Development of PMMA/PCBM electrospun nanofibers for photovoltaic devices

• Grant number: 17/26538-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: January 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Deuber Lincon da Silva Agostini
• Grantee: Daniele Rocha de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project is being proposed at the Scientific Initiation level, in which polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers, with fullerene derivatives (PCBM), will be developed by electrowinning technique, forming PMMA / PCBM nanofibers at different concentrations, verifying their stability morphology structural and its electrical properties, aiming the application in photovoltaic devices. The development of this project aims to contribute to the development of different architectures used in the heterojunction of photovoltaic cells, with the use of fullerene derivatives (PCBM) in the form of nanofibres, being a consensus among researchers that these compounds, PCBM, are the most important candidates for the expansion of organic solar cells as a renewable source of electricity. The fullerene derivative (PCBM) will be obtained through the interaction between our research group and Prof. Dr. Roger C. Hiorns of the Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, France, who have extensive experience in the synthesis of polymers and copolymers containing fullerene, in particular for photovoltaic applications. The PMMA/PCBM nanofibers, in different concentrations, will be characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman and visible ultraviolet (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AC/DC electrical conductivity.