Date of Award

12-2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Legacy Department

Chemistry

Committee Member

George Chumanov, Committee Chair

Committee Member

Jeffrey N. Anker

Committee Member

Brian Dominy

Committee Member

Modi Wetzler

Abstract

Photovoltaics have experienced a rapid development in the device structure, material process and efficiency in the past decade. Here, uniform, fully converted CH3NH3PbI3 films were synthesized at room temperature by converting PbI2 in a saturated solution of CH3NH3I in 2-propanol/hexane (cyclohexane). Solar cells with a structure of ITO/ZnO/CH3NH3PbI3/graphite/carbon black electrode were fabricated by spin coating at ambient conditions. The best device yielded 10.2% power conversion efficiency. PbI2-based photovoltaic devices having ITO/ZnO (or WO3) /PbI2/graphite (or without graphite) /carbon black structure were fabricated by spin coating at ambient conditions. The best devices yielded 0.32% power conversion efficiency. Pure 2H CuFeO2 nanoplates with a thickness of about 100 nm were synthesized at temperatures as low as 100 °C. 2H CuFeO2 has a band gap of 1.33 eV, high absorption coefficient, and highly photostability. The material appears promising for solar applications. A new method based on the cation exchange reaction for the synthesis of CuxZnySn2-0.25x-0.5yS4 with the crystallite size more than 85 nm was developed. This method appears promising for facilitating the development of Cu2ZnSnS4 based devices.

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