Chemistry

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    Phenolic extracts of the leaves of Psidium guineense Sw. improve the shelf life of sunflower oil and baked cake and antioxidant status of Wistar rats
    (J Food Biochem, 2018) Senanayake, C.M.; Hapugaswatta, H.; Jayathilaka, N.; Seneviratne, K.N.
    The potential of the ethanolic extract of Psidium guineense Sw. leaves (PGLE) to protect food from oxidation was evaluated using sunflower oil and baked cake as food models. The nutritional quality of PGLE was evaluated by feeding Wistar rats with PGLE for 150 days. Psidium guineense Sw. leaves contain 195.25 ± 9.56 mg g–1 phenolic substances, 51% of which are o‐diphenols. Protection factor, the ability of Psidium guineense Sw. leaves to protect sunflower oil against oxidation (1.82 ± 0.13), was not significantly affected by heat treatment compared to BHT. Formation of oxidation products, peroxide and hexanal in PGLE‐ and BHT‐added cake was significantly lower (<5 ppm over 28 days) compared to control with no added antioxidants. Therefore, addition of PGLE improved the shelf life of sunflower oil and oxidative stability of baked cake. PGLE also improves the serum antioxidant capacity and inhibits lipid and protein oxidation in Wistar rats. Practical applications PGLE is a rich source of phenolic substances. Due to high antioxidant activity, pleasant sensory quality and high thermal stability, PGLE can be used to improve the shelf life of baked cake and edible oils. As PGLE also improves serum and plasma antioxidant properties without causing any toxicity, nutritional food supplements can be developed based on PGLE.
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    Fabrication of CdS/CdTe Thin Film Solar Cells via the Technique of Electrodeposition
    (Development of Solar Power Generation and Energy Harvesting, 2018) Atapattu, H.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.; Ojo, A.A.; Dharmadasa, I.M.
    This study focused on fabrication of CdS/CdTe solar cells using the technique of electrodeposition as it is simple, low cost and scalable method. Initially, CdS and CdTe materials were individually deposited on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates and optimum growth conditions were obtained by analyzing their structural, compositional, electrical, optical and morphological properties using the techniques of X-ray diffraction, Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, photo-electrochemical cell study, optical absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy respectively. Thereafter, final device structure ofglass/FTO/CdS/CdTe/Au was fabricated using the optimum growth conditions obtained for the two materials, CdS and CdTe. Finally the current density-voltage characteristics of the devices were obtained to assess devices. The best device structure exhibited short circuit current density (L) of 24.4 mA cm- 2, open circuit voltage (V) of 681.9 mV, Fill Factor (FF) of 0.32 and conversion efficiency of 5.4 per cent.
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    An investigation into the effect of rate of stirring of bath electrolyte on the properties of electrodeposited CdTe thin film semiconductors
    (2018) Atapattu, H.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.; Pathirane, K.A.S.; Dharmadasa, I.M.
    Electrodeposition (ED) has been recognized as a low cost and scalable technique available for fabrication of CdS/CdTe solar cells. Photovoltaic activity of these electrodeposited semiconductor materials drastically depends on the ED growth parameters namely; electrodeposition potential, concentrations and ratios of concentrations of precursors used to prepare the bath electrolyte, pH of the electrolyte, deposition temperature and rate of stirring of the electrolyte, In order to grow thin films with good photovoltaic properties, it is essential to maintain these variables at their optimum ranges of values during electpcKlepositions. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the dependence of the properties of electrodeposited CdTe thin film material on the rate of stirring of the bath electrolyte. The CdTe material was grown on glassfFTO (2 x3 cm2) and glassIFTO/CclS (2 x 3 cm2) surfaces in bath electrolytes containing 1.0 motIL Cd504 and 1.0 mmolit TeO, solutions at differ¬ent rates of stirring within the range of 0-350 rpm while keeping the values of pH of the electrolyte, deposition temperature and cathodic deposition potential with respect to the saturated calomel electrode at 2.3, 65 0and 650 mV respectively. After the heat treatment at 400 c'C in air atmosphere, the deposited samples with a good visual appearance were selected and evaluated based on their morphological, elemental, structural, optical and electrical properties in order to identify the optimum range of rate of stirring for electrodeposition of CdTe thin film semiconductors. Results revealed that, rates of stirring in the range of 60-85 rpm in a 100 mG volume of electrolyte containing the substrate and the counter electrodes in the center of the bath with a separation of 2.0 cm between them can ekctrodeposit CdTe layers exhibiting required levels of morphological, structural, optical and electrical properties on both glass/FTO and glasslFTO/CdS surfaces.
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    Necessity and relevance of precipitate free clear electrolytes for electrodeposition of CdS semiconductor materials with enhanced photovoltaic properties
    (. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 2018) Atapattu, H.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.; Pathirane, K.A.S.; Olusola, O.I.; Dharmadasa, I.M.
    Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is a well-known window material used for fabrication of second generation thin film solar cells including CdS/CdTe and CdS/CuInGaSe2. Among the CdS fabrication techniques, electrodeposition is a simple, cost effective and scalable method that has been stepped towards large scale commercialization. However, the presence of precipitates in baths used for electrodeposition of CdS has been found to be a persistent problem which had produced CdS thin films with poor photovoltaic properties. Hence, an investigation was carried out to identify a set of optimum physiochemical conditions that can produce clear stable electrolyte for electrodeposition of CdS thin film semiconductors using CdCl2 and Na2S2O3 precursor salts. The study revealed that, electrolytes containing 0.10 mol/L CdCl2 and 0.01 mol/L Na2S2O3, within the pH range of 1.50-2.00 and the temperature range of 55-65 ºC can provide clear and stable electrolytes for electrodeposition of CdS thin films. Further, the results showed that, the electrical, optical, morphological and structural properties of CdS layers electrodeposited from electrolytes within above physiochemical conditions were remarkably better to those electrodeposited from the turbid electrolytic baths formed beyond the ranges of predetermined optimum physiochemical conditions.
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    Post deposition surface treatments to enhance the quality of polycrystalline CdTe thin films for photovoltaic applications
    (Nit teria1s Chemi stry and Physics 213 (201S) 4065113, 2018) Atapattu, H.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.; Pathirane, K.A.S.
    Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is one of the topmost thin film polycrystalline materials used in the photo¬voltaics (PV) industry today and post deposition surface treatment has been a major step used in the production process for improving the photovoltaic quality of the CdTe material. In the present study, several post deposition surface treatment processes including CdCl2 treatment were carried out on CdTe material and the properties of the materials were then analyzed with the intension of gaining an un¬derstanding of the effect of the post deposition process on the material properties and identifying better post deposition treatment processes that can be used to improve the PV quality of the material. In this study, CdTe thin films were potentiostatically electrodeposited using the typical three electrode elec¬trolytic cell consisted of a saturated calomel reference electrode and a high purity graphite counter electrode. 3Cd504.8H20 and Te02 were used as the cadmium and the tellurium precursors respectively and CdTe layers were electrodeposited on fluorine doped tin oxide (ETD) glass substrates and glass/PTO/ CdS surfaces at pre-identified growth conditions namely; cathodic deposition potential of 650 mV, pH of 2.3 and temperature of 65'C. Subsequently, deposited samples were annealed in air with CdCl2 and thereafter, comparable samples of glass/FTO/CdTe and glass/FTO/CdS/CdTe were subjected to surface etching with diluted HCl (DH), Br2-CH3OH (BM), HNO3-H3PO4 (NP), K2Cr2D7-H2504 (DS) and K2Cr207- CH3OH (DM). Surface treated samples were then characterized for their electrical, optical