Carbon nanotubes and graphene for photonic applications: 9. Carbon nanotube solar cells

Carbon nanotubes have been explored in light-harvesting and photovoltaic devices because of their unique optoelectronic properties. This chapter provides a brief description of the optoelectronic properties of carbon nanotubes, particularly single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and their implication in various solar cell applications including donor–acceptor solar cells, polymer solar cells, and dye-sensitized solar cells, where carbon nanotubes are utilized as photoactive materials. Carbon-nanotube-based electrodes in photovoltaic devices are also introduced. Carbon-nanotube-based light-harvesting devices are reviewed in terms of fabrication and material processing as well as performance. Finally, advanced emerging methods and the future outlook for carbon-nanotube-based solar cells are discussed.