A high efficiency 3D photovoltaic microwire with carbon nanotubes (CNT)-quantum dot (QD) hybrid interface

Abstract

An innovative hybrid QD sensitized photovoltaic carbon nanotubes microyarn has been developed using thermally-stable and highly conductive carbon nanotubes yarns (CNYs). These CNYs are highly inter-aligned, ultrastrong and flexible with excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical integrity and catalytic properties. The CNYs are coated with a QD-incorporated TiO2 microfilm and intertwined with a second set of CNYs as a counter electrode (CE). The maximum photon to current conversion efficiency (ηAM1.5) achieved with prolonged-time stability was 5.93%. These cells are capable of efficiently harvesting incident photons regardless of direction and generating photocurrents with high efficiency and operational stability. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)