Rakesh A. Afre

Silicon nanowire array/polymer hybrid solar cell incorporating carbon nanotubes

Here we present a simple and novel approach of fabricating three dimensional (3D) n-Si nanowires (NWs) and poly(3-octylthiophene) hybrid solar cells incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Vertically aligned n-Si NWs arrays were fabricated by electroless chemical etching of a n-Si [1?1?1] wafer. n-Si NWs/poly(3-octylthiophene) hybrid solar cells were fabricated with and without functionalized CNTs incorporation. Fabricated solar cells incorporating CNTs show open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc) fill factor (FF) and conversion efficiency as 0.353, 7.85?mA?cm?2, 22% and 0.61%, respectively. In fabricated devices n-Si NWs arrays form multiple heterojunctions with the polymer and provide efficient electron collection and transportation, whereas CNTs provide efficient hole transportation.

Fullerene (C60) decoration in oxygen plasma treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes for photovoltaic application

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were functionalized by oxygen plasma treatment. Photoelectron spectroscopy study of oxygen plasma treated MWNTs (O-MWNTs) shows surface modification with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. C60 decoration of MWNTs were carried out by thermal evaporation and more dense distribution of C60 was achieved on O-MWNTs. C60 decorated MWNTs were combined with poly(3-octylthiophene) for photovoltaic device fabrication. The device with C60 decorated O-MWNTs shows short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor, and power conversion efficiency (η) as 1.68mA∕cm2, 0.245V, 27%, and 0.11%, respectively. It is expected that C60 provide large surface area for photoexcitons dissociation and efficient electron transportation, whereas MWNTs provide efficient hole transportation.

Cutting carbon nanotubes for solar cell application

This paper presents the application of cutting multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cut-MWNTs) in solar cell. Cutting of MWNTs is performed by plasma fluorination and followed by defluorination. Cut-MWNTs with lengths of 50–200nm are incorporated in a poly(3-octylthiophene)∕n-Si heterojunction solar cell. We found that a device fabricated with cut-MWNTs shows much better performance than that of a device with pristine MWNTs. The device with cut-MWNTs shows short circuit current density, open circuit voltage, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency as 7.65mA∕cm2, 0.23V, 31%, and 0.54%, respectively. Here, we proposed that cut-MWNTs provide efficient hole transportation having a few nanometer transportation path, hence suppressing recombination. Cut-MWNTs can be the solution to the shorting and shunting effects generally observed in the MWNT solar cell.

New diarylmethanofullerene derivatives and their properties for organic thin-film solar cells

Summary A number of diarylmethanofullerene derivatives were synthesized. The cyclopropane ring of the derivatives has two aryl groups substituted with electron-withdrawing and -donating groups, the latter with long alkyl chains to improve solubility in organic solvents, an important property in processing cells. First reduction potentials of most derivatives were less negative than that of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), which is possibly ascribed to their electron-withdrawing nature. Organic thin-film photovoltaic cells fabricated with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the electron-donor and diarylmethanofullerene derivatives as the electron-acceptor material were examined. The {(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl[bis(octyloxy)phenyl]methano}fullerene showed power conversion efficiency as high as PCBM, but had higher solubility in a variety of organic solvents than PCBM. The V oc value was higher than that of PCBM, which is derived from the electron-donating (octyloxy)phenyl group, possibly raising the LUMO level. Photovoltaic effects of the devices fabricated with the derivatives having some electron-withdrawing groups were also examined.

Enhanced photovoltaic device performance upon modification of indium tin oxide coated glass by liquid nitrogen treatment

We demonstrate the improvement in the surface properties of an indium tin oxide (ITO) anode contact to an organic bulk-heterojunction device via cooling down the ITO glass substrate by liquid nitrogen treatment. This treatment effectively improves the smoothness of ITO glass, the transmittance and the contact angle measurement, which thereby results in fairly good contact with organic material. The enhancement of short circuit current, efficiency and fill factor of the photovoltaic devices was also achieved. The surface properties of both the untreated and the treated ITO substrates were studied by atomic force microscopy and the electrical properties of the substrates were studied by the Hall effect measurement.

