Replacement of transparent conductive oxides by single-wall carbon nanotubes in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2-based solar cells

Miguel A. Contreras; Teresa Barnes; Jao Van De Lagemaat; Garry Rumbles; Timothy J. Coutts; Chris Weeks; Paul Glatkowski; Igor Levitsky; Jorma Peltola; David A. Britz

doi:10.1021/jp075507b

Replacement of transparent conductive oxides by single-wall carbon nanotubes in Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂-based solar cells

Miguel A. Contreras, Teresa Barnes, Jao Van De Lagemaat, Garry Rumbles, Timothy J. Coutts, Chris Weeks, Paul Glatkowski, Igor Levitsky, Jorma Peltola, David A. Britz

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

69 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Thin films of single-wall carbon nanotubes were used as the transparent top electrical contact in Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂-based solar cells. Specifically, we demonstrate that thin layers of carbon nanotubes in combination with insulating polymer layers can effectively replace the metal oxide layers typically used in polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. Replacing the standard n-type ZnO layer with a thin film of carbon nanotubes yielded energy conversion efficiencies up to 13%. The optical and electrical transport properties of the single-wall carbon nanotubes suggest that suitable applications for these materials include multiple-junction solar cells, thermophotovoltaics, and other applications benefiting from a p-type transparent conductor with high near-infrared transmission.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	14045-14048
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume	111
Issue number	38
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/jp075507b
Publication status	Published - Sep 27 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Energy(all)
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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Replacement of transparent conductive oxides by single-wall carbon nanotubes in Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂-based solar cells. / Contreras, Miguel A.; Barnes, Teresa; Van De Lagemaat, Jao; Rumbles, Garry; Coutts, Timothy J.; Weeks, Chris; Glatkowski, Paul; Levitsky, Igor; Peltola, Jorma; Britz, David A.

In: Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 111, No. 38, 27.09.2007, p. 14045-14048.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Contreras, Miguel A. ; Barnes, Teresa ; Van De Lagemaat, Jao ; Rumbles, Garry ; Coutts, Timothy J. ; Weeks, Chris ; Glatkowski, Paul ; Levitsky, Igor ; Peltola, Jorma ; Britz, David A. / Replacement of transparent conductive oxides by single-wall carbon nanotubes in Cu(In,Ga)Se ₂-based solar cells. In: Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2007 ; Vol. 111, No. 38. pp. 14045-14048.

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AU - Coutts, Timothy J.

AU - Weeks, Chris

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