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Optical Modelling of Planar and Fibre Perovskite Solar Cells. ELECTRONICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/electronics11132041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
We present the optical modelling of a mesoporous fibre perovskite solar cell (PSC). It was conducted by means of the transmission line method (TLM), which was used to calculate the efficiency and short-circuit photo-current density of the cell. The TLM was first applied for a planar mesoporous PSC and verified with the experimental results from the literature. Numerical calculations for both planar and fibre PSC were conducted and analysed regarding their efficiency in terms of optical simulation. The importance of choosing the thin-film layers’ materials and thickness was demonstrated, and a potential improvement using anti-reflection coatings was also examined.
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Khan R, Ali-Löytty H, Tukiainen A, Tkachenko NV. Comparison of the heat-treatment effect on carrier dynamics in TiO 2 thin films deposited by different methods. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:17672-17682. [PMID: 34373878 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02716f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Polycrystalline titanium dioxide thin films are routinely used in a broad range of applications where charge carrier lifetime is essential for their performance but the effects of the fabrication method are rarely considered. Here we compare three popular deposition methods, atomic layer deposition (ALD), ion beam sputtering (IBS), and spray pyrolysis deposition (SPD). In all three cases, 30 nm thin films of TiO2 are prepared, and the as-deposited films show no defined crystal structure and can be classified as amorphous films. Heat treatment (HT) of the films converts all of them to polycrystalline anatase TiO2 as revealed by XRD measurements. A photophysical study was carried out by pico- to nano-second transient absorption pump-probe spectroscopy in transmittance and reflectance modes which allows taking into account the effects due to the photoinduced refractive index changes. This study shows that the HT increases the lifetime of the photo-carriers gradually to a nanosecond time domain (approx. 4 ns) as compared to a few picoseconds of the as-deposited samples. The photo-carrier dynamics of the samples become very similar after heat-treatment, though the topographical features and texture of the films observed with AFM and XRD are quite different. The measured transient absorption spectra of the samples also indicate that the photo-carrier relaxation pathway involves electron and hole trap states with the longest-lived being the hole traps. To evaluate the photoactivity of thin films, methylene blue (MB) photodegradation was tested for all the as-deposited and HT samples and the results showed a 20% higher degradation rate for the IBS HT sample due to the more textured surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramsha Khan
- Photonic Compounds and Nanomaterials Group, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
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Abstract
The interest in advanced photocatalytic technologies with metal oxide-based nanomaterials has been growing exponentially over the years due to their green and sustainable characteristics. Photocatalysis has been employed in several applications ranging from the degradation of pollutants to water splitting, CO2 and N2 reductions, and microorganism inactivation. However, to maintain its eco-friendly aspect, new solutions must be identified to ensure sustainability. One alternative is creating an enhanced photocatalytic paper by introducing cellulose-based materials to the process. Paper can participate as a substrate for the metal oxides, but it can also form composites or membranes, and it adds a valuable contribution as it is environmentally friendly, low-cost, flexible, recyclable, lightweight, and earth abundant. In term of photocatalysts, the use of metal oxides is widely spread, mostly since these materials display enhanced photocatalytic activities, allied to their chemical stability, non-toxicity, and earth abundance, despite being inexpensive and compatible with low-cost wet-chemical synthesis routes. This manuscript extensively reviews the recent developments of using photocatalytic papers with nanostructured metal oxides for environmental remediation. It focuses on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) in the form of nanostructures or thin films. It discusses the main characteristics of metal oxides and correlates them to their photocatalytic activity. The role of cellulose-based materials on the systems’ photocatalytic performance is extensively discussed, and the future perspective for photocatalytic papers is highlighted.
