100 million times higher than previously measured carbon nanotube random networks produced by conventional methods," says Dr David Barbero, leader of the project and assistant professor at the Department of Physics at Umeå University.
In a previous study (Applied Physics Letters, Volume 103, Issue 2, 021116 (2013)) the research team of David R. Barbero already demonstrated that nano-engineered networks can be produced onto thin and flexible transparent electrodes that can be used in flexible solar cells. These new results are expected to accelerate the development of next generation of flexible carbon based solar cells, which are both more efficient and less expensive to produce.
Editor: Ingrid Söderbergh
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
David Barbero
46-070-210-7705
Copyright © Umea University
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related Links |
Related News Press |
News and information
Quantum Optimization: Computer scientist Yufei Ding receives NSF Early CAREER Award to advance efforts to improve quantum applications January 21st, 2021
Bringing Atoms to a Standstill: NIST Miniaturizes Laser Cooling January January 21st, 2021
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals to Webcast Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results January 20th, 2021
Nanotubes/Buckyballs/Fullerenes/Nanorods
Nanomaterials researchers in Finland, the United States and China have created a color atlas for 466 unique varieties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. December 14th, 2020
Chemists get peek at novel fluorescence: Rice University scientists discover delayed phenomenon in carbon nanotubes December 3rd, 2020
Synthesis of organophilic carbon nanodots with multi-band emission from tomato leaves August 21st, 2020
Rescue operations become faster thanks to graphene nanotubes August 20th, 2020
Discoveries
Bringing Atoms to a Standstill: NIST Miniaturizes Laser Cooling January January 21st, 2021
Scientists synthetize new material for high-performance supercapacitors January 19th, 2021
Scientists' discovery is paving the way for novel ultrafast quantum computers January 15th, 2021
Announcements
Quantum Optimization: Computer scientist Yufei Ding receives NSF Early CAREER Award to advance efforts to improve quantum applications January 21st, 2021
Bringing Atoms to a Standstill: NIST Miniaturizes Laser Cooling January January 21st, 2021
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals to Webcast Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results January 20th, 2021
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Bringing Atoms to a Standstill: NIST Miniaturizes Laser Cooling January January 21st, 2021
Scientists synthetize new material for high-performance supercapacitors January 19th, 2021
Energy
USTC develops ultrahigh-performance plasmonic metal-oxide materials January 11th, 2021
Controlling the nanoscale structure of membranes is key for clean water, researchers find January 1st, 2021
Bionic idea boosts lithium-ion extraction January 1st, 2021
Record-setting thermoelectric figure of merit achieved for metal oxides December 29th, 2020
Solar/Photovoltaic
USTC develops ultrahigh-performance plasmonic metal-oxide materials January 11th, 2021
Engineers find antioxidants improve nanoscale visualization of polymers January 8th, 2021
Nanomaterials researchers in Finland, the United States and China have created a color atlas for 466 unique varieties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. December 14th, 2020
Chemists get peek at novel fluorescence: Rice University scientists discover delayed phenomenon in carbon nanotubes December 3rd, 2020
![]() |
||
![]() |
||
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
![]() |
![]() |
||
Premium Products | ||
![]() |
||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
![]() |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
![]() |