Electronic junction control in a nanotube-semiconductor Schottky junction solar cell.

Wadhwa, Pooja; Liu, Bo; McCarthy, Mitchell A; Wu, Zhuangchun; Rinzler, Andrew G · Nano Lett · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We exploit the low density of electronic states in single wall carbon nanotubes to demonstrate active, electronic modulation of their Fermi level offset relative to n-type silicon in a nanotube-Si (metal-semiconductor) Schottky junction solar cell. Electronic modulation of the Fermi level offset, the junction interface dipole and a field developed across the depletion layer modifies the built-in potential in the device and its power generation characteristics. As produced (before modulation) devices exhibit ∼8.5% power conversion efficiency (PCE). With active modulation the PCE is continuously and reversibly changed from 4 to 11%.