Construction of a photovoltaic device by deposition of thin films

of the conducting polymer polythiocyanogen

 

V.P.S. Perera ^a ,

P.V.V. Jayaweera ^a ,

P.K.D.D.P. Pitigala ^a ,

P.K.M. Bandaranayake ^a ,

G. Hastings ^b ,

A.G.U. Perera ^b ,

K. Tennakone ^a *.

 

a  Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka

b  Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA

Received 9 June 2003; received in revised form 18 December 2003; accepted 18 December 2003

 

ABSTRACT

A method is developed for electro-deposition of thin films of the conducting polymer polythiocyanogen on conducting tin oxide glass

or other conducting substrate by anodic discharge of SCN...ions form a solution KSCN in propylene carbonate. Films are found to be

highly stable and resistant to heat and chemical action. SEM pictures indicate that the films are uniform and free of pin hole. Band gap and

band positions are determined from optical absorption spectra and Mott–Schottky plots, respectively. A photovoltaic cell is constructed by

depositing polythiocyanogen on nanocrystalline films of n-TiO2 followed by p-CuI to form a heterojunction. Photocurrent action spectra

shows that light absorption by polythiocyanogen generates the photovoltaic response. Results suggest that polythiocyanogen could find

applications in optoelectronic devices.

© 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

 

Keywords: Polythiocyanogen; Conducting polymer; Photovoltaic cell

 

 

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