Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, 230026, China.
Top Curr Chem (Cham). 2018 Jan 22;376(1):4. doi: 10.1007/s41061-017-0181-0.
Photovoltaics, more generally known as solar cells, are made from semiconducting materials that convert light into electricity. Solar cells have received much attention in recent years due to their promise as clean and efficient light-harvesting devices. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) could play a crucial role in these devices and have been the subject of much research, which continues to this day. SWNTs are known to outperform multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) at low densities, because of the difference in their optical transmittance for the same current density, which is the most important parameter in comparing SWNTs and MWNTs. SWNT films show semiconducting features, which make SWNTs function as active or charge-transporting materials. This chapter, consisting of two sections, focuses on the use of SWNTs in solar cells. In the first section, we discuss SWNTs as a light harvester and charge transporter in the photoactive layer, which are reviewed chronologically to show the history of the research progress. In the second section, we discuss SWNTs as a transparent conductive layer outside of the photoactive layer, which is relatively more actively researched. This section introduces SWNT applications in silicon solar cells, organic solar cells, and perovskite solar cells each, from their prototypes to recent results. As we go along, the science and prospects of the application of solar cells will be discussed.
光伏，更通常被称为太阳能电池，由半导体材料制成，可将光转化为电。由于其作为清洁高效的光收集器件的潜力，太阳能电池近年来受到了广泛关注。单壁碳纳米管（SWNTs）在这些器件中可能发挥关键作用，并且一直是研究的主题，至今仍在继续。由于相同电流密度下的光学透过率不同，SWNTs 在低密度下的性能优于多壁碳纳米管（MWNTs），这是比较 SWNTs 和 MWNTs 的最重要参数。SWNT 薄膜表现出半导体特性，这使得 SWNT 可以作为有源或电荷传输材料。这一章由两个部分组成，重点介绍了 SWNT 在太阳能电池中的应用。在第一节中，我们讨论了 SWNT 作为光活性层中的光收集器和电荷传输器的作用，按时间顺序进行了回顾，以展示研究进展的历史。在第二节中，我们讨论了 SWNT 作为光活性层之外的透明导电层的应用，这方面的研究相对更为活跃。这一节介绍了 SWNT 在硅太阳能电池、有机太阳能电池和钙钛矿太阳能电池中的应用，从原型到最近的结果。随着我们的介绍，将讨论太阳能电池应用的科学和前景。
