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Attar A, Alharthy RD, Zwawi M, Algarni M, Albatati F, Bassyouni M, Abdel-Aziz MH, Zoromba MS, Al-Hossainy AF. Fabrication and Characterization of Polypyrrole/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Thin Films Using Thermal Evaporation. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13224045. [PMID: 34833341 PMCID: PMC8620608 DOI: 10.3390/polym13224045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites (PPy/MWCNTs) were produced in an acidic solution utilizing an in situ oxidative polymerization method using ferric chloride as an oxidizing agent and sodium dodecyl sulfate as a soft template. Thermal evaporation was used to fabricate thin films from polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites. The resulting composites were examined by different techniques to explore their morphology, structural and electrical characteristics. The surface morphology analysis revealed that polypyrrole structure is a two-dimensional film with impeded nanoparticles and the thickness of coated PPy around the MWCNTs decreases when increasing the amount of MWCNTs. XRD analysis revealed that the average crystallite size of the prepared composites is 62.26 nm. The direct energy gap for PPy is affected by a factor ranging from 2.41 eV to 1.47 eV depending on the contents of MWCNTs. The thin film's optical properties were examined using experimental and TDDFT-DFT/DMOl3 simulation techniques. The optical constants and optical conductivity of the composites were calculated and correlated. The structural and optical characteristics of the simulated nanocomposites as single isolated molecules accord well with the experimental results. The nanocomposite thin films demonstrated promising results, making them a viable candidate for polymer solar cell demands. Under optimal circumstances, the constructed planar heterojunction solar cells with a 75 ± 3 nm layer of PPy/MWCNTs had a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.86%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Attar
- Mechanical Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.Z.); (M.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Rima D. Alharthy
- Department of Chemistry, Science and Arts College, Rabigh Campus, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21577, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammed Zwawi
- Mechanical Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.Z.); (M.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Mohammed Algarni
- Mechanical Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.Z.); (M.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Faisal Albatati
- Mechanical Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.Z.); (M.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Mohamed Bassyouni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University, Port Fouad 42526, Egypt
- Materials Science Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October, Giza 12578, Egypt
- Correspondence:
| | - Mohamed Helmy Abdel-Aziz
- Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia; (M.H.A.-A.); (M.S.Z.)
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21544, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Shafick Zoromba
- Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia; (M.H.A.-A.); (M.S.Z.)
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Port-Said University, 23 December Street, Port-Said 42521, Egypt
| | - Ahmed F. Al-Hossainy
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, Al-Wadi Al-Gadid, Al-Kharga 72511, Egypt;
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Prepelita P, Stavarache I, Craciun D, Garoi F, Negrila C, Sbarcea BG, Craciun V. Rapid thermal annealing for high-quality ITO thin films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 10:1511-1522. [PMID: 31431863 PMCID: PMC6664415 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.10.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In this work, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) was applied to indium tin oxide (ITO) films in ambient atmosphere, resulting in significant improvements of the quality of the ITO films that are commonly used as conductive transparent electrodes for photovoltaic structures. Starting from a single sintered target (purity 99.95%), ITO thin films of predefined thickness (230 nm, 300 nm and 370 nm) were deposited at room temperature by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering (rfMS). After deposition, the films were subjected to a RTA process at 575 °C (heating rate 20 °C/s), maintained at this temperature for 10 minutes, then cooled down to room temperature at a rate of 20 °C/s. The film structure was modified by changing the deposition thickness or the RTA process. X-ray diffraction investigations revealed a cubic nanocrystalline structure for the as-deposited ITO films. After RTA, polycrystalline compounds with a textured (222) plane were observed. X-ray photon spectroscopy was used to confirm the beneficial effect of the RTA treatment on the ITO chemical composition. Using a Tauc plot, values of the optical band gap ranging from 3.17 to 3.67 eV were estimated. These values depend on the heat treatment and the thickness of the sample. Highly conductive indium tin oxide thin films (ρ = 7.4 × 10-5 Ω cm) were obtained after RTA treatment in an open atmosphere. Such films could be used to manufacture transparent contact electrodes for solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petronela Prepelita
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, P.O. Box MG-36, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania
| | - Ionel Stavarache
- National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, P.O. Box MG-7, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania
