Electrodes for optoelectronic components and the use thereof

• US 20050194038A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Brabec, Christoph, Hauch, Jens
• Application Number:
  US10/986,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20050194038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/30 comprising bulk heterojunctions, e.g. interpenetrating networks of donor and acceptor material domains
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/50 Photovoltaic [PV] devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/81 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/821 comprising carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/81 Anodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/82 Cathodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells

Abstract

Electrodes are disclosed that can include allotropes, such as spherical allotropes. Examples of allotropes include silicon and/or carbon nanotubes. The electrodes can be used, for example, in organic semiconductor technology. The electrodes can contain either allotropes alone and/or allotropes that are embedded in an material. Examples of such materials are organic materials, such as one or more organic functional polymers.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising an allotrope, wherein the electrode is designed for use in an optoelectronic device.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrode is designed for use in a photovoltaic cell.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrode is designed for use in a semiconductor device.

4. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the allotrope is metallically conductive or semiconductive.

5. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the allotrope is present in the form a composite material.

6. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrode is semitransparent or transparent.

7. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the allotrope comprises a nanotube.

8. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the optical properties of the electrode can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the allotrope used.

9. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising at least one organic functional polymer.

10. A photovoltaic cell, comprising:

a first electrode including a first allotrope.

11. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first allotrope comprises nanotubes.

12. The photovoltaic cell of claim 11, wherein the nanotubes comprise carbon nanotubes.

13. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first allotrope comprises silicon.

14. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first allotrope comprises a spherical allotrope.

15. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first allotrope comprises a metallically conductive allotrope.

16. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first allotrope comprises a semiconductor.

17. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first electrode comprises a composite material including the first allotrope.

18. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first electrode further comprises an organic material.

19. The photovoltaic cell of claim 18, wherein the organic material is a conductive organic material.

20. The photovoltaic cell of claim 18, wherein the organic material is a semiconductor.

21. The photovoltaic cell of claim 18, wherein the organic material comprises a polymer.

22. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, further comprising a substrate that supports the first allotrope.

23. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first electrode is transparent.

24. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, further comprising a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a second allotrope.

25. The photovoltaic cell of claim 24, further comprising an organic semiconductor between the first and second electrodes.

26. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first electrode is an anode.

27. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, wherein the first electrode is a cathode.

28. A photovoltaic cell, comprising:

a first electrode comprising nanotubes;

a second electrode; and

an organic semiconductor between the first and second electrodes.

29. The photovoltaic cell of claim 28, wherein the nanotubes comprise carbon nanotubes.

30. The photovoltaic cell of claim 28, wherein the first electrode comprises a composite material including the nanotubes.

31. The photovoltaic cell of claim 28, wherein the first electrode further comprises an organic material.

32. The photovoltaic cell of claim 31, wherein the organic material is a conductive organic material.

33. The photovoltaic cell of claim 31, wherein the organic material is a semiconductor.

34. The photovoltaic cell of claim 31, wherein the organic material comprises a polymer.

35. The photovoltaic cell of claim 28, further comprising a substrate that supports the first allotrope.

36. A photovoltaic cell, comprising:

a first electrode comprising silicon;

a second electrode; and

an organic semiconductor between the first and second electrodes.

37. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, wherein the first electrode comprises a composite material including the silicon.

38. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, wherein the first electrode further comprises an organic material.

39. The photovoltaic cell of claim 38, wherein the organic material is a conductive organic material.

40. The photovoltaic cell of claim 38, wherein the organic material is a semiconductor.

41. The photovoltaic cell of claim 38, wherein the organic material comprises a polymer.

42. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, further comprising a substrate that supports the first allotrope.