CNT in solar cell and energy

storage devices
 Solar Cells
• The need for power in remote locations has given
rise to the need for a more portable solar cell.
• Solar cells see only a portion of solar radiation .
• Approximately 20 percent of the energy contained in
the solar spectrum is unavailable to cells made of
silicon .
• They are unable to utilize a part of the infrared
radiation, the short wavelength IR radiation, for
generating power.
 Solar Panels
• A solar panel is a set of solar photovoltaic modules
electrically connected and mounted on a supporting
structure.

• The solar panel can be used as a component of a

larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply
electricity in commercial and residential applications.

• Each module is rated by its DC output power under

standard test conditions (STC), and typically ranges
from 100 to 320 watts.
 Solar Panels

• A single solar module can produce only a limited

amount of power; most installations contain multiple
modules.

• A photovoltaic system typically includes a panel or an

array of solar modules, an inverter, and sometimes a
battery and/or solar tracker and interconnection
wiring .
 Carbon Nano tubes in solar cells
• These carbon nanotubes are now used in the
technology of solar panels to increase the efficiency
of the solar panels up to 80%.

• Stanford University scientists have built the first solar

cell made entirely of carbon, a promising alternative
to the expensive materials used in photovoltaic
devices today
 Construction Of Carbon Solar Cell :
• In conventional photovoltaic cells three different
tasks are generally expected to be fulfilled
simultaneously by the material.
• Light absorption to generate electric charge carriers,
charge carrier separation and charge transport to the
electrodes.
• Complete device is obtained by depositing the top
metal electrode by either evaporation or sputtering
techniques.
 Working of Carbon Solar Panel :
Solar panels works on the principal of
photovoltaic effect.
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT: It is the creation of an
electrical voltage or rather the electric current flowing
in a closed loop, here referred to in a solar panel.

The electrons that are generated when the solar

panels are exposed to a stream of photons are
transferred between the different bands of energy
inside the atom to which they are bound.
 Working of Carbon Solar Panel :
The transition of the energy state of electrons takes
place from valence band to the conduction band, but
within the material that is used in the solar panels.

This transfer of electrons makes them accumulate in

order to cause a build up of voltage between the two
electrodes.

Typically, solar panels that are available commercially

are only able to depict their best efficiency as low as
21%.
CNT in solar cell
 CNT in solar cells
Carbon photo active layer using semiconducting
SWCNT.

Semiconducting CNT- light absorbing and charging

donating material
Fullerene- acts as charge acceptor
Indium tin oxide (anode)
Silver or aluminium(cathode)

Active layer is the bilayer as semiconducting CNT as

donor, fullerene as acceptor which separates
electron-hole pairs when light is absorbed by
SWCNTs.
NANOTUBE PROPERTIES USEFUL FOR SOLAR PANNELS
• High carrier mobilities (~1,20,000 cm2 V-1 s- 1)
• Large surface areas (~1600 m2 g-1)
• Absorption in the IR range (Eg: 0.48 to 1.37 eV)

• Conductance - Independent of the channel length

• Enormous current carrying capability – 109 A cm-2
• Semiconducting CNTs – Ideal solar cells
• Mechanical strength & Chemical stability
 Advantages Of Using CNT In a Solar
Panel
• The efficiency of the system can be improved.
• As the CNT solar panels uses infrared rays including
visible range of sunlight they can work at night times.
• They remain stable at ambience temperature about
1600oF .
• The amount of the material to be used for the
construction will also be reduced.
• As the mobility of the electrons is more in the case of
the CNT the output voltage produced is drastically
increased.
 PAPER BATTERY

A paper battery is a flexible, ultra-thin energy

storage and production device formed by combining
carbon nanotube with a conventional sheet of
cellulose-based paper.

A paper battery acts as both a high-energy battery

and super-capacitor , combining two components
that are separate in traditional electronics .
 GENERAL Li-ION BATTERY
• Generally Li-ion re-chargeable batteries are used in
mobiles, laptops and most of the electronic devices.
• functional component of Li-ion battery are:
1. -ve electrode(graphite)
2. +ve electrode(cobalt oxide)
3.electrolyte( lithium salt in organic solvent)

 During discharge and charging, lithium ions Li+ carry

the current from the negative to the positive
electrode and vice-versa respectively, through the
non-aqueous electrolyte .
 Disadvantages of Li-Ion
• EXPENSIVE -- 40% more than NiCd.

• DELICATE -- battery temp must be monitored from

within and sealed particularly well.

• REGULATIONS -- when shipping Li-Ion batteries in

bulk (cost).
 PAPER BATTERY-uses
• Ultra-thin size & flexible structure.

• Exhibits property of super-capacitor(22F-36F per

gram)

• Operating temperature(-75 to 100 degree celsius)

• provide both long-term, steady power production

and bursts of energy.

• Cost-effective.
 CONSTRUCTION OF PAPER BATTERY
• CNT thin films were coated onto stainless steel (SS)
substrates with a solution based process.
• The concentration of CNT is 1.7 mg/mL.
• A dried film with a thickness of 2 micrometer was
formed after drying the CNT ink on the SS substrate
at 80 °C for 5 min. This film is then peeled off from
substrate.
• These films act as electrodes of paper battery.
• one film is pasted to electrolyte LTO (Lithium
titanate) and the other film is pasted to electrolyte
LCO (LiCobalt oxide).
• Paper is sandwiched between two electrolytes LTO
and LCO with PVDF(poly vinylidene fluoride)
STRUCTURE OF PAPER BATTERY
 WORKING
Traditional Batteries produce electrons through a
chemical reaction between electrolyte and metal.

Paper battery produces electrons due to the

interaction of electrolytes LTO & LCO.

Electrons collect on the negative terminal of the

battery and flow along a connected wire to the
positive terminal during discharging.

Electrons must flow from the negative to the positive

terminal for the chemical reaction to continue.
 ADVANTAGES
• The flexible battery can function even if it is
rolled up, folded or cut.

•We can get 2.5 volts of electricity from a

sample of size.

• Because the battery consists mainly of paper

and carbon, it could be used to power
pacemakers within the body where
conventional batteries pose a toxic threat.