J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2020, Vol. 54: 48-57.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2020.03.040

• Research article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Free-standing ZnO nanorod arrays modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes for betavoltaics and photovoltaics

Changsong Chena,b,e, Jiang Chena,b, Zhen Wanga,b, Jian Zhangc, Haisheng Sana,b,*(), Shichao Liud, Chunyu Wud, Werner Hofmanna,e   

  1. a Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
    b Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
    c College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
    d Shanghai Institute of Space Power-Sources, Shanghai 200245, China
    e Institute of Solid State Physics, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin 10623, Germany
  • Received:2020-02-26 Revised:2020-03-15 Accepted:2020-03-15 Published:2020-10-01 Online:2020-10-21
  • Contact: Haisheng San

Abstract:

A full-duplex radiant energy converter based on both betavoltaic and photovoltaic effects in an easy-to-implement way is an attractive alternative for the autonomous wireless sensor microsystem. Here, we report a novel beta/photovoltaic cell based on free-standing ZnO nanorod arrays (ZNRAs) modified with metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (m-SWCNTs), using radioisotope63Ni as beta-emitting source. The ZNRAs were grown on Al-doped ZnO (AZO) conductive glass using hydrothermal method. The optimum length and diameter of ZnO nanorods were determined by Monte Carlo simulation for beta energy deposition in ZNRAs. The m-SWCNTs were anchored into the ZNRAs to form a three-dimensional (3-D) Schottky junction structure for effectively separating the beta/photo-excited electron-hole pairs. Experimentally, the betavoltaic and photovoltaic effects were confirmed through the I-V measurements of beta/photovoltaic cells under beta/UV/Vis irradiations, respectively. It is suggested that the m-SWCNTs play key role for the enhancement of beta/photovoltaic performance through the formation of extensive 3-D Schottky junction, the conductive network for hole transport, and the surface plasmon resonance exciton absorption for visible light.

Key words: ZnO nanorod arrays, Single-walled carbon nanotube, Betavoltaics, Photovoltaics