M.S. Abd El-sadek

Optical properties of thiol-stabilised CdTe nanoparticles

Thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals with cubic zinc blende structure were synthesised in aqueous solution by wet chemical route and microwave assisted method. A series of cadmium telluride (CdTe) nanoparticles capped with mercaptoacetic acid were prepared using different pH values. The synthesised nanoparticles have been characterised with Raman, FT-IR, ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) studies.

Influence of Illumination on the Electrical Properties of p-(ZnMgTe/ZnTe:N)/CdTe/n-(CdTe:I)/GaAs Heterojunction Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)

Heterostructure p-(ZnMgTe/ZnTe:N)/CdTe/n-(CdTe:I)/GaAs was evaporated using molecular beam epitaxy and investigated for photovoltaic energy conversion application. The electrical properties of the studied heterostructure were measured and characterized in order to understand the relevant electrical transport mechanisms. Electrical properties derived from the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of solar cells provide essential information necessary for the analysis of performance losses and device efficiency. I–V characteristics are investigated in dark conditions and under different light intensities. All the electrical and power parameters of the heterostructure were measured, calculated and explained.

Optical properties of nano-structured Pt/FTO counter electrode for QDSSCs

Nano-structured platinum (Pt) thin film on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated on glass substrate was prepared via sputtering technique for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). Pt/FTO counter electrode surface morphology was studied using AFM images which revealed the nanorods collection on cylindrical tubes with film roughness 18.63 nm. Transmittance and reflectance measurements of FTO substrate as well as Pt/FTO were carried out in the wavelength range 200-2500 nm. Optical constants (n and k) were calculated at different wavelengths by applying Kramers-Kronig Transformations. The results obtained have been compared and discussed in terms of optimum conditions for a counter electrode. Our efforts are to establish a QDSSC based on nano Pt/FTO counter electrodes. Our work targets can enhance in the near future for photo-counter electrodes applied in QDSSCs.