Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Water soluble polymer/carbon nanotube bulk heterojunction solar cells

  • Photovoltaic Materials and Phenomena Scell-2004
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report the characteristics of polymer/quantum dot solar cells fabricated using a water-soluble polymer and carbon nanotubes in a bulk heterojunction configuration. The water-soluble polythiophene polymer showed significant photoresponse and the potential for use in photovoltaics. The addition of carbon nanotubes to the polymer resulted in an order of magnitude increase in the photoconductivity. Improved charge separation and collection was evidenced by the large difference between light and dark conductivities as well as the increase in both open circuit voltage and short circuit current. Finally, photovoltaic cells using aligned nanotubes showed further improvement in the photoconductivity and IV characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. J. BREEZE, Z. SCHLESINGER, and S. A. CARTER, Phys. Rev. B 64 (2001) 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. T. PIOK, R. SCHROEDER, C. BRANDS, J. R. HEFLIN, G. LEISING, and W. GRAUPNER, Syn. Metals 121 (2001) 1589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. T. RISPENS, A. MEETSMA, R. RITTBERGER, C. J. BRABEC, N. S. SARICIFTCI, and J. C. HUMMELEN, Chem. Comm. (2003) 2116.

  4. H. MATTOUSSI, L. H. RADZILOWSKI, B. O. DABBOUSI, E. L. THOMAS, M. G. BAWENDI, and M. F. RUBNER, J. Appl. Phys. 83 (1998) 7965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. S. B. LEE, T. KATAYAMA, H. KAJII, A. ARAKI, and K. YOSHINO, Syn. Metals 121 (2001) 1591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. E. KYMAKIS, and G. A. J. AMARATUNGA, Solar Eng. Mat. Solar Cells 80 (2003) 465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. N. C. GREENHAM, X. PENG, and A. P. ALIVISATOS, in Proceedings of Future Generation Photovoltaic Technologies: First NREL Conference, A CdSe Nanocrystal/MEH-PPV Polymer Composite Photovoltaic (1997) p. 295.

  8. J. NELSON, Materials Today 5 (2002) 20.

    Google Scholar 

  9. W. U. HUYNH, X. PENG, and A. P. ALIVISATOS,Adv. Mater. 11 (1999) 923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. A. C. ARANGO, S. A. CARTER, and P. J. BROCK, Appl. Phys. Lett. 74 (1999) 1698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. G. YU, and A. J. HEEGER, J. Appl. Phys. 78 (1995) 4510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. N. C. GREENHAM, X. PENG, and A. P. ALIVISATOS, Phys. Rev. B 54 (1996) 17628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. American Dye Source, Water Soluble Thiophene Polymer, http://www.adsdyes.com/OLEDS/ads2000p.pdf (2004).

  14. S. BANDA, Z. OUNAIES, J. WILKINSON, C. PARK, and J. HARRISON, in Proceedings of the SPIE, Aligned Carbon Nanotube-Polymer Composites: Investigating Their Electrical and Physical Characteristics (2004) p. 5387.

  15. P. COLLINS, and P. AVOURIS, Sci. Amer. 283 (2000) 62.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sigma-Aldrich, 519308 Carbon Nanotube, Single-Walled, http://www.sigmaaldrich.com (2004).

  17. E. KYMAKIS, and G. A. J. AMARATUNGA, Appl. Phys. Lett. 80 (2002) 112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. E. KYMAKIS, I. ALEXANDROU, and G. A. J. AMARATUNGA, J. Appl. Phys. 93 (2003) 1764.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Conversion Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, P. O. Box 843015, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA

    J. A. Rud, L. S. Lovell, J. W. Senn, Qiquan Qiao & J. T. Mcleskey Jr.

Authors
  1. J. A. Rud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. S. Lovell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. W. Senn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qiquan Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. T. Mcleskey Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. T. Mcleskey Jr..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rud, J.A., Lovell, L.S., Senn, J.W. et al. Water soluble polymer/carbon nanotube bulk heterojunction solar cells. J Mater Sci 40, 1455–1458 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-005-0582-2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-005-0582-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation