Photosensitive hybrid polymer nanocomposites on the base PVDF+CdS/ZnS for solar cells application

Abstract

ABSTRACT Combined hybrid nanocomposites based on PVDF+CdS/ZnS were developed and studied. The structure of nanocomposites was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, UV- spectroscopic techniques. XRD analysis shows that the incorporation of CdS and ZnS semiconductor nanoparticles leads to a decrease in the fraction of the α-phase and an increase in the β-phase of the polymer. It was determined that the bandgap of the nanocomposite based on PVDF+1%CdS/ZnS, PVDF+3%CdS/ZnS, PVDF+5%CdS/ZnS and PVDF+10%CdS/ZnS is 5.3 eV, 5.0 eV, 4.3 eV and 3.1 eV, respectively. The photoluminescence properties of the polymer nanocomposites were also examined. It was established that for these nanocomposites, the introduction of the CdS/ZnS nanoparticles into the polymer matrix leads to expanding of the spectral-sensitive region of the PL spectrum of the nanocomposites. It was shown that combine hybrid nanocomposites on the base of PVDF+CdS/ZnS emit the light at the wide-wavelength-range. According to this feature, it is possible to use these nanocomposites in various fields of optoelectronics as the active elements of solar batteries, cells, displays, converters, etc. The photosensitivity of the PVDF+CdS/ZnS films was discovered. It gives the possibility to use these materials as thermoplastic photoresistors.