22-30 July 2021
North-West University
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
More Information Coming Soon

Incorporation of gold metal nanoparticles in organic solar cells

Not scheduled
20m
Potchefstroom Campus (North-West University)

Potchefstroom Campus

North-West University

Poster Presentation Track A - Physics of Condensed Matter and Materials Physics of Condensed Matter and Materials

Speaker

Thapelo Seimela (None)

Description

In this study, the plasmonic effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) inside poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) for improving light scattering of organic solar cells have been investigated. Chloroauric acid is capped with trisodium citrate in which the solution is heated to obtain Au NPs. Au NPs are deposited in PEDOT:PSS and spin coated on top of glass substrate followed by the blend poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show spherical shapes of Au NPs with grain size of 23.7±0.5 nm. The UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that NPs are absorbing in the visible range by showing plasmonic resonance at around 534 nm along with peaks of PEDOT:PSS, PCBM and P3HT at 353, 333 and 445 nm respectively. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the FCC structure of NPs with (111), (200), (220), and (310) phases in which the (111) peak was the most intense. Raman has also confirmed the existence of P3HT:PCBM, PEDOT:PSS and Au NPs by showing the peaks of each structure. From this study, Au NPs have a potential application in organic solar cells.

Level for award;(Hons, MSc, PhD, N/A)?

MSc

Apply to be considered for a student ; award (Yes / No)?

Yes

Primary author

Thapelo Seimela (None)

Co-authors

Justine Nyarige (Student) Dr Nolwazi Nombona (Department of Chemistry, Unirversity of Pretoria) Mmantsae Diale (University of Pretoria)

Presentation Materials