Khan, Shaheer AhmedShaheer AhmedKhan2025-01-222025-01-222021https://studentrepo.iium.edu.my/handle/123456789/32673Organic solar cells are undergoing a considerable interest in the field of photovoltaics because of its solution processability, flexibility, low temperature fabrication, easily integrable and environmentally friendly. Despite these characteristics, its power conversion efficiency is still lower than other solar cells. Therefore, it is inevitable to focus on the efficiency enhancement of organic solar cell. With this in mind, we have developed a nanocomposite film based on zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using a solution casting method with varying concentrations of ZnO nano powder in the PV A matrix. The ZnO / PV A film surface morphology was observed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The micrographs indicate that ZnO nanoparticles in the PV A matrix are homogeneously distributed. XRD results indicated that the crystallinity of film was influenced by the interaction of ZnO nanoparticles and PV A main chain. Crystallinity also affected by the doping of ZnO nanoparticle in PV A matrix and it increases when the concentration of ZnO is low and then decreases when the excess concentration of ZnO is present in the PV A matrix. The FTIR transmission spectra confirmed that the significant interaction took place between the ZnO nanoparticles and PV A main chain over the wave number range of 400-4000 cm-1. The UV-Vis spectra reveal that the increase in concentration of ZnO nanoparticles in polymer matrix results in the movement of absorption edge in the direction of higher wavelength or lower energy associated with blue/green portion of the visible spectrum. Decrease in optical energy bandgap is observed with the increase of nano ZnO concentration into the matrix. Optimum weight percentage of 16.6% (ZnO) and 83.3% (PVA matrix) was observed. The film with 1 :5 ratio showed the optimum results and was applied on organic solar cell having architecture of [Carbon Fiber)/(ZnO/Epoxy Resin)/(CuO/Epoxy Resin)/Carbon Fiber]. Significant changes are observed in the efficiency of organic solar cell before and after applying the ZnO/PV A nanocomposite film. The optimum efficiency of solar cell before and after applying the nanocomposite film was found to be 9.01 % and 14.65% respectively. The increase in efficiency of organic solar cell showed that the ZnO/PV A nanocomposite film possess significant potential to be applied on organic solar cell for its efficiency enhancement. Solution casting method is found to be cost-effective and hazzle free method to develop the nanocomposite films. Low temperature processing and good conductivity of ZnO/PVA nanocomposite film makes it a suitable candidate for potential application in organic solar cells.enmaster thesis