New Method of Depositing the Nanostructured Amorphous Carbon for Carbon Based Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

Nanostructured amorphous carbon (a-C) solar cells were successfully deposited via a self-designed aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). The fabricated solar cell with the configuration of Au/p-C/n-Si/Au achieved efficiency ( ) of 1.72 × 10 −4 % for device deposited at 500 ∘ C, 1.24 × 10 −4 % for 450 ∘ C, and 0.03 × 10 −4 % for 400 ∘ C. Photoresponse characteristic was highlighted under illumination (AM 1.5 illuminations: 100 mW/cm 2 , 25 ∘ C), where conductivity increased when the sample was being hit by light. Transmittance spectrum exhibits a large transmittance value (>85%) and absorption coefficient value of 10 4 cm −1 at the visible range from 390 to 790 nm. The nanostructured a-C thin film deposited at higher temperature possesses lower transmittance due to higher absorption as a result of the higher content of sp 2 -bonded carbon atoms. From Tauc's plot, optical band gap ( ) was determined, and decreased as deposition temperature increased (1.2 eV, 1.0 eV, 0.7 eV). On the other hand, FESEM images exhibited a nanostructured sized a-C with the particle size less than 100 nm. To the best of our knowledge, the presence of nanostructured particle of a-C by a self-prepared AACVD has not frequently been reported.

Rethinking Coal: Thin Films of Solution Processed Natural Carbon Nanoparticles for Electronic Devices

“…Carbon black synthesis requires temperatures as high as 2000°C, 21 and a-C is typically deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) 22,23 although aerosol-assisted CVD has recently been demonstrated. 8 While extensive research has been conducted to develop solution-based methods of graphene deposition, rGO films remain several orders of magnitude less conductive than CVD graphene. 16,24,25 In contrast to the widely studied world of synthetic carbonaceous materials, the optical and electronic properties (and corresponding range of tunability) of natural carbonaceous materials are still poorly understood.…”

“…Graphitic materials and amorphous carbon (a-C) , are the leading and a promising candidate, respectively, for anode materials in lithium ion batteries. Amorphous carbon has also been used in the manufacturing of transistors , and photovoltaic devices, , and nanostructured graphitic materials (such as graphene and reduced graphene oxide) have gained significant attention for applications including in photovoltaics, − transparent conductive membranes, − and Joule heating devices. − …”

“…Despite decades of research on synthetically processed carbon materials, facile, tunable, low-temperature, solution processing methods remain elusive. Carbon black synthesis requires temperatures as high as 2000 °C, and a-C is typically deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) , although aerosol-assisted CVD has recently been demonstrated . While extensive research has been conducted to develop solution-based methods of graphene deposition, rGO films remain several orders of magnitude less conductive than CVD graphene. ,, …”

The Optical and Electrical Properties of Polymer Poly (3-Hexylthiophene) P3HT by Heat Treatment

“…In addition, it also could be observed that a sharp absorption edge at wavelength of about 410 nm indicates the absorption properties of P3HT at visible range [9]. These I-V measurements prove that the P3HT behaviour is able to serve as conductive channels for the transport of electrons for optical properties [10]. The measurement was done in under illumination condition AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm ,25 C).…”