Development of electrospun nanofibers of [6,6] -phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) derivatives for application in photovoltaic devices

• Grant number: 19/06609-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Deuber Lincon da Silva Agostini
• Grantee: Pedro Leonardo Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50869-6 - INCT 2014: on Organic Electronics, AP.TEM

Abstract

In this project, nanofibers of the [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) derivatives with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) will be developed by the electrospinning technique, verifying their morphology, structural stability, and electrical properties, for application in photovoltaic devices. PVDF offers ideal conditions for the production of nanofibers through the electrospinning technique and works as an additive in the active layer improving the energy efficiency (PCE) of an organic photovoltaic device (OPV). PCBMs with different ramifications, unpublished in the literature, will be provided through the interaction between our research group and Dr.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, for photovoltaic applications. The PVDF nanofibers, in different concentrations of PCBM, will be characterized by the techniques of Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and AC/DC electrical conductivity.