| | - Doina Craciun
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, P.O. Box MG-36, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania
| | - Florin Garoi
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, P.O. Box MG-36, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania
| | - Catalin Negrila
- National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, P.O. Box MG-7, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania
| | | | - Valentin Craciun
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, P.O. Box MG-36, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania
- Dentix MILLENNIUM SRL, Sabareni-Ilfov, Romania
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Capasso A, Salamandra L, Faggio G, Dikonimos T, Buonocore F, Morandi V, Ortolani L, Lisi N. Chemical Vapor Deposited Graphene-Based Derivative As High-Performance Hole Transport Material for Organic Photovoltaics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:23844-23853. [PMID: 27575588 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b06749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The development of efficient charge transport layers is a key requirement for the fabrication of efficient and stable organic solar cells. A graphene-based derivative with planar resistivity exceeding 10(5) Ω/□ and work function of 4.9 eV is here produced by finely tuning the parameters of the chemical vapor deposition process on copper. After the growth, the film is transferred to glass/indium tin oxide and used as hole transport layer in organic solar cells based on a PBDTTT-C-T:[70]PCBM blend. The cells attained a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5%, matching reference cells made with state-of-the-art PEDOT PSS as the hole transport layer. Our results indicate that functionalized graphene could represent an effective alternative to PEDOT PSS as hole transport/electron blocking layer in solution-processed organic photovoltaics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Capasso
- ENEA , Laboratorio Materiali e Processi Fisico-Chimici, Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome 00060, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Graphene Labs, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Luigi Salamandra
- Istituto Superiore delle Comunicazioni e delle Tecnologie dell'Informazione (ISCOM), Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico , Viale America 201, Rome 00144, Italy
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via del Politecnico 1, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Giuliana Faggio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell'Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università "Mediterranea" di Reggio Calabria , Reggio, Calabria 89122, Italy
| | - Theodoros Dikonimos
- ENEA , Laboratorio Materiali e Processi Fisico-Chimici, Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome 00060, Italy
| | - Francesco Buonocore
- ENEA , Laboratorio Materiali e Processi Fisico-Chimici, Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome 00060, Italy
| | | | - Luca Ortolani
- CNR-IMM Bologna , Via Gobetti, 101, Bologna 40129, Italy
| | - Nicola Lisi
- ENEA , Laboratorio Materiali e Processi Fisico-Chimici, Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome 00060, Italy
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Notarianni M, Liu J, Vernon K, Motta N. Synthesis and applications of carbon nanomaterials for energy generation and storage. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 7:149-196. [PMID: 26925363 PMCID: PMC4734431 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.7.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The world is facing an energy crisis due to exponential population growth and limited availability of fossil fuels. Over the last 20 years, carbon, one of the most abundant materials found on earth, and its allotrope forms such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene have been proposed as sources of energy generation and storage because of their extraordinary properties and ease of production. Various approaches for the synthesis and incorporation of carbon nanomaterials in organic photovoltaics and supercapacitors have been reviewed and discussed in this work, highlighting their benefits as compared to other materials commonly used in these devices. The use of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene in organic photovoltaics and supercapacitors is described in detail, explaining how their remarkable properties can enhance the efficiency of solar cells and energy storage in supercapacitors. Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene have all been included in solar cells with interesting results, although a number of problems are still to be overcome in order to achieve high efficiency and stability. However, the flexibility and the low cost of these materials provide the opportunity for many applications such as wearable and disposable electronics or mobile charging. The application of carbon nanotubes and graphene to supercapacitors is also discussed and reviewed in this work. Carbon nanotubes, in combination with graphene, can create a more porous film with extraordinary capacitive performance, paving the way to many practical applications from mobile phones to electric cars. In conclusion, we show that carbon nanomaterials, developed by inexpensive synthesis and process methods such as printing and roll-to-roll techniques, are ideal for the development of flexible devices for energy generation and storage - the key to the portable electronics of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Notarianni
- Institute of Future Environments and School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
