Keratins were extracted from chicken feather waste by sulphitolysis method, using various sodium metabisulphite contents. The extracted keratin was characterized by FT-IR and gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) techniques. The extracted keratin with the highest molecular weight (12-20 kDa) was then selected for further study on electrospinning. The keratin/PLA solutions with a variety of blending ratios (10/90 to 90/10 w/w) were prepared before fabrication by electrospinning process. Morphology of the electrospun fiber was examined by using SEM technique, From the results, it was found that keratin/PLA blends containing 90 %wt of keratin could not be electrospun into fiber. By decreasing the keratin content to below 70 %wt, the blend solution can be electrospun into fiber. FT-IR spectrum of the keratin/PLA fiber showed the presence of peaks representing both keratin and PLA. These results confirmed that the fiber composed of both polymeric phases.
This research work has concern a synthesis and application of donor-acceptor block copolymer, namely poly (3-hexyl thiophene)-b-fullerene grafted polystyrene, in bulk heterojunction polymer solar cell based on P3HT/C60 system. The primary aim of this work is to explore a feasibility for using the above block copolymer as a compatibilizer for controlling morphology and enhancing power conversion efficiency of the solar cell. The block copolymer was firstly prepared by synthesizing the P3HT macrointiator via a multiple synthetic route, in accordance with the methods described in literatures. After that, the macroinitiator was further reacted with styrene and chloromethyl:styrene via an ATRP mechanism. Finally, the above copolymer was functionalized with fullerene via an ATRA mechanism to obtain the donor-acceptor block copolymer. Chemical structures, molecular weight and thermal properties of the prepared block copolymer was confirmed by using FTIR, 1H-NMR, TGA, and UV-Visible spectroscopy technique. Next, the polymer solar cells were fabricated by coating P3HT/C60 onto ITO glass, using a spin coating technique. Au electrode was then coated on top of the active layer, using a thermal evaporator. From the results, it was found that power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the normal cell (P3HT/C60) is 0.02 %. However by adding the prepared block copolymer, PCE of the cell increased to 0.23 %.
This research work has concern a development of novel semiconducting polymer based on chemically modified poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) for uses as components in energy related devices. The primary aim of this work was to investigate the effect of electrospinning process on morphology and conductivity of the modified PVC. Chemical structure of PVC was firstly modified by reacting it with sodium hydroxide solution under different reaction time to obtain dehydrochlorinated PVC with a variety of degree of dehydrochlorination. Changes in chemical structure of the polymer was determined by FTIR technique. Degree of dehydrochlorination and chemical structural change was also confirmed by 1H-NMR technique. Morphology of the electruspun fibers were examined by SEM technique. Changes in conductivity of the polymers were also discussed in light of degree of dehydrochlorination and morphology of the materials.
This research work concerns a study on the effect of donor-acceptor graft copolymer, namely poly-p-phenylene vinylene grafted with polystyrene fullerene (PPV-g-PSFu), on morphology and power conversion efficiency of bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJ) based on P3HT/C60. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the graft copolymers content (10, 20 and 40 pph) on morphology and efficiency of the solar cells. The copolymer was mixed with P3HT and C60, by using a solution blending technique. The blend film was fabricated by using a spin coating technique. Power conversion efficiency of the cells was determined by using current density-voltage (J-V) measurements. From the results, it was found that power conversion efficiency (PCE) of various BHJ cells increased from 0.07 x10-4 % to 1.45 x10-4 % after the copolymer (20 pph) was added. The above change was discussed in the light of some changes in morphology of the P3HT/C60 blend. Atomic force micrographs (AFM) the various blends showed that, by adding the graft copolymer, the domain size decreased and finer dispersed particle morphology was obtained.
Vanadium dioxide film, to be used as a thermochromic material for smart glazing, were prepared and fabricated on glass substrate via a polymer assisted deposition (PAD). Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) were used as the film former to control the viscosity of precursor solution and interact with vanadium ions. The structural characteristic of vanadium oxides films was optimized in this work using Taguchi's experimental design. The optimization was performed by considering the effect of annealing temperature, annealing time and heating rates on film thickness and XRD patterns of the prepared film. The results from XRD patterns indicated that the optimum conditions corresponding to the formation of vanadium dioxide (VO2), regardless of the polymer type, is that by using the annealing time and temperature of 6 h and 450 °C, respectively.
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