Application of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes as Transparent Electrodes in Cu(In,Ga)Se2-Based Solar Cells: Preprint

Conference · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279481· OSTI ID:891545

Contreras, M; Barnes, T; van de Lagemaat, J; Rumbles, G; Coutts, T J; Weeks, C; Glatkowski, P; Levitsky, I; Peltola, J

We present a new thin-film solar cell structure in which the traditional transparent conductive oxide electrode (ZnO) is replaced by a transparent conductive coating consisting of a network of bundled single-wall carbon nanotubes. Optical transmission properties of these coatings are presented in relation to their electrical properties (sheet resistance), along with preliminary solar cell results from devices made using CuIn1-xGaxSe2 thin-film absorber materials. Achieving an energy conversion efficiency of >12% and a quantum efficiency of {approx}80% demonstrate the feasibility of the concept. A discussion of the device structures will be presented considering the physical properties of the new electrodes comparing current-voltage results from the new solar cell structure and those from standard ZnO/CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2/Mo solar cells.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99-GO10337
• OSTI ID: 891545
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-39914; TRN: US200622%%87
• Resource Relation: Conference: Presented at the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-4), 7-12 May 2006, Waikoloa, Hawaii
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON
COATINGS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ENERGY CONVERSION
NANOTUBES
OXIDES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
SOLAR CELLS
CARBON NANOTUBES
TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE OXIDE (TCO)
THIN FILM
ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY
DEVICE
FREE CARRIER CONCENTRATION
Solar Energy - Photovoltaics