Thin film CdSe/CuSe photovoltaic on a flexible single walled carbon nanotube substrate

Abstract

Liquid phase deposition (LPD), using CdSO₄ and N,N-dimethyl selenourea, has been used to grow CdSe absorber layer onto single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) derived back contact substrates. The nanotubes are imbedded in, and penetrate into, the CdSe absorber layer for the goal of enhancing excition dissociation and carrier transport. The Cd:Se film stoichiometry varied between 1:1.7 to 1:1.3 depending on the deposition conditions. The CdSe/SWNT layers show appropriate photoresponse. LPD was also used to grow a CuSe window layer onto which silver contacts were deposited. The resulting PV device shows a characteristic IV curve. Despite both the open circuit voltage (V_OC = 1.28 mV) and short circuit current (I_SC = 4.85 μA) being low, the resulting device is suggestive of the possibility of fabricating a flexible thin film (inorganic) solar cell by solution processes.