Open AccessFoldable Perovskite Solar Cells Using Carbon Nanotube‐Embedded Ultrathin Polyimide Conductor
Author(s) -
Yoon Jungjin,
Kim Unsoo,
Yoo Yongseok,
Byeon Junseop,
Lee SeoungKi,
Nam JeongSeok,
Kim Kyusun,
Zhang Qiang,
Kauppinen Esko I.,
Maruyama Shigeo,
Lee Phillip,
Jeon Il
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202004092
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , bend radius , optoelectronics , polyimide , conductor , composite material , electrical conductor , solar cell , energy conversion efficiency , transmittance , nanotechnology , bending , layer (electronics)
Recently, foldable electronics technology has become the focus of both academic and industrial research. The foldable device technology is distinct from flexible technology, as foldable devices have to withstand severe mechanical stresses such as those caused by an extremely small bending radius of 0.5 mm. To realize foldable devices, transparent conductors must exhibit outstanding mechanical resilience, for which they must be micrometer‐thin, and the conducting material must be embedded into a substrate. Here, single‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs)–polyimide (PI) composite film with a thickness of 7 µm is synthesized and used as a foldable transparent conductor in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). During the high‐temperature curing of the CNTs‐embedded PI conductor, the CNTs are stably and strongly p ‐doped using MoO x , resulting in enhanced conductivity and hole transportability. The ultrathin foldable transparent conductor exhibits a sheet resistance of 82 Ω sq. −1 and transmittance of 80% at 700 nm, with a maximum‐power‐point‐tracking‐output of 15.2% when made into a foldable solar cell. The foldable solar cells can withstand more than 10 000 folding cycles with a folding radius of 0.5 mm. Such mechanically resilient PSCs are unprecedented; further, they exhibit the best performance among the carbon‐nanotube‐transparent‐electrode‐based flexible solar cells.