Nanocomposite for Solar Energy Application

Mola, Genene Tessema; Mbuyise, Xolani G.; Oseni, Saheed O.; Dlamini, Wiseman Mpilo.; Tonui, Patrick; Arbab, Elhadi A. A.; Kaviyarasu, K.; Maaza, M.

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/nhc.20.90

Cited by 29 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Within these materials for harnessing solar energy, those solar cells based on organic semiconductors represent a promising technology due to their low cost, low weight, and versatility. Thus, polymer solar cell (PSC) devices have gained ground by using a πconjugated polymer donor with a nanoscale coating; it forms a nanocomposite [161]. These materials have advantages compared to conventional solar cells, such as improved stability and efficiency [160,162].…”

Section: Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymer-Magnetic Semiconductor Nanocomposites for Industrial Electronic Applications

et al. 2022

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Nanocomposite materials have acquired great importance, as have similar composite materials on a macroscopic scale, because the reinforcement complements the defects in the properties of the matrix, thus obtaining materials with better mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, among others. At the same time, the importance and research of polymeric nanocomposites reinforced with nanoparticles of various types have grown. Among those that have stood out the most in the electronics industry are polymeric matrices reinforced with nanoparticles that present dual behavior, that is, both magnetic and semiconductor. This property has been very well used in developing electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and smartphones, which are part of everyday life. In this sense, this review presents a compilation of the synthetic methods to produce polymer nanocomposites with dual magnetic and semiconductor behavior and their potential applications within electronic fields and new relevant trends.

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Section: Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymer-Magnetic Semiconductor Nanocomposites for Industrial Electronic Applications

et al. 2022

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“…In an OSC, photons from incident solar radiation are transmitted through the substrate, bottom electrode and charge transport layer, so that they reach the photoactive layer, where they are absorbed by the donor material, in which excitons, i.e., strongly bound electron-hole pairs, are generated ( Jeon et al, 2017 ; Ramasamy et al, 2019 ; Wang et al, 2020 ; Kang et al, 2021 ) and localized owing to the large exciton binding energy in the polymer matrix ( Hatton et al, 2008 ). The photogenerated excitons subsequently diffuse within their limited diffusion distance to the interface between materials with dissimilar electron affinities and ionization potentials, i.e., between the donor-acceptor interface, where they are absolutely separated into free charge carriers after overcoming the binding energies ( Tessema Mola et al, 2018 ). However, since the exciton diffusion length in OSCs is small, a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) should exist within the short diffusion distance so that excitons can always reach the donor-acceptor interface for charge separation to occur, and a continuous interpenetrating channel should exist for transporting charge carriers to the electrodes ( Jeon Y.-J.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

et al. 2022

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In recent years, carbon-based materials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have gained intensive research attention in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs) due to their outstanding physicochemical properties, low-cost, environmental friendliness and the natural abundance of carbon. In this regard, the low sheet resistance and high optical transmittance of CNTs enables their application as alternative anodes to the widely used indium tin oxide (ITO), which is toxic, expensive and scarce. Also, the synergy between the large specific surface area and high electrical conductivity of CNTs provides both large donor-acceptor interfaces and conductive interpenetrating networks for exciton dissociation and charge carrier transport. Furthermore, the facile tunability of the energy levels of CNTs provides proper energy level alignment between the active layer and electrodes for effective extraction and transportation of charge carriers. In addition, the hydrophobic nature and high thermal conductivity of CNTs enables them to form protective layers that improve the moisture and thermal stability of OSCs, thereby prolonging the devices’ lifetime. Recently, the introduction of CNTs into OSCs produced a substantial increase in efficiency from ∼0.68 to above 14.00%. Thus, further optimization of the optoelectronic properties of CNTs can conceivably help OSCs to compete with silicon solar cells that have been commercialized. Therefore, this study presents the recent breakthroughs in efficiency and stability of OSCs, achieved mainly over 2018–2021 by incorporating CNTs into electrodes, active layers and charge transport layers. The challenges, advantages and recommendations for the fabrication of low-cost, highly efficient and sustainable next-generation OSCs are also discussed, to open up avenues for commercialization.

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“…Among others, perovskite solar cells, organic photovoltaics (OPVs), dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) etc have been successfully designed and developed to achieve the realization of cheap and flexible solar panels. These technologies employ a solution-based device fabrication process through roll to roll printing methods without leaving behind toxic chemical waste [1,2]. Organic semiconductors have attracted tremendous interest in recent years * Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasmonic nano-particles mediated energy harvesting in thin-film organic solar cells

Hamed

Ike

Mola

2021

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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A Cd-doped ZnO nano-composite (Cd:ZnO) was synthesized using wet chemistry, and then incorporated into the photo-active layer of a thin film organic solar cell (TFOSC) to assist photon harvesting. The nano-composite (NC) formed different sized nano-structures that are beneficial to optical absorption and charge transport processes in the TFOSC. The effects on the NC were studied using a solar absorber medium composed of a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 6-6-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend with standard device architecture: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/LiF/Al. The electrical and optical properties of the photoactive films were investigated at various doping levels of Cd:ZnO NC in the medium. The composite showed interesting local surface plasmon resonance, which significantly impacted on the performance of the cells. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency of the TFOSC grew by 84% compared to the reference cell. It is also noted that Cd:ZnO is environmentally stable and compatible for solution device processing.

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Nanocomposite for Solar Energy Application

Cited by 29 publications

References 64 publications

Polymer-Magnetic Semiconductor Nanocomposites for Industrial Electronic Applications

Polymer-Magnetic Semiconductor Nanocomposites for Industrial Electronic Applications

Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

Plasmonic nano-particles mediated energy harvesting in thin-film organic solar cells

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