Solar cells from ZnO oriented nanostructures grown on paper substrates

• Grant number: 14/02517-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 10, 2014
• End date: July 09, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ana Flávia Nogueira
• Grantee: Saionara Vilhegas Costa
• Supervisor: Silvia Janietz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/12133-2 - Solar Cells from ZnO Nanostructures grown on paper substrate., BP.DR

Abstract

This research project is focused on the synthesis and application of ZnO nanoparticles and nanostructured films in hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells. Thin films will be deposited from ZnO nanoparticles in suspension onto paper substrates by using inkjet printing technique. The resulting thin films will be applied in hybrid solar cells as an electron transport layer (ETL). The methods to obtain the ZnO nanoparticles suspension will be simple aqueous solution methods, such as Pacholvski's procedure or zinc acetate solution with different nanoparticle morphologies. Pristine (not intencionally doped) ZnO will be characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, Ultraviolet-Visible Absorption, Photoluminescence and Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopies. Experimental parameters for inkjet printing will be tested and optimized thereafter. ZnO will be applied as active layer in inorganic-organic hybrid solar cells (HSCs).The deposition of ZnO on paper substrates by inkjet printing should lead to 2- and 3- dimensional nanostructures. The prototypes will be characterized by current-voltage curves (IV) under illumination and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and time resolved spectroscopy. The work will be carried out at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, under the supervision of Dr. Silvia Janietz from the Chemistry Department. (AU)