Photovoltaic Cells Based on Nanotubes and Conjugated Polymers

ALTAIR Center proposes to develop novel photovoltaic (PV) cells based on composite material made from nanotubes and conjugated polymers. The proposed approach offers a number of advantages with respect to known organic/inorganic photovoltaic devices.Interpenetrating network between nanotubes and polymers provides efficient charge separation under light excitation. Micro phase segregation within a bulk material should considerably increase the contact interface and rise generation of the chargespecies. Nanotubes dispersed in polymer matrix act as nanometric heat sinks preventing large thermal effects, which induce optical bleaching and degradation of the conjugated system. Thus, such composite material should significantly improve the deviceperformance increasing its quantum efficiency and dynamic range that is extremely important for pvotovoltaic devices and energy conversion applications.In Phase I of the project we will fabricate and study a novel PV cell based on nanotube-polymer composite. In Phase II the developed technology will be optimized and applied to fabricating a Prototype photovoltaic system for conversion of light energy orimaging applications. By the end of the project the prototype system will be delivered to DoD for immediate implementation.In addition to immediate military applications the developed nanotube-polymer composites and photovoltaic cells will find many civilian and medical applications including large area solar cells, flexible photodetectors arrays, imaging systems, computer andTV displays, electronic devices, emergency lighting systems, entertainment industry, etc.