Scientists at the University of Kansas have developed a breakthrough method of extending the lifetime of the electrons in graphene, which they say could help produce efficient, ultrathin and flexible solar cells. The new technique, described today by researchers from KU Leuven (Belgium) and Harvard University, uses an electron beam to heat up graphene while leaving it intact. The scientists combined the graphene with molybdenum disulphide and tungsten disulphide to increase the carrying life from 1 to 400 picoseconds. They will experiment with different material layers in different combinations with graphene. However, it is held back by its extremely short carrier lifetime, which means that electrons excited by sunlight only remain mobile for one picosecond (one millionth of a millionth of a second). Researchers at the National University of Science and Technology in Russia are working on a similar development.
Scientists at the University of Kansas have developed a breakthrough method of extending the lifetime of the electrons in graphene, which they say could help produce efficient, ultrathin and flexible solar cells. The new technique, described today by researchers from KU Leuven (Belgium) and Harvard University, uses an electron beam to heat up graphene while leaving it intact. The scientists combined the graphene with molybdenum disulphide and tungsten disulphide to increase the carrying life from 1 to 400 picoseconds. They will experiment with different material layers in different combinations with graphene. Researchers at the National University of Science and Technology in Russia are working on a similar development.