Registered Journal in Thomson Reuters Publishes a Koya University Instructor’s Paper

News #2, Issue 30, June 2017 | Núcey #2, Jhimarey 30, Mangí 6 Sallí 2017 | نوچەی 2، ژمارەى 30 مانگی 6 ساڵی 2017

Asst. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Ghaffar, Instructor at Physics Department at our University carries out a research on Solar Energy; and the research will be published by Springer, a registered journal in Thomson Reuters.

Research into Solar Energy

With regard to the title of the research, Dr. Muhammed says “The title of my research is Comparative Studies of the Properties of ZnO Sprayed Thin Films on Different Polymer Substrates for Flexible Solar Cell Application, and the ultimate aim of this investigation is to use Plastics (Polyimide and Polyethylene terephthalate) as a substrate for thin-film solar cells.

Content and abstract of the research

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been deposited onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyimide (PI) substrates using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique in order to explore their potential use as transparent window materials for solar cells.

The substrate temperature along deposition of the material was maintained at 250 0C.

The effects of substrate types on the structural and optical characteristics of the formed films were studied.

X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the proper phase formation of crystalline ZnO films. Films deposited on PI exhibited a larger roughness compared to those deposited onto PET substrates because of the large particles adsorbed on the former.

Optical transmittance values exceeding 80% in the visible and infra-red (IR) region on both substrates were registered. Optical band gaps (Eg) from Tauc plots for ZnO films on PET achieved values of ca. 3.2eV whilst on PI were ca. 3.3 eV. Surface reflectance shows that ZnO on PI has consistently a higher surface reflectance of ca. ~2% throughout the spectral region compared to ZnO films on PET substrates while both showed a parasitic absorbance below 10% within the region of interest.

Dr. Muhammed reveals he has concluded that, “The deposited Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film on both polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyimide (PI) plastic substrates would be suitable for their application as window layers in the configuration of thin film solar cells."

This paper could help building the scientific infrastructure in the field of Solar Cell Application.

This research paper has been carried out in coordination with Prof. Dr. Pablo Taboada, University of Santiago de Compostela-Spain.

Springer Journal

This journal is registered in Thomson Reuters Foundation and possesses Impact Factor 1,308.

The journal focuses on the fields of synthesis, characterization, evaluation, and phenomena of inorganic and organometallic polymers, materials, solar cell and supramolecular systems.

The research paper has been published in Volume 27, No 1-7, 2017.

click here.

Full name: Mohammad Ghaffar Faraj

Academic title: Assistant Professor Major: Physics

Field of study: solar energy

The number of his publications: 32

Teacher's Academic Profile website (TAP)