Off-Campus Hollins Users:
To access this document, please click here to log in to our proxy server with your campus network user name/password (the same one you use to log into the campus network and your e-mail).

Year of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Major

Chemistry

Directing Professor

Dr. Brian J Reeves

Abstract

Bulk heterojunction solar cells composed of fullerene electron acceptors and polymer electron donors are the current leaders in the field of flexible and transparent solar cells. The solubility of these components enables low-cost production of thin, transparent films but renders low efficiency. Metal chalcogenide nanosheets, such as CdS, CdSe, ZnS, and ZnSe represent potential solutions to the problem. It is hypothesized that chemically bonding fullerenes to CdX (X = S, Se) and ZnX nanosheets will improve nanosheet stability and solubility while maintaining flexibility and transparency, resulting in a new electron transport material for solar cells. The synthesis of amine functionalized and N-Boc protected nanosheets as precursors to CdX and ZnX fullerene-functionalized nanosheets is presented here. Preliminary characterization has included FT-IR, UV-visible, fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Additionally, their capacity to act as electron acceptors has been shown through fluorescence quenching of anthracene.

Campus Download

Off-Campus Download

Share

COinS