Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Networks as a Transparent Back Contact in CdTe Solar Cells

T. M. Barnes; X. Wu; J. Zhou; A. Duda; J. Van De Lagemaat; T. J. Coutts; C. L. Weeks; D. A. Britz; P. Glatkowski

doi:10.1063/1.2748078

Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Networks as a Transparent Back Contact in CdTe Solar Cells

T. M. Barnes, X. Wu, J. Zhou, A. Duda, J. Van De Lagemaat, T. J. Coutts, C. L. Weeks, D. A. Britz, P. Glatkowski

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Abstract

Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) networks form a highly transparent and electrically conductive thin film that can be used to replace traditional transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) in a variety of applications. Here, the authors demonstrate their use as a transparent back contact in a near-infrared (NIR) transparent CdTe solar cell. SWCNT networks are hole-selective conductors and have a significantly greater NIR transparency than TCOs-qualities which could both make them very useful in tandem thin-film solar cells. SWCNT networks can be incorporated into single-junction CdTe devices and in CdTe top cells for mechanically stacked thin-film tandem devices, as described here. The best device efficiency using SWCNTs in the back contact was 12.4%, with 40%-50% transmission between 800 and 1500 nm.

Original language	American English
Article number	Article No. 243503
Number of pages	3
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	90
Issue number	24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2748078 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2748078
State	Published - 2007

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NREL/JA-520-41488

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title = "Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Networks as a Transparent Back Contact in CdTe Solar Cells",

abstract = "Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) networks form a highly transparent and electrically conductive thin film that can be used to replace traditional transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) in a variety of applications. Here, the authors demonstrate their use as a transparent back contact in a near-infrared (NIR) transparent CdTe solar cell. SWCNT networks are hole-selective conductors and have a significantly greater NIR transparency than TCOs-qualities which could both make them very useful in tandem thin-film solar cells. SWCNT networks can be incorporated into single-junction CdTe devices and in CdTe top cells for mechanically stacked thin-film tandem devices, as described here. The best device efficiency using SWCNTs in the back contact was 12.4%, with 40%-50% transmission between 800 and 1500 nm.",

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AU - Barnes, T. M.

AU - Wu, X.

AU - Zhou, J.

AU - Duda, A.

AU - Van De Lagemaat, J.

AU - Coutts, T. J.

AU - Weeks, C. L.

AU - Britz, D. A.

AU - Glatkowski, P.

PY - 2007

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AB - Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) networks form a highly transparent and electrically conductive thin film that can be used to replace traditional transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) in a variety of applications. Here, the authors demonstrate their use as a transparent back contact in a near-infrared (NIR) transparent CdTe solar cell. SWCNT networks are hole-selective conductors and have a significantly greater NIR transparency than TCOs-qualities which could both make them very useful in tandem thin-film solar cells. SWCNT networks can be incorporated into single-junction CdTe devices and in CdTe top cells for mechanically stacked thin-film tandem devices, as described here. The best device efficiency using SWCNTs in the back contact was 12.4%, with 40%-50% transmission between 800 and 1500 nm.

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Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Networks as a Transparent Back Contact in CdTe Solar Cells

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