Abstract
The optical characteristics of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) thin films obtained by spin-coating of polymer blend in tetrahydrofuran were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry, spectrophotometry, and atomic force microscopy. Film thickness can be broadly varied by changing the polymer concentration.The film thickness dependence on PSAN concentration shows a non-linear behavior that can be explained by a concentration-dependent viscosity. According to previously proposed models, prepared solutions are close to the concentrated solution regime. Films show a broad transparency range and refractive index independent of film thickness. The refractive index values range from 1.55 to 1.6 in the visible range. Thermal treatment revealed good stability of the films up to 220 °C and a progressive deterioration for larger temperatures, with evident damage at 300 °C. UV-induced photodegradation was observed and results showed a progressive decrease of transmittance in the range between 200 and 300 nm but PSAN thin films show no changes when exposed to light from a solar illuminator. These investigations indicate that PSAN is an excellent candidate for thin film polymer-based optical uses like interference coatings or encapsulation of solar cells.
Highlights
The optical properties of polymers have attracted considerable interest for many years
The optical characteristics of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) thin films obtained by spincoating of polymer blend in tetrahydrofuran were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry, spectrophotometry, and atomic force microscopy
Modeling of ellipsometric data showed that, regardless PSAN concentration, the refractive index was homogeneous through the film and that the film thickness was constant over the measured region, except for the samples with the largest PSAN concentration that show some depolarization signature, as discussed below
Summary
The optical properties of polymers have attracted considerable interest for many years. Their good optical characteristics, such as inherent transparency, are decisive factors for upcoming material uses. The most common silicon solar cell modules consist of glass on the front side and a polymeric encapsulant surrounding the cell with its electrical connections [1]. The encapsulant has to provide low light absorption and an adapted refractive index to minimize interface reflectance. Thermal and irradiation stability play an important role in choosing an encapsulant polymer material [2]. Other optical characteristics of polymers have drawn considerable attention, owing to their potential application in multiple optical devices, sensors and light-emitting diodes [3,4,5]
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