Ramos-Rivera, Gilberto

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An evaluation of optical band gap in photovoltaic polymers for solar energy capture
(2019-05-14) Ramos-Rivera, Gilberto; Suleiman-Rosado, David; College of Engineering; Bogere, Moses; Mina, Nairmen; Department of Chemical Engineering; Valentin, Ricky
Organic solar cells are a very promising technology for use in the renewable energy field. Band gap measurements on liquid phase for different polymers were studied, and the possible radiation harvest and reasoning for band gap tendencies were established. Polymers were divided into 4 groups: commercial polymers (P3HT, Polyaniline and PTFE), SIBS related polymers, EGMEM, and PEEK, PTBAM and block polymers. Polymers were analyzed by UV-Visible spectrometry and with the Tauc’s method, direct and indirect band gaps were determined for them. Radiation harvest was approximated using the spectral data from ASTM AM 1.5 spectrum and a simple Matlab code. The best results were obtained for SIBS 88, PEEK and PTBAM polymers. Band gap values for these polymers are near values reported for PCBM, which may suggest a similar behavior and performance. Sulfonation, conjugation and structure of these polymers suggest them as good candidates to be acceptor materials on organic solar devices.