Optical Characterization of Poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy-p-phenylene Vinylene] (MEH-PPV):C₆₀, MEH-PPV:C₆₀:TiO₂ and MEHPPV:C₆₀:ZnO Thin Films

IN THIS WORK, ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared separately by sol gel method. Structural, morphological and optical properties of both of them are studied. A hexagonal crystal structure of ZnO was formed, while different weight ratio of Anatase (85%) and rutile (15%) phases of TiO₂ nanoparticles were formed as confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, The XRD and Raman spectroscopy showed that our materials are polycrystalline. The particles sizes were calculated by sheerer formula are found to be closed to that got from scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The band gaps for both materials were calculated from Kubelka-Munk function using their measured diffuse reflection. The band gap for ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles found to be 3.4 eV and 3.2 eV respectively. Poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy-p-phenylene-vinylene] which named MEHPPV with C₆₀ were dissolved and spin coated on glass substrates to get thin film. Structural, morphological and optical properties of this thin film were studied. Also, the effects of adding any of our metal oxides nanoparticles (ZnO or TiO₂) on the physical properties of MEHPPV:C₆₀ are studied. All results are correlated to check the applicability of using these layers as an absorber layer for solar energy applications.