The Graphene "Enter" Solar Cells

Recently, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have developed a new method for flexible graphene sheets coated nanowires. This method can be produced for a low-cost, transparent, and good flexibility of the solar cell Asus A32-F82 Battery, it is possible in the windows, roofs and other surfaces used.

This latest study, published in "Nano Letters, co-authored by postdoctoral Park comet MIT and Zhang Sheng root (phonetic), an associate professor of materials science and engineering professional Serbia Jie · Grenada Turk, as well as other eight researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Currently, most solar cells are made of silicon, and then made crystal silicon highly purified and cut into thin slices, prices have been relatively expensive. Many researchers are exploring the silicon substitute, such as nano-structure or a hybrid solar cell Asus A42-A6 battery, and indium tin oxide (ITO) are these new type of solar cell using a transparent electrode.

Grenada Turk said: "Currently, ITO transparent electrode material of choice, such as a touch screen smartphone but the the indium the high price of the compound, the graphene from everywhere, inexpensive carbon . "

Turk Grenada graphene may be a new alternative to ITO material. In addition to lower cost, it is well, such as good flexibility, light weight, high mechanical strength and chemical stability advantages.

Since the stability of graphite and an inert structure, to direct at the surface of pure graphene build semiconductor nanostructure without affecting its electrical properties and structure, with a higher level of challenge. Grenada Turk and his team used a series of polymer coatings to change the properties of the graphene, to enable them to adhesive zinc oxide nanowire layer, then covered on response the lightwave sulfide quantum dots or a known material polymer P3HT.

Grenada Turk said: "Despite changes, but the innate properties of graphene remains unchanged, is a composite material has a significant advantage."

The MIT team has confirmed that the electrodes were comparable in terms of efficiency devices based on graphene and ITO. In the case of covering sulfide quantum dots, graphene power conversion efficiency of 4.2%, lower than the common silicon Asus K52J Battery, but in a special purpose in the future having competitiveness.

In addition, the first author of the study, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering postdoctoral Zhang Sheng root Unlike other temperature has continued to rise in the semiconductor, graphite electrode coating of zinc oxide nanowires can be temperature controlled at 175 degrees Celsius.