Studies of Novel Graphene Nanoribbon/ Polyaniline Nanocomposites for Their Applications in Solar Cells
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Date
2012-03
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Organic polymer nanocomposites blended with graphene nanostructures have recently attracted
lot of scientific interest due to their novel heterojunction charge transport properties and for
fabrication of solar cells with enhanced energy conversion efficiencies. Simulational studies of
electronic and transport properties of polyaniline-graphene nanoribbon (PAn-GNR)
nanocomposite systems have been performed in various conformations and in strict percolation
regime. Ab-initio DFT-LDA-NEGF simulations have been carried out for at least seven
compositionally vivid samples of the PAn-GNR system with built-in two-probe device
geometries. As obtained density of states (DOS) and transmission spectra [T(E)] plots are
examined for the charge transport behavior in these nano-systems. We have observed significant
number of contributing states driven from contact electrodes in to the nanomaterial, which are
described on the basis of Fano effects and as induced strong couplings. We have also studied
electron and hole eigenstate conduction channels along with I–V measurements using Landauer
relations for these nanocomposites which help in understanding different modes of the charge
transport. For some of the samples we have observed a negative differential resistance (NDR)
phenomenon which is rightly explained. Diagnoses of the NDR phenomena in respect to
presence of Fano states and other DOS and transmission singularities have been conceded.
Prospects of self-aligned PAN-GNR nanocomposites for solar cell applications have also
discussed. The present study of nano devices would be helpful in understanding intrinsic
properties of photovoltaic materials in nano-devices for their futuristic deployment in nano-solar cells.
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Nanocomposites