# US 11,114,635 B2 · Method for making polymer solar cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,114,635 B2 - Document ID: US11114635B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/155,894 - Filed: 2018-10-10 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16 - Assignees: Tsinghua University; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Tsinghua University; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Wen Ning; Peng Liu; Kai-Li Jiang; Shou-Shan Fan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114635B2 ## CPC - H10K 85/10: Organic polymers or oligomers - H10K 30/35: comprising inorganic nanostructures, e.g. CdSe nanoparticles - H10K 30/353: {comprising blocking layers, e.g. exciton blocking layers} - H10K 30/81: Electrodes - H10K 71/00: Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass - H10K 71/12: using liquid deposition, e.g. spin coating - H10K 85/221: {Carbon nanotubes} - H10K 30/50: Photovoltaic [PV] devices - Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method for making a polymer solar cell includes placing a carbon nanotube array into a polymer solution. The carbon nanotube array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. Each carbon nanotube includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The polymer solution is cured to form a polymer layer including a first polymer surface and a second polymer surface opposite to the first polymer surface. The first end is exposed from the polymer layer, and the second end is embedded in the polymer layer. An insulating layer is formed on the first polymer surface. A cathode electrode is formed on a surface of the insulating layer away from the polymer layer, and the first end passes through the insulating layer and is in direct contact with the cathode electrode. An anode electrode is formed on the second polymer surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for making a polymer solar cell, comprising: placing a carbon nanotube array into a polymer solution, wherein the carbon nanotube array comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is exposed from the polymer solution, and the second end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is immersed in the polymer solution; curing the polymer solution to form a polymer layer, so that a photoactive layer consisting of the polymer layer and the plurality of carbon nanotubes is formed, wherein a material of the polymer layer is polymer, the polymer layer comprises a first polymer surface and a second polymer surface opposite to the first polymer surface, the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is exposed from the polymer layer, and the second end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is embedded in the polymer layer; forming an insulating layer on the first polymer surface, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes passes through the insulating layer and exposed from the insulating layer; forming a cathode electrode on a surface of the insulating layer away from the polymer layer, wherein the first end of each of the carbon nanotubes is in direct contact with the cathode electrode, the plurality of carbon nanotubes are electron acceptors, electrons are generated at a contact surface of the polymer layer and the plurality of carbon nanotubes, and an electrical path is defined from the plurality of carbon nanotubes to the cathode electrode; and forming an anode electrode on the second polymer surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the cathode electrode on the surface of the insulating layer away from the polymer layer further comprises embedding the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes in the cathode electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the cathode electrode on the surface of the insulating layer away from the polymer layer further comprises flushing the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes with the surface of the insulating layer away from the polymer layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein length directions of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are substantially perpendicular to the first polymer surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein placing the carbon nanotube array into the polymer solution comprises: growing the carbon nanotube array comprising the plurality of carbon nanotubes on a growth substrate, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in direct contact with the growth substrate, and the second end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is away from the growth substrate; placing the polymer solution in a container; and making a portion of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes immersed in the polymer solution. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein placing the carbon nanotube array into the polymer solution comprises: growing the carbon nanotube array comprising the plurality of carbon nanotubes on a growth substrate, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in direct contact with the growth substrate, and the second end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is away from the growth substrate; removing the growth substrate; placing the polymer solution in a container; and immersing a portion of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes in the polymer solution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising pressing the carbon nanotube array such that the plurality of carbon nanotubes tilt, after placing the carbon nanotube array into the polymer solution and before curing the polymer solution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein after pressing the carbon nanotube, an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 60 degrees is formed between the first polymer surface and the plurality of carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a reflective layer on a surface of the cathode electrode away from the insulating layer after forming the cathode electrode, or on a surface of the anode electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an exciton blocking layer on the first polymer surface, after curing the polymer solution and before forming the insulating layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an exciton blocking layer on the second polymer surface before forming the anode electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the anode electrode is in direct contact with the second polymer surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is embedded in the polymer layer, and the portion is in direct contact with the polymer layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a material of the insulating layer is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyperfluoroethylene propylene (PEP), or polyvinyl fluoride (PVF). ### Claim 15 A method for making a polymer solar cell, comprising: placing a carbon nanotube array into a polymer solution, wherein the carbon nanotube array comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each of the plurality of carbon nanotube has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is exposed from the polymer solution, and the second end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is immersed in the polymer solution; curing the polymer solution to form a polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer comprises a first polymer surface and a second polymer surface opposite to the first polymer surface, the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is exposed from the polymer layer, and the second end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is embedded in the polymer layer; forming an insulating layer on the first polymer surface, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes passes through the insulating layer and exposed from the insulating layer; forming a cathode electrode on a surface of the insulating layer away from the polymer layer, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in direct contact with the cathode electrode, electrons are generated at a contact surface of the polymer layer and the plurality of carbon nanotubes, and an electrical path is defined from the plurality of carbon nanotubes to the cathode electrode; and forming an anode electrode on the second polymer surface, wherein the anode electrode is in direct contact with the second polymer surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a material of the insulating layer is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), poly carbonate (PC), polyperfluoroethylene propylene (PEP), or polyvinyl fluoride (PVF). ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a material of the insulating layer is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising pressing the carbon nanotube array such that the plurality of carbon nanotubes tilt, after placing the carbon nanotube array into the polymer solution and before curing the polymer solution, so that an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 60 degrees is formed between the first polymer surface and the plurality of carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the curing the polymer solution to form the polymer layer further comprises curing the polymer solution, so that a photoactive layer is formed, wherein a material of the polymer layer is polymer, and the photoactive layer consists of the polymer and the plurality of carbon nanotubes.