Semiconducting carbon nanotubes are polymer-like materials with exceptional charge and energy transport characteristics, strong light absorption tunable throughout the visible and near-infrared spectra, and outstanding photostability.  We have discovered how to harvest photogenerated charges from optically excited nanotubes with up to ~100% internal quantum efficiency by pairing them with more electronegative semiconductors such as C60 or TiO2.  We have fabricated both planar and blended devices based on heterojunctions between these materials-pairs, which are analogous to polymer solar cells with nanotubes taking on the role of the semiconducting �polymer�.  We show that performance is determined by morphology and the length-scale for exciton energy migration.  Based on these investigations, we have realized photovoltaic devices with peak external QE > 35% and a monochromatic power conversion efficiency of 7% at 1055 nm.  The materials- and device-studies presented here create the foundation for new classes of high efficiency, stable, solution-processable, carbon-based photovoltaics.

Harvesting light using semiconducting carbon nanotubes as next-generation polymer-photoabsorbers

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.