Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes
Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes For Increasing Efficiencies Of Solar Cells
Recent conversation and discussion in various forums and scientific groups reveal that researchers are about to make a successful theoretical invention in the field of nano technology. The breakthrough says that nano materials and particles can now be used in increasing the efficiencies of solar cells where sunlight can be converted into electricity.
Articles in the Technology Review published recently say that the upper limit of the efficiency of solar cells will be getting highly elevated with the help of these wonder materials. The articles also say that properly using vertically aligned carbon nanotubes along with quantum dots can increase the efficiency of such solar cells greatly.
About vertically aligned carbon nanotubes
Today carbon nanotubes are of great interest to scientists and researchers due to their remarkable features and properties. For example, their ballistic transportation of electrons and their largest elastic nature of the moduli. For applications such as electrochemistry, for using in electrodes to fuel cells or to use in supercapacitors they are being highly recommended.
The carbon nanotubes when exposed under conditions of high pressures, laser ablations or chemical vapour deposition creates single walled carbon nanotubes called SWNTs and multiwalled carbon nanotubes called MWNTs.
There are many applications which require the usage of these SWNTs and MWNTs. To grow vertically aligned carbon nanotubes one needs feed gas, catalyst and its nature and a substrate temperature. In the field of emission of microelectronic devices these are highly used. These carbon nanotubes are so far considered to be the best field emitters.
About quantum dots and VA CNTs
It is considered that vertically aligned carbon nanotubes of uneven nature along with quantum dots can increase solar cell’s efficiency. By keeping a gap of hairline size in between the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and the quantum dots the entire quantities of photons can be converted rather than just some of it. Also the process can work better than the layered or multicoated strategies used before.
The carbon nanotubes need to be kept in a protruding manner which can be pulled with the help of magnets during the process of alignment. The atoms of ammonia present in the latex paints can be a great conductor. This aids to capture energy for transferring along with carbon and the atoms of ammonia.
Some of the most prominent usages are in the following areas –
- As coating on the top of buses
- For train commuter
- To bridge the griders for powering up lights
- On the roof of warehouses
- Humvees
- For hybrid delivery trucks
- In the military services
- To coat mini UAVs or MAVs
The concept is vast. Almost anything that emits or reflects light can be captured with the help of these amazing carbon nanotubes to convert the energy into electricity. The scopes are many. All is required is a surface area where sunlight is received. One can power up the entire thing throughout the entire day to be used in the evening and night.