Multilayer Carbon Nanotubes for Enhanced Solar Energy Conversion

The increasing global demand for renewable energy, at this time, has renewed interest by scientists to study the possibilities to increase efficiencies of the solar energy conversion process. Scientists have studied carbon nanotubes (CNT), especially, multilayer carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), as possible materials for photovoltaic research due its electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. This study highlights the synthesis, characterization, and application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to increase solar energy conversion. There were MWCNTs produced using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or gore and used as an active layer material of a solar cell. MWCNTs characterized were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. In regard to characterization, the MWCNTs synthesized were sufficient according to characterization and appeared to have a proper structure. The other objective was to characterize the photovoltaic performance of the MWCNTs using I-V measurements and under standard test conditions (STC). Power conversion efficiency (PCE) was enhanced due to the improved charge transport properties and reduction in recombination losses with the incorporation of MWCNTs under the current state of report. This provides evidence that MWCNTs have the ability to enhance solar technologies and reinforces a need for further research on the use of nanomaterials in enhancing photovoltaic performance.