Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application

Thin films of ZnO and ZnTe semiconductors were deposited on ITO conducting glass substrates by sputtering and electrodeposition techniques, respectively. On the other hand, thin films of ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte were prepared by solution cast technique. The polymer is a blend of 50 w...

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Main Authors: Souad Al-bat’hi, K. A. Buhari, M. I. Latiff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/748383
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author Souad Al-bat’hi
K. A. Buhari
M. I. Latiff
author_facet Souad Al-bat’hi
K. A. Buhari
M. I. Latiff
author_sort Souad Al-bat’hi
collection DOAJ
description Thin films of ZnO and ZnTe semiconductors were deposited on ITO conducting glass substrates by sputtering and electrodeposition techniques, respectively. On the other hand, thin films of ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte were prepared by solution cast technique. The polymer is a blend of 50 wt% polyethylene oxide and 50 wt% chitosan. To provide redox couple (I−/I3−), the polymer was complexed with ammonium iodide NH4I with addition of few crystals of iodine I2. Ammonium iodide NH4I was added to the solution in different amounts (wt%) weight ratios to supply the charge carriers for the polymer electrolytes. The highest ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte was 1.18×10−5 S cm−1 at room temperature. Structural and optical properties of the semiconductor thin films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The XRD shows crystalline structures for both ZnO and ZnTe thin films. The UV-Vis shows direct energy gaps EZnO of 3.1 eV and EZnTe of 2.2 eV. The polymer film was sandwiched between the ZnO and ZnTe semiconductors to form ITO/ZnO/polymer/ZnTe/ITO double-junction photovoltaic cell, and the photovoltaic properties were studied. The highest open-circuit voltage 𝑉oc, short-circuit current density 𝐽sc, and fill factor FF of the fabricated cells are 0.5 V, 55 μA cm−2, and 27%, respectively.
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spelling doaj-art-be3700a80a8e45619e26db00d65cab552025-02-03T05:44:58ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2012-01-01201210.1155/2012/748383748383Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic ApplicationSouad Al-bat’hi0K. A. Buhari1M. I. Latiff2Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThin films of ZnO and ZnTe semiconductors were deposited on ITO conducting glass substrates by sputtering and electrodeposition techniques, respectively. On the other hand, thin films of ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte were prepared by solution cast technique. The polymer is a blend of 50 wt% polyethylene oxide and 50 wt% chitosan. To provide redox couple (I−/I3−), the polymer was complexed with ammonium iodide NH4I with addition of few crystals of iodine I2. Ammonium iodide NH4I was added to the solution in different amounts (wt%) weight ratios to supply the charge carriers for the polymer electrolytes. The highest ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte was 1.18×10−5 S cm−1 at room temperature. Structural and optical properties of the semiconductor thin films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The XRD shows crystalline structures for both ZnO and ZnTe thin films. The UV-Vis shows direct energy gaps EZnO of 3.1 eV and EZnTe of 2.2 eV. The polymer film was sandwiched between the ZnO and ZnTe semiconductors to form ITO/ZnO/polymer/ZnTe/ITO double-junction photovoltaic cell, and the photovoltaic properties were studied. The highest open-circuit voltage 𝑉oc, short-circuit current density 𝐽sc, and fill factor FF of the fabricated cells are 0.5 V, 55 μA cm−2, and 27%, respectively.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/748383
spellingShingle Souad Al-bat’hi
K. A. Buhari
M. I. Latiff
Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application
title_full Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application
title_fullStr Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application
title_full_unstemmed Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application
title_short Zinc-Based Semiconductors/Polymer Thin Films Junction for Photovoltaic Application
title_sort zinc based semiconductors polymer thin films junction for photovoltaic application
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/748383
work_keys_str_mv AT souadalbathi zincbasedsemiconductorspolymerthinfilmsjunctionforphotovoltaicapplication
AT kabuhari zincbasedsemiconductorspolymerthinfilmsjunctionforphotovoltaicapplication
AT milatiff zincbasedsemiconductorspolymerthinfilmsjunctionforphotovoltaicapplication