Solar cells thin films were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a thin film, with extract of natural pigment from local flower. A concentration of 0.1g/ml of polyvinyl alcohol solution in water was prepared for four samples, with various concentrations of plant pigment (0, 15, 25 and 50) % added to each of the four solutions separately for preparing (PVA with low concentrated dye , PVA with medium concentrated dye and PVA with high concentrated dye ) thin films respectively . Ultraviolet absorption regions were obtained by computerized UV-Visible (CECIL 2700). Optical properties including (absorbance, reflectance, absorption coefficient, energy gap and dielectric constant) via UV- Vis were tested, too. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer was employed to test the samples. Thermal analysis of thin films, including melting point (Tm), onset degree, endset degree, and crystallinity% were tested by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Three dimensional morphologies of thin films were inspected by atomic force microscopy (ATM). Contact angle also was tested as an index to hydrophilicity. Results proved that the ultraviolet and FTIR absorption increase after adding the natural pigment to PVA thin film, as well as it increases with increasing concentration of natural pigment. DSC analysis revealed an increase of PVA melting point when adding 15% concentration and it decreases with a 50% concentration of pigment. AFM results show an increase in surface roughness, hence the surface bearing index of PVA thin films is inversely proportional to pigment concentration. Contact angle decreases from 46.5° for pure PVA thin film to 44. 8°, 42. 6° and 35.2° after adding (15, 25, and 50)% concentration of natural dye respectively. Optical properties were enhanced by adding the natural dye, hence energy gap decreased from 3 eV for pure PVA to 2.3 eV for the PVA with a high concentrate dye. Dielectric constant increased with increasing concentration of dye, which leads to high polarization of solar cell.
Heterogeneous photocatalysts was a promising material for removing organic pollutants. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was a suitable photocatalyst for its cost efficiency and high stability to reduce various pollutants. Enhancing TiO2 photocatalyst performance by doping with changed metals or non-metal ions and organic compounds have been reviewed. These methods could enhance photoelectrochemical activity via: (i) by a donor of electrons via electron-donor agents that would produce particular defects in TiO2 structure and capture transporters of charge; (ii) by reducing recombination rate of the charge transporters and increasi
This research study the effect of surface modification and copper (Cu) plating carbon fiber (CF) surface on the thermal stability and wettability of carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy (EP) composites. The TGA result indicates that the thermal-stability of carbon fiber may be enhanced after Cu coating CF. TGA curve showed that the treatment temperature was enhanced thermal stability of Ep/CF, this is due to the oxidation during heating. The Cu plating increased the thermal conductivity, this increase might be due to reduce in contact resistance at the interface due to chemical modification and copper plating and tunneling resistance.
The increase of surface polarity after coating cause decreas
... Show MoreIn this research, the effect of reinforcing epoxy resin composites with a filler derived from chopped agriculture waste from oil palm (OP). Epoxy/OP composites were formed by dispersing (1, 3, 5, and 10 wt%) OP filler using a high-speed mechanical stirrer utilizing a hand lay-up method. The effect of adding zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, with an average size of 10-30 nm, with different wt% (1,2,3, and 5wt%) to the epoxy/oil palm composite, on the behavior of an epoxy/oil palm composite was studied with different ratios (1,2,3, and 5wt%) and an average size of 10-30 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and mechanical properties (tensile, impact, hardness, and wear rate) were used to examine the composites. The FTIR
... Show MoreTwo nanocomposite corrosion inhibitors were synthesized from Aloe vera extract: one incorporating sodium thiosulfate and the other silver nitrate. Both nanocomposites were subjected to structural characterization using atomic force microscopy (AFM), which revealed distinct morphological features. The sodium thiosulfate-based nanocomposite exhibited uniform and well-dispersed nanoparticles with an average size of 47.51 nm, suggesting a stable and homogeneous distribution. In contrast, the silver nitrate-based nanocomposite displayed slightly larger particles with an average diameter of 58.34 nm, indicating a tendency toward moderate aggregation. The corrosion inhibition performance of these nanocomposites for carbon steel (CS1137) was invest
... Show MoreTwo nanocomposite corrosion inhibitors were synthesized from Aloe vera extract: one incorporating sodium thiosulfate and the other silver nitrate. Both nanocomposites were subjected to structural characterization using atomic force microscopy (AFM), which revealed distinct morphological features. The sodium thiosulfate-based nanocomposite exhibited uniform and well-dispersed nanoparticles with an average size of 47.51 nm, suggesting a stable and homogeneous distribution. In contrast, the silver nitrate-based nanocomposite displayed slightly larger particles with an average diameter of 58.34 nm, indicating a tendency toward moderate aggregation. The corrosion inhibition performance of these nanocomposites for carbon steel (CS1137) was invest
... Show MoreAlginate is one of the natural biopolymers that is widely used for drug formulations, combination of alginate with other polymers, such as gum acacia, pectin, and carrageenan can increase mechanical strength, therefore, can reduce leakage of the encapsulated active pharmaceutical ingredient from the polymer matrix. Interaction of alginate and these polymers can occur via intermolecular hydrogen bonds causing synergism, which is determined from the viscosity of polymer mixture.
Alginate was combined with gum acacia/pectin/carrageenan in different blending ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) with and without addition of CaCl2. The synergism effect is obtained from the design of experimental (DoE), and calculati
... Show MoreZnO-nanoflowers on a transparent conductive tin-doped In2O3 (ITO) glass substrate have been successfully prepared via a simple and efficient growth approach that is combining of dip coating and hydrothermal processes. One thin layer of ZnO nanoparticles is prepared by dip coating method followed by hydrothermally grown of ZnO nanoflowers at low temperature. The morphology and structure of ZnO-nanoflowers were inspected by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra of ZnO-nanoflowers are also investigated. The ZnO-nanoflowers photoanode sho