The application of graphene as electrodes in electrical and optical devices

Abstract

Graphene is a promising next-generation conducting material with the potential to replace traditional electrode materials such as indium tin oxide in electrical and optical devices. It combines several advantageous characteristics including low sheet resistance, high optical transparency and excellent mechanical properties. Recent research has coincided with increased interest in the application of graphene as an electrode material in transistors, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and flexible devices. However, for more practical applications, the performance of devices should be further improved by the engineering of graphene films, such as through their synthesis, transfer and doping. This article reviews several applications of graphene films as electrodes in electrical and optical devices and discusses the essential requirements for applications of graphene films as electrodes.

Recent Progress in the Growth and Applications of Graphene as a Smart Material: A Review

“…So far, graphene-based solar cells have been demonstrated in dye-sensitized PV cells (Choe et al, 2010;Jo et al, 2012), organic bulk-heterojunction PV cells (Li et al, 2010b;Yin et al, 2010), hybrid ZnO/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) PV cells (Li et al, 2010c), Si based PV cells (Shim et al, 2011), and InGaN p-i-n PV cells (Gomez De Arco, 2010). The functionalization of graphene material either during synthesis process (in situ) or post-treatment has demonstrated not only the possibility to control the properties of the surfaces and interfaces but also tailoring its work function Guo et al, 2011;He et al, 2011;Wan et al, 2011).…”

“…The functionalization of graphene material either during synthesis process (in situ) or post-treatment has demonstrated not only the possibility to control the properties of the surfaces and interfaces but also tailoring its work function Guo et al, 2011;He et al, 2011;Wan et al, 2011). In an organic PV cell, the difference in work function between the two conductors creates an electrical field in the organic layer (Jo et al, 2012). To date, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of graphene-electrode organic solar cells (OSCs) has been reported to be in the range of 0.08-2.60% (Wan et al, 2011;Jo et al, 2012), which is indeed much lower than those of conventional OSCs made with ITO electrodes (8.37%) (Stankovich et al, 2006;Chen et al, 2010a;He et al, 2011;Wan et al, 2011;Yu et al, 2012;Saravanakumar et al, 2013;Yokomizo et al, 2013;Sharma et al, 2014).…”

“…In an organic PV cell, the difference in work function between the two conductors creates an electrical field in the organic layer (Jo et al, 2012). To date, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of graphene-electrode organic solar cells (OSCs) has been reported to be in the range of 0.08-2.60% (Wan et al, 2011;Jo et al, 2012), which is indeed much lower than those of conventional OSCs made with ITO electrodes (8.37%) (Stankovich et al, 2006;Chen et al, 2010a;He et al, 2011;Wan et al, 2011;Yu et al, 2012;Saravanakumar et al, 2013;Yokomizo et al, 2013;Sharma et al, 2014). However, the PCE of graphene-electrode OSCs needs to be improved to make graphene film a serious candidate for OSCs (Jo et al, 2012).…”

Adsorptive graphene doping: Effect of a polymer contaminant

“…[1][2][3][4] For example, graphene has been proposed as a cheaper, flexible, and more sustainable alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for use in solar cells or touchscreen displays. [5] One such property is the very high carrier mobility afforded by graphene's unique band structure. Despite this, however, the intrinsic carrier density of pristine graphene is very low, hence doping is required to achieve conductivity values competitive with those of ITO thin films.…”

Ab Initio Study of Aluminum-Phosphorus Co-doped Graphene

“…In addition, graphene has been proposed for potential applications in many fields such as electronics, energy, and biotechnology [4][5][6]. The doping increases the reactivity of carbon nanostructures and provides a mechanism for anchoring molecules and chemical groups to the surface of graphene.…”