Abstract
Flexible, economical, and low-toxic organic solar cells are becoming highly popular in photovoltaic research. Interestingly, its efficiency of energy conversion remains lower than that of silicon-based solar cells. As a result, it is unavoidable to focus on organic solar cell efficiency enhancement. This article presents a nano-composite thin-film developed using zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a solution casting technique varying weight percentage (wt.%) of ZnO into the PVA matrix. The characterization of the thin-film of ZnO/PVA has been made using SEM, XRD, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The characterization reveals that the ZnO nanoparticle network forms an excellent path for electron flow in the PVA matrix at the optimal ZnO concentration of 16.66 % and a PVA concentration of 83.33 %. The thin film was applied to an organic solar cell of architecture consists of carbon fiber reinforced with ZnO-epoxy resin/CuO-epoxy resin for performance investigation. The solar cell’s maximum efficiency was determined to be 9.01 % before and 14.65 % after using the nano-composite film. 5.64 % increase in the efficiency of organic solar cells are observed after the ZnO/PVA nanocomposite thin film is applied.
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Abbreviations
- θ :
-
Peak position, degree
- λ :
-
Wavelength, nm
- β :
-
Full width at half maximum, radian
- η :
-
Solar energy conversion efficiency, %
- c :
-
Activated carbon
- D :
-
Crystallite size
- J SC :
-
Short circuit current density, A/cm2
- V OC :
-
Open circuit voltage, V
- w f :
-
Weight of filler
- w p :
-
Weight of polymer
- FF :
-
Fill factor, %
- ZnO :
-
Zinc oxide nano-powder
- PVA :
-
Poly vinyl alcohol
- wt%:
-
Weight percentage, %
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Acknowledgments
This work is supported by Flagship Project Program “Solar & Wind Power Ultrafast DC-DC Charging Station for Electric Vehicle”, Office of Strategy and Institutional Change (OSIC), International Islamic University Malaysia.
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Shaheer Ahmed Khan obtained the bachelor of Engineering in Materials Engineering from the NED University of Engineering and Technology (NEDUET) Pakistan, in 2016. He obtained a research-based master of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2021. Currently, he is working as a teaching faculty member at the Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan, since 2021. Moreover, he is also a Research Scholar at the NED University of Engineering and Technology (NEDUET). His research interests are Materials and Manufacturing Processes, Renewable Energy, and Nanomaterials.
Md. Ataur Rahman obtained the Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering) from the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Bangladesh in 1991. He has obtained the master of Business Administration (Techno-Entrepreneurship) from the University Technology Malaysia (UTM) in 2000, Master of Engineering (Automotive) from UTM in 2001 and degree of doctor of philosophy in Engineering (Automotive Engineering) from the University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2005. He was appointed as a Visiting Fellow for “Designing Automation System for Off-road Vehicle” at the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, The University of Tokyo, Japan for 2005–2006. He was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2006. Later he was promoted by IIUM for the post of Associate Professor in 2010 and Professor in 2014. He is the Chairmen of IIUM Centre for Excellent of Electric Mobility. His research interests are green transportation system: EV/HEV, intelligent evaporative thermal management system for EV battery, intelligent power train for hybrid and electrical vehicle, intelligent steering system, and traction control system, electromagnetic CVT and electromagnetic seamless 2-speed gearbox and organic structural photo-capacitor for EV towards energy independent. He has published 140 index journal articles, 4 books and 8 patents.
Wajahat Khan obtained the bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) from the NED University of Engineering and Technology (NEDUET), Pakistan, in 2018. He obtained a master of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) from the NED University of Engineering and Technology (NEDUET), Pakistan, in 2022. He currently serves as a teaching faculty member at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), PNEC Campus, Pakistan, since 2019. His research interests are composite materials, viscoelasticity, and Finite Element analysis.
Syed Mustafa Haider has been pursuing his doctoral degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Management from the Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan, since 2022. He received his master’s in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, in 2019. His research interests are in the areas of machining and manufacturing technologies.
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Khan, S.A., Rahman, A., Khan, W. et al. Characterization and application of nano-composite zinc oxide/poly vinyl alcohol thin-film in solar cell performance enhancement. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 5055–5065 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-0806-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-0806-2