A New Kind of Solar Cell
Combining multiple carbon nanotube chiralities within a solar cell would allow the cell to convert light from every wavelength absorbed by constituent chiralities into energy. Chiralities in the cell would have absorption spectra that closely match the solar emission spectrum, such that as much energy given off by the sun can be converted into electricity as possible. Some chiralities are able to absorb light waves with wavelengths over 1300 nm, surpassing the range off silicon solar cells.
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Carbon nanotubes can be placed concentrically to form a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). A MWCNT composed of multiple chiralities, or polychiral MWCNT, would have the combined absorption spectrum of its constituent single walled CNTs (SWCNTs). Packing SWCNTs into polychiral MWCNT would allow a higher energy conversion over a smaller surface area within the solar cell.
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Model of a Polychiral MWCNT
CNTs can be produced at temperatures less than half of those necessary for electric arc furnace silicon synthesis. Efficient CNT growth has been done with preheating temperature as low as 650℃. Increasing preheating temperature by 100℃ more than tripled the growth rate of the CNTs.