Carbon Material from Natural Sources as an Anode in Lithium Secondary Battery

Carbon materials of various morphologies were synthesized by pyrolysis of Soap-nut seeds (Sapindus mukorossi), Jack Fruit seeds (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Date-seeds (Phoenix dactylifera), Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica), Tea leaves (Ehretia microphylla), Bamboo stem (Bambusa bambus) and Coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera), without using any catalyst. Carbon materials thus formed were characterized by SEM XRD and Raman. Carbon thus synthesized varied in size (in ) but all showed highly porous morphology. These carbon materials were utilized as the anode in Lithium secondary battery. Amongst the various precursors, carbon fibers obtained from Soap-nut seeds (Sapindus mukorossi) and Bamboo stem (Bambusa bambus), even after cycles, showed the highest capacity of 130.29 mAh/g and 92.74 mAh/g respectively. Morphology, surface areas and porosity of carbon materials obtained from these precursors were analyzed to provide interpretation for their capacity to intercalate lithium. From the Raman studies it is concluded that graphitic nature of carbon materials assist in the intercalation of lithium. Size of cavity (or pore size of channels type structure) present in carbon materials were found to facilitate the intercalation of lithium.

Development of Supercapacitors Using Porous Carbon Materials Synthesized from Plant Derived Precursors

Porous carbon materials synthesized from various plant derived precursors i.e. seeds of [Castor (Ricinus communis), Soap nut (Sapindus sp.), Cashew-nut (Semecarpus anacardium), Jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), Ambadi (Crotolaria juncea), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bitter Almond (Prunus amygdalus), Sesamum (Sisamum indicum), Date-palm (Phoenix dactylifera),Canola (Brassica napus), Sunflower (Helianthus annulus)] and fibrous materials from [Corn stem- (Zea mays), Rice straw (Oryza sativa), Bamboo (Bombax bambusa) and Coconut fibers (Cocos nucifera)] were screened to make supercapacitor in 5M KOH solution. Carbon material obtained from Jack fruit seeds (92.0 F/g), Rice straw (83.0 F/g), Soap nut seeds (54.0 F/g), Castor seeds (44.34 F/g) and Bamboo (40.0 F/g) gave high capacitance value as compared to others. The magnitude of capacitance value was found to be inversely proportional to the scan rate of measurement. It is suggested that carbon material should possess large surface area and small pore size to get better value of capacitor. Moreover, the structure of carbon materials should be such that majority of pores are in the plane parallel to the plane of electrode and surface is fluffy like cotton ball.

Laser Ablated Carbon Thin Film from Carbon Nanotubes and Their Property Studies

A carbon nanotube (CNT) of diameter ~ 20 nm has been synthesized by spray pyrolysis of turpentine oil using Ni/Fe catalyst. Pellet of CNTs has been used as a target to produce semiconducting carbon thin film of band gap 1.4 eV. Presence of oxygen pressure in the pulse laser deposition (PLD) chamber helped to control the sp3/sp2 ratio to achieve the desired band gap. Results are discussed with the help of Raman spectra, SEM TEM micrographs and optical measurements suggest that semiconducting carbon thin film deposited by PLD technique has retained its nanotubes structure except that its diameter has increased from 20 nm to 150 nm. Keywords : Semiconducting carbon, Turpentine oil for CNTs, Pulse laser deposition technique, Raman spectroscopy studies

VERTICALLY ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES BY SPRAY PYROLYSIS TECHNIQUES

Vertically aligned arrays of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were grown by spray pyrolysis of turpentine oil and ferrocene mixture at temperatures higher than 700°C. Using this simple method, we report the successful growth of vertically aligned nanotubes of ~300μm length and diameter in the range of ?20–80nm on Si(100) substrate. The ferrocene acts as an in situFe catalyst precursor, forming the nano-sized metallic iron particles for formation of VACNTs on the Si substrate. The morphological characteristics of VACNTs are confirmed by SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy and growth mechanism is discussed in short.

Photocatalytic Degradation of E. coli and S. aureus by Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon Nano Tubes could be either metallic or semi-conducting in nature, depending on their diameter. Its photocatalytic behavior has given an impetus to use it as an anti-microbial agent. More than 95% Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria got killed when exposed to Carbon Nano Tubes for 30 minutes in presence of sunlight. Carbon Nano Tubes are supposed to have smooth surface on to which it accumulates positive charges when exposed to light. The surface that is non illuminated has negative charge. At the cellular level microorganisms produce negative charges on the cell membrane, Therefore damaging effect of multi walled carbon nano tubes (exposed to light) on the microorganisms is possible. In this paper, photo catalytic killing of microbes by multi walled carbon nano tubes is reported. Killing was due to damage in the cell membrane, as seen in SEM micrographs. Moreover biochemical analysis of membrane as well as total cellular proteins by SDS PAGE showed that there was denaturation of membrane proteins as well as total proteins of both the microbes studied. The killed microbes that showed a decrease in number of protein bands (i.e. due to breaking down of proteins) also showed an increase in level of free amino acids in microbes. This further confirmed that proteins got denatured or broken down into shorter units of amino acids. Increased level of free amino acids was recorded in both the microbes treated with multi walled carbon nano tubes and sunlight. Keywords : Photocatalysis, Multi walled Carbon nanotubes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus