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Different amounts of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been sprayed on amorphous silicon substrates to form Schottky barrier solar cells. The measured external quantum efficiency showed a spectral behavior depending on the SWCNT network optical transparency, presenting a maximum up to 35% at a wavelength of about 460 nm. Ultrathin network of SWCNTs acts as semitransparent electrode and forms Schottky barrier with amorphous silicon, enabling new generation low cost amorphous silicon based solar cells. Numerical simulations show a poor efficiency of SWCNT contacts in collecting holes suggesting that improvement in contact quality is needed to further improve solar cell efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the significant generation of photocurrent (PC) from planar devices built from the drop casting of UV-laser-synthesized single-wall-carbon-nanotubes (SWCNTs) onto n-Si substrate. These SWCNTs/n-Si hybrid devices are shown to generate PC with external quantum efficiencies (EQE) reaching up to ∼10%. Their EQE has been optimized by controlling the amount of deposited SWCNTs, and is shown to be significantly enhanced over all the spectral range with a pronounced boost (up to ∼25× times) around 460 nm. The extension of the photoresponse of these devices toward UV correlates well with the absorbance of SWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the KrF-laser ablation synthesis, purification and photocurrent generation properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The thermally purified SWCNTs are integrated into hybrid photovoltaic (PV) devices by spin-coating them onto n-Si substrates. These novel SWCNTs/n-Si hybrid devices are shown to generate significant photocurrent (PC) over the entire 250–1050 nm light spectrum with external quantum efficiencies (EQE) reaching up to ∼23%. Our SWCNTs/n-Si hybrid devices are not only photoactive in the traditional spectral range of Si solar cells, but generate also significant PC in the UV domain (below 400 nm). This wider spectral response is believed to be the result of PC generation from both the SWCNTs themselves and the tremendous number of local p–n junctions created at the nanotubes/Si interface. To assess the prevalence of these two contributions, the EQE spectra and J–V characteristics of these hybrid devices were investigated in both planar and top-down configurations, as a function of SWCNTs’ film thickness. A sizable increase in EQE in the near UV with respect to the silicon is observed in both configurations, with a more pronounced UV photoresponse in the planar mode, confirming thereby the role of SWCNTs in the photogeneration process. The PC generation is found to reach its maximum for an optimal the SWCNT film thickness, which is shown to correspond to the best trade-off between lowest electrical resistance and highest optical transparency. Finally, by analyzing the J–V characteristics of our SWCNTs/n-Si devices with an equivalent circuit model, we were able to point out the contribution of the various electrical components involved in the photogeneration process. The SWCNTs-based devices demonstrated here open up the prospect for their use in highly effective photovoltaics and/or UV-light sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multiwall carbon nanotubes are found to generate photocurrent in the visible and near ultra violet spectral range using a photoelectrochemical technique. Peaks in the photocurrent are observed at excitation energies in the visible region. Their electron energy loss spectra exhibit the π plasmon feature, typical of graphite layers, and a peak at lower energy. Features at energies between 0 and 4eV have been already observed for single wall carbon nanotubes and ascribed to interband electronic transitions due to the reduced dimensionality of these systems. The present measurements suggest that the usual identification of multiwall carbon nanotubes electronic density of states with that of graphite layers is not sufficient and more theoretical investigations are necessary to shed light on this point. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]