Highly Efficient Organic Photovoltaic Cells from Polymer-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Dispersed Heterojunctions

Abstract

As we proposed originally, we have focused on the syntheses of novel vertically-aligned carbon nanotube arrays and conjugated macromolecules for photovoltaic cells. Towards this effort we have developed new synthetic methods for the growth of vertically-aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (VA-SWNTs), semiconducting VA-SWNTs, and muiltcomponent micropatterns of VACNTs. We also designed and synthesized several classes of novel low bandgap photovoltaic active polymers, and polymer-/TiO2-coated VA-CNTs, critical to developing high efficient polymer photovoltaic cells and dye-sensitized solar cells. Polymer photovoltaic cells with 3-D structural features, including bilayer-/homotropically-aligned bulk-heterojunctions, were also developed for an efficient solar absorption and charge separation/collection. Besides, novel N-doped CNT fuel cells, polymer/quantum dot light-emitting diodes, and even CNT Gecko-foot-mimetic dry adhesives, were developed for energy management. This project has led to about 30 journal publications, including two Science and one Nature Nanotechnology papers, and a joint patent application with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA514098

Entities

People

  • Liming Dai

Organizations

  • University of Dayton Research Institute

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Band Gaps
  • Carbon Nanotubes
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemical Vapor Deposition
  • Chemistry
  • Energy Management
  • Fullerenes
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanocomposites
  • Nanotechnology
  • Photovoltaic Effect
  • Quantum Dots
  • Solar Cells
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Quantum Computing