Chemical vapor deposited and template synthesized carbon nanotubes for polymer solar cells

CHED 1186

Jennifer L. Young, jlyoung@student.nnu.edu1, Jerry D. Harris, jdharris@nnu.edu1, and Ryne P. Raffaelle, rprsps@rit.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Northwest Nazarene University, 623 Holly Street, Nampa, ID 83686, (2) NanoPower Research Laboratories, Rochester Institute of Technology, 85 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized for their use in polymer-based solar cells. The nanotubes were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and template synthesis. The CVD prepared nanotubes were grown in a two-zone furnace using several metal catalysts. The template synthesized nanotubes were prepared by coating aluminum oxide membrane filters with a dichloromethane solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone. The nanotubes were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron spectroscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Prototype solar cells were prepared with the top-down composition of Al/poly(3-octylthiophene)/MWNTs/indium tin oxide/polyethylene terephthalate. The polyethylene terephthalate substrate allows the solar cells to be flexible and lightweight. Detailed results will be presented. The work supported by NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium, NASA Idaho EPSCoR, NASA John H. Glenn Research Center, and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Inorganic Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007