Sains Malaysiana 40(1)(2011): 43–47

Fabrication and Morphological Characterization of Hybrid Polymeric Solar Cells Based on P3HT and Inorganic Nanocrystal Blends

(Fabrikasi dan Pencirian Morfologi Sel Suria Polimer Hibrid Berasaskan Adunan P3HT dan Nanohablur Tak Organik)

Toong Way Yun* & Khaulah Sulaiman

Solid State Physics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics

Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 7 December 2009 / Accepted: 13 July 2010

ABSTRACT

In this research we investigated the effect of composition on the fabrication and morphological characteristics of a hybrid polymeric solar cell which consists of an electron donating conjugated polymer, namely is poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) combined with an electron-accepting component, which is a type of inorganic compound of TiO₂ nanocrystals. The composition of TiO₂ in the blends is varied and the optimum performance of the devices are studied. The optical and morphological characterizations are carried out via UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical characteristics of the devices are measured by using Keithley 2400 SMU and solar simulator with light intensity of 100 mW/cm².

Keywords: Blend thin film; composition effect; hybrid polymer solar cell; P3HT; TiO2

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini dijalankan bagi kesan komposisi terhadap fabrikasi dan ciri morfologi sel suria polimer hybrid yang mengandungi adunan satu bahan penderma elektron polimer terkonjugat poli(3-heksiltiofena) (P3HT) dan satu penerima elektron bahan tak organik dalam bentuk nanohablur, TiO₂. Kajian dilakukan terhadap komposisi TiO₂ dalam adunan dan prestasi optimum bagi sel suria ini. Ciri-ciri optik dan morfologi filem nipis ini dikaji melalui penggunaan spektroskopi serapan ultraungu-cahaya nampak, pembelauan sinar-X, mikroskopi daya atom dan mikroskopi elektron imbasan. Pencirian elektrik ke atas peranti sel suria ini diukur menggunakan alat Keithley 2400 SMU dan simulasi suria dengan keamatan cahaya sebanyak 100 mW/cm².

Kata kunci: Adunan filem nipis; solar sel polimer hibrid; P3HT; TiO2; kesan komposisi

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*Corresponding author; email: toong85@yahoo.com.my