We present a new approach of solution-processed using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures as extraction layer material for organic solar cells. It is low chemical reaction compatibility with all types of organic blends and its good adhesion to both surfaces of ITO/glass substrate and the active layer (blends). Parameters such as the thickness and the morphology of the films were investigated to prove that these factors greatly affect the efficiency of organic solar cells. In this work, ZnO layer with thickness of approximately 53 nm was used as an interlayer to prevent pin-holes between the electrode and the polymer layer. The polymer layer was coated on the ZnO layer with the thickness of about 150 nm. The thick polymer layer will form a non-uniform surface because of the solvent, 1-2dichlorobenzene will etch away some region of the polymer layer and forming pin-holes. ZnO nanostructures layer was used to prevent pin-holes between the polymer layer and electrode. From the surface morphology of ZnO layer, it shows a uniform surface with particle grain size obtained between 50-100 nm. The presence of the interlayer has a positive effect on the electrical characteristics of the solar cells. It was found that an organic solar cell with thickness less than 150 nm shows the optimum performance with efficiency of 0.0067% and Fill Factor (FF) of about 19.73.
Abstract. An aqueous solution was prepared by mixing the copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO 4 ), lactic acid, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and de-ionized (DI) water. Direct deposition of copper(II) oxide (CuO) nanostructures films on glass substrates was achieved by a simple, inexpensive and one-step chemical bath deposition method. The pH of the solution was varied at 11.7, 12.0, 12.3 and 12.6 and immersed at low temperature (90 °C). The influences of the pH solution towards the surface topography, morphology and thickness were investigated by a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a surface profiler. Meanwhile, an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to examine the structural properties of CuO films. The optical properties were measured by a UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that the grain size of the films decreases and the surface becomes smoother and more uniform by increasing the pH solution. The CuO nanostructures have high crystallinity with monoclinic structure which is preferentially grown along (1 11) and (200) directions. Therefore, the film has great potential for gas sensor device.
The synthesized and characterization on the growth of copper oxide thin films on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass with annealing and without annealing process has been studied by immersion techniques. Furthermore, ZnO layer has been used in order to improved the absorption spectrum of CuO films. The copper oxide films were analyzed on the morphological, structural, optical and electrical by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy (absorbance) and I-V characteristics instruments. The atomic force microscope (AFM) was used in order to characterize the surface imaging of copper oxide films and the thicknesses were measured using a surface profiler. The AFM studies revealed that the roughness of the CuO films increased after annealing was applied this is due to the formation of large clusters of grains from the merging of small clusters grains. The CuO films thicknesses also becomes two times higher than the CuO films without annealing process.
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