Materials Challenges for Alternative Energy Resources

Abstract:

Graphene, a 2D single atomic layer of crystalline carbon, arranged in a honeycomb lattice. The important properties of graphene involve Dirac electronic band-structure, high room-temperature carrier mobility of 15,000 cm2/V.sec, Fermi velocity of 106 m/sec, tunable band gap and visible transparency of 97.7%. The structural uniformity makes graphene a near-ideal flat surface for conformal assembly towards device integration. Graphene has shown great potential for creating photovoltaic solar devices owing to its high optical transmittance, electrical conductivity and surface area. In this study we are aiming to identify and develop an appropriate technique for large area graphene deposition to replace TCO's in photovoltaic devices. Moreover, it is intended that graphene deposition be tailored for integration within an optoelectronic device such as a crystalline silicon solar cell. The preliminary envisaged method of graphene deposition is CVD. We are also fabricating graphene by chemical oxidation and reduction of graphite and optimizing the techniques for large area deposition.

Keywords:  Graphene, Solar cell, Transparent conductor, Electrode, CVD.