- Plasma-Therm LLC, 10050 16th St. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716, USA
| | - Jinzhang Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Kristy Vernon
- Institute of Future Environments and School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Nunzio Motta
- Institute of Future Environments and School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
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Capasso A, Dikonimos T, Sarto F, Tamburrano A, De Bellis G, Sarto MS, Faggio G, Malara A, Messina G, Lisi N. Nitrogen-doped graphene films from chemical vapor deposition of pyridine: influence of process parameters on the electrical and optical properties. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 6:2028-2038. [PMID: 26665073 PMCID: PMC4660949 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.6.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Graphene films were produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of pyridine on copper substrates. Pyridine-CVD is expected to lead to doped graphene by the insertion of nitrogen atoms in the growing sp(2) carbon lattice, possibly improving the properties of graphene as a transparent conductive film. We here report on the influence that the CVD parameters (i.e., temperature and gas flow) have on the morphology, transmittance, and electrical conductivity of the graphene films grown with pyridine. A temperature range between 930 and 1070 °C was explored and the results were compared to those of pristine graphene grown by ethanol-CVD under the same process conditions. The films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, Raman and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The optical transmittance and electrical conductivity of the films were measured to evaluate their performance as transparent conductive electrodes. Graphene films grown by pyridine reached an electrical conductivity of 14.3 × 10(5) S/m. Such a high conductivity seems to be associated with the electronic doping induced by substitutional nitrogen atoms. In particular, at 930 °C the nitrogen/carbon ratio of pyridine-grown graphene reaches 3%, and its electrical conductivity is 40% higher than that of pristine graphene grown from ethanol-CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Capasso
- ENEA, Materials Technology Unit, Surface Technology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Centre,Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Graphene Labs, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Theodoros Dikonimos
- ENEA, Materials Technology Unit, Surface Technology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Centre,Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sarto
- ENEA, Fusion Technical Unit, Lab. of Nuclear Technologies, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati (Rome), Italy
| | - Alessio Tamburrano
- Research Center on Nanotechnology Applied to Engineering of Sapienza (CNIS), SSNLab, Sapienza, University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Bellis
- Research Center on Nanotechnology Applied to Engineering of Sapienza (CNIS), SSNLab, Sapienza, University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Sabrina Sarto
- Research Center on Nanotechnology Applied to Engineering of Sapienza (CNIS), SSNLab, Sapienza, University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuliana Faggio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell'Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Angela Malara
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell'Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Giacomo Messina
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell'Energia Sostenibile (DIIES), Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Nicola Lisi
- ENEA, Materials Technology Unit, Surface Technology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Centre,Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
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Alturaif HA, ALOthman ZA, Shapter JG, Wabaidur SM. Use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with polymers in solar cells. Molecules 2014; 19:17329-44. [PMID: 25353384 PMCID: PMC6271889 DOI: 10.3390/molecules191117329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a clear need to make energy cheap, readily accessible and green, while ensuring its production does not contribute to further climate change. Of all the options available, photovoltaics offer the highest probability of delivering a meaningful and sustainable change in the way society produces its energy. One approach to the development of such photovoltaics involves the use of polymers. These systems offer the advantages of cheap production, flexibility (and hence a range of deployment opportunities) and tunability of light absorption. However, there are issues with polymer-based photovoltaic systems and one significant effort to improve these systems has involved the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This review will focus on those efforts. CNTs have been used in virtually every component of the devices to help charge conduction, improve electrode flexibility and in some cases as active light absorbing materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huda A Alturaif
- Centre for NanoScale Science & Technology (CNST), Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.
| | - Zeid A ALOthman
- Advanced Material Research Chair, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Joseph G Shapter
- Centre for NanoScale Science & Technology (CNST), Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.
| | - Saikh M Wabaidur
- Advanced Material Research Chair, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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