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Yaqub N, Farooq WA, AlSalhi MS. Delving into the properties of polymer nanocomposites with distinctive nano-particle quantities, for the enhancement of optoelectronic devices. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05597. [PMID: 33294717 PMCID: PMC7701351 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The study focusses on synthesis and modification of structural, optical and electrical characteristics of nanostructured titanium dioxide anatase embedded Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposite with different weight percentages (0.03, 0.06, 0.12, 0.18 and 0.24%) by the solvent casting method. Modification in the morphology of PMMA nanocomposites with an increasing amount of titanium dioxide anatase is studied by using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Micrograms of FE-SEM show spherical shaped nanoparticles distribution in PMMA nanocomposites thin films. In optical characterization, transmission, optical band gaps, the real and imaginary part of dielectric constant, linear susceptibility, optical conductivity, refractive index and extinction coefficient are calculated using experimental data. It is observed that the optical band gap has an overall decreasing trend with increasing the weight percentage of TiO2 (anatase) in PMMA nanocomposites. It is also found that values of all electrical parameters decrease with increasing the weight percentage of TiO2 (anatase) in PMMA nanocomposites. All wavelength depending parameters are investigated in the wavelength range from 190 nm to 2700 nm. Single oscillator model is used to analyze the refractive index dispersion and estimation of the oscillator energy and dispersion energy of the films. The study is applicable to optical sensors and other optoelectronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafeesah Yaqub
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - W A Farooq
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - M S AlSalhi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Kumi-Barimah E, Penhale-Jones R, Salimian A, Upadhyaya H, Hasnath A, Jose G. Phase evolution, morphological, optical and electrical properties of femtosecond pulsed laser deposited TiO 2 thin films. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10144. [PMID: 32576968 PMCID: PMC7311466 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67367-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we report anatase and rutile titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticulate thin films fabricated on silica and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) substrates using femtosecond pulsed laser deposition (fs-PLD). Depositions were carried-out at substrate temperatures of 25 °C, 400 °C and 600 °C from anatase and rutile phase target materials. Effect of substrate temperature on the surface morphology, microstructural, optical, and electrical properties of these films were systematically investigated by using various range of measurements such as scanning electron microscopy, (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible-near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy, and Hall Effect measurements. It is observed that the TiO2 thin films surface are predominated with nanoparticulates of diameter less 35 nm, which constitute about ~ 70%; while the optical bandgaps and electrical resistivity decrease with increasing substrate temperature. A mixed-phase (anatase/rutile) TiO2 thin film was produced at a substrate temperature of 400 °C when samples are fabricated with anatase and rutile target materials. The results of this study indicate that the structural and crystallinity, optical, and electrical properties can be controlled by varying fs-PLD process parameters to prepare TiO2 thin films, which are suitable for applications in photovoltaics, solar cells, and photo-catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Kumi-Barimah
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Clarendon Road, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - R Penhale-Jones
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Clarendon Road, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - A Salimian
- Department of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK
| | - H Upadhyaya
- Department of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK
| | - A Hasnath
- Department of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK
| | - G Jose
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Clarendon Road, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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Kavaliunas V, Krugly E, Sriubas M, Mimura H, Laukaitis G, Hatanaka Y. Influence of Mg, Cu, and Ni Dopants on Amorphous TiO 2 Thin Films Photocatalytic Activity. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13040886. [PMID: 32079187 PMCID: PMC7079588 DOI: 10.3390/ma13040886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigates Mg (0 ÷ 17.5 wt %), Cu (0 ÷ 21 wt %) and Ni (0 ÷ 20.2 wt %) dopants (M-doped) influence on photocatalytic activity of amorphous TiO2 thin films. Magnetron sputtering was used for the deposition of M-doped TiO2 thin films. According to SEM/EDS surface analysis, the magnetron sputtering technique allows making M-doped TiO2 thin films with high uniformity and high dopant dispersion. Photocatalysis efficiency analysis was set in oxalic acid under UV irradiation. In accordance with the TOC (total organic carbon) measurements followed by the apparent rate constant (kapp) results, the dopants’ concentration peak value was dopant-dependent; for Mg/TiO2, it is 0.9% (kapp—0.01866 cm−1), for Cu/TiO2, it is 0.6% (kapp—0.02221 cm−1), and for Ni/TiO2, it is 0.5% (kapp—0.01317 cm−1). The obtained results clearly state that a concentration of dopants in TiO2 between 0.1% and 0.9% results in optimal photocatalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vytautas Kavaliunas
- Department of Physics: Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų str. 50, 51368 Kaunas, Lithuania; (M.S.); (G.L.)
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-Ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Edvinas Krugly
- Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, 50299 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Mantas Sriubas
- Department of Physics: Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų str. 50, 51368 Kaunas, Lithuania; (M.S.); (G.L.)
| | - Hidenori Mimura
- Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-Ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011, Japan; (H.M.); (Y.H.)
| | - Giedrius Laukaitis
- Department of Physics: Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų str. 50, 51368 Kaunas, Lithuania; (M.S.); (G.L.)
| | - Yoshinori Hatanaka
- Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-Ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011, Japan; (H.M.); (Y.H.)
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