On March 14, Nagoya University in collaboration with Denso announced that it has successfully fabricated a 100cm2 perovskite solar cell (CNT-PSC) module using a single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) transparent thin film electrode.
Perovskite solar cell module using carbon nanotube electrode (CNT-PSC)
(Source: Nagoya University)
Traditionally, the back electrode of perovskite solar cells has been made from thin films of evaporated metals such as gold, silver or copper. However, silver and copper have problems, such as oxidizing to iodine in perovskite solar cells, and gold is expensive. Furthermore, the manufacturing process requires large vacuum equipment, which can limit scale-up and mass production.
Conventional perovskite solar cell module using gold electrodes
(Source: Nagoya University)
Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical nanomaterials formed by carbon atoms bonded in a hexagonal lattice. By fabricating them into thin films, they can have ideal properties for use as transparent electrodes in solar cells, such as optical transparency, high chemical stability and resistance to oxidation and corrosion, high electronic conductivity, and flexibility that allows them to be applied to flexible substrates and curved surfaces.
A demonstration experiment. A CNT-PSC sheet and nine CNT-OPV sheets were attached and the generated electricity, illuminance, temperature, humidity, etc. were recorded
(Source: Nagoya University)
In this study, the team used carbon nanotube electrodes as the back electrodes to create a 10-cm square CNT-PSC module that is transparent and capable of receiving light from both sides. With CNT-PSC, the CNT electrode is not easily visible even when viewed from the side, and its optical transparency allows the other side to be seen.
Although the power generation efficiency is slightly lower than that of conventional perovskite solar cells using gold electrodes, the power generation efficiency remains comparable even when the light-receiving surface is reversed. Furthermore, while there are concerns that the gold electrode may promote perovskite degradation through diffusion, the high stability of the CNT electrode has the potential to address the durability issues of perovskite solar cells.
The newly developed CNT-PSC was mounted on a window next to the Seattle Express coffee shop in the National Innovation Complex (NIC) building, a university research facility, and demonstration experiments began in March. In addition to the CNT-PSC, organic thin-film photovoltaic cells (CNT-OPVs) also using CNT electrodes were also mounted, and the amount of electricity each cell generated was displayed on an electronic board.
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