Synthesis and Characterization of MEH-PPV for Solar Cell Application

POLY [2-methoxy -5 -(2'-ethylhexyloxy) - (p - phenylenevinylene)] (MEH-PPV) was prepared via Gilch route. The structures of MEH-PPV were fully confirmed with their respective spectroscopic data using H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. Thermal properties of the polymer were studied using simultaneous Thermo-Gravimetric and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA/DSC) analyses. The number average molecular weight M-n of the prepared MEH-PPV was measured by Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique. To investigate the physical properties of the prepared MEH-PPV, two polymer samples were dissolved in two different organic solvents (THF and Chlorobenzene CB) and sprayed as a film on top of the glass and KBr substrates at 150 degrees C. The dissolved MEH-PPV polymer in THF was sprayed onto ZnO nanowires that grown on FTO glass substrate by two step method. The constructed solar cell showed better performance compared with previous cell that based on sprayed MEH-PPV / sprayed ZnO nanorod/TCO glass