Photovoltaic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes deposited on n-doped silicon

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), grown by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) over Fe supported on alumina catalyst, using isobutane as feedstock, are dispersed in aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Stable and highly photosensitive heterojunctions are developed by liquid-phase deposition of MWCNTs/surfactant mixtures on the top of n-doped monocrystalline silicon wafers. Electrical measurements performed in the dark and under broad-band visible light, show that the hybrid solar cells, despite their non-optimized design, have conversion energy efficiency of the order of 3%.