Polyaniline/ZnO Hybrid Nanocomposite: Morphology, Spectroscopy and Optimization of ZnO Concentration for Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract

The appropriate combination of semiconducting polymer–inorganic nanocomposites can enhance the existing performance of polymers-only-based photovoltaic devices. Hence, polyaniline (PANI)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposites were prepared by combining ZnO nanoparticles with PANI in four distinct ratios to optimize their photovoltaic performance. Using a simple coating method, PANI, ZnO, and its nanocomposite, with varying weight percent (wt%) concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles, i.e., (1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, and 4 wt%), were fabricated and utilized as an active layer to evaluate the potential for the high-power conversion efficiency of various concentrations, respectively. PANI/ZnO nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and I-V measurement techniques. The XRD analysis showed a distinct, narrow peak, which corresponds to the wurtzite ZnO (101) plane. The SEM analysis verified the production of the PANI/ZnO composite by demonstrating that the crystalline ZnO was integrated into the PANI matrix. The elemental composition was determined by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), which confirmed the existence of PANI and ZnO without any impurities, respectively. Using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, various chemical bonds and stretching vibrations were analyzed and assigned to different peaks. The bandgap narrowing with an increasing PANI/ZnO composition led to exceptional optical improvement. The I-V characterization was utilized to investigate the impact of the nanocomposite on the electrical properties of the PANI/ZnO, and various concentrations of ZnO (1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, and 4 wt%) in the PANI matrix were analyzed under both light and dark conditions at an STC of 1.5 AM globally. A high PCE of 4.48% was achieved for the PANI/ZnO (3 wt%), which revealed that the conductivity of the PANI/ZnO nanocomposite thin films improved with the increasing nanocomposite concentration.

A highly effective PANI@(Ce-Er) dual doped ZnO (PCEZ) nanocomposite as UV-light driven photocatalyst for degradation of MB dye: synthesis and characterization

“…This decrease can be attributed to the incorporation of metal oxide frame into the PANI matrix, which restricts the movement of the metal oxide particles and impedes the growth of crystallites due to reinforcement effect [22]. This reduction in size is facilitated by the effective dispersion of polyaniline (PANI) within the ZnO matrix, facilitated by the close interaction between PANI and ZnO nanoparticles [23]. Additionally, the Zener pinning effect, where the presence of rare earth ions hinders the growth of crystal grains and motion along grain boundaries, contributes to this phenomenon [21].…”

Investigating the Physicochemical and Optical Properties of PANI and PANI-ZnO Thin Films for an Efficient Ammonia Sensor at Ambient Conditions

“…4. The peaks originated at 597 and 696 cm ¹ in substituted benzenes due to the out-of-plane bending vibrations of C-H bonds in aromatic rings [32,33]. The 786 and 867 cm ¹ peaks are preferably attributed to out-of-plane bending vibrations of C-H bonds in 1,2,4-trisubstituted benzene rings and aromatic C-H bonds respectively [34].…”

Synthesis of Polyaniline-Zinc Oxide Composites: Assessment of Structural, Morphological, and Electrical Properties

“…In light of the aforementioned properties of conducting polymers, the incorporation of nanoscale additives has been recognized as an essential strategy to augment the electrical properties of host materials such as polyaniline [11]. Zinc oxide (ZnO), a member of the II-VI semiconductor family, is distinguished by a direct band gap of 3.37 eV, rendering it suitable for integration into electronic devices [12,13]. The attributes of ZnO-encompassing high electron mobility, chemical stability, non-toxicity, mechanical robustness, and an expansive surface area when in powdered form-have been exploited to enhance the performance and broaden the utility of various electronic components [14][15][16].…”