Advances in carbon nanostructures and organic semiconductors for next-generation solar cells: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Conjugated polymers have recently received special attention due to their applications in flexible electronic devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), polymer solar cells, and organic thin film transistors, as well as their solution processing and cheap price. For this reason, in order to increase and improve the capability of these polymer cells, numerous semiconductor materials have been prepared, but scientists are still pursuing extensive efforts to develop the ideal material in this field. Today, silicon solar cells are one of the most widely used solid state components. A dependable and effective renewable energy source that balances power generation and energy consumption is necessary to meet our present energy demands. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), and perovskite solar cells are some of the next-generation technologies that are developing as possible sustainable renewable energy sources. Organic semiconductors have drawn interest since the 1950s, when highly conductive organic charge-transfer molecules were discovered. Organic photovoltaic solar cells have important qualities that make them perfect for developing next-generation technologies. These qualities include being abundant, nontoxic, and an affordable nanomaterial that is simple to produce, even in ambient settings. crystalline silicon solar cells remain the most widely deployed photovoltaic technology. Silicon is an indirect-bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.12 eV at 300 K, which enables efficient absorption of the solar spectrum and generation of electron–hole pairs upon illumination. This review also examines recent advances in nanotechnology-enabled commercial solar products, including quantum dot coatings, gallium arsenide thin films, and self-cleaning silicon solar panels. Key challenges—such as material stability, reproducibility of nanomaterial synthesis, and long-term device performance—are discussed, along with future research directions. Overall, this study underscores the pivotal role of nanomaterials in advancing photovoltaic science and provides insights into pathways for achieving scalable, efficient, and economically viable solar energy conversion.