Carlos E. Cava

Water based, solution-processable, transparent and flexible graphene oxide composite as electrodes in organic solar cell application

In this work we propose an easy method to achieve a conductive, transparent and flexible graphene oxide (GO)-based composite thin film from an aqueous dispersion. We investigated the blend ratio between GO and the conjugated polymer poly(3,4–ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) by comparing the thin film optical transmittance, sheet resistance, morphology and mechanical stability. It was found that reasonable values of transmittance and resistivity coupled with its excellent flexibility – the conductivity remains almost the same even after 1000 bends cycles – make this composite very attracting for flexible optoelectronic applications. Thus, these films were used as transparent electrodes in a bilayer structured organic solar cell and the device architecture PET/GO:PEDOT/F8T2/C60/Al could reach a power conversion efficiency around 1.10%. This result presents a better performance compared with pristine PEDOT produced with similar parameters.

Iron-Oxide-Filled Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are recognized as one of the most important materials in the recent history of nanotechnology. In the last 25 years, intensive studies about this material have led to new ideas for the use of nanomaterials in many technological products. The unique properties presented by this material allow its use in a wide range of applications. Known as a crystalline material, CNTs can, however, interact with many materials in different manners, making it easy to use as a composite. One interesting aspect is the possibility of filling the CNT hollow core with a foreign material, forming a filled CNT. This composite can be achieved in situ using chemical vapor deposition and arc-discharge or after the synthesis, by chemical methods. The technique choice to achieve the filled CNT depends on the material inside the CNT. The resulting material can provide new electrical, optical, and mechanical features due to the synergistic effect between the CNTs themselves and the filling, which can originate new multifunctional materials. Concerning the electrical conductivity and the gas sensing, the possible interaction between the CNT and the filling can modify the electronic structure of the material and, consequently, affect the kind of interaction between the CNT and different gases. Commonly, the filled CNTs are obtained with magnetic materials inside the tube, which are also precursors in their syntheses; this feature brings new possibilities to magnetic devices, such as memories. Among them, iron-oxide-filled carbon nanotubes have been suggested as a technological material for use in magnetic, electrical, and medical applications. Therefore, this kind of nanocomposite material can be useful in the preparation of versatile and durable solid-state sensors, memory devices, with simple manufacturing and in a proper size. In this chapter, an introduction about the production and application of iron-oxide-filled CNTs in its many different forms will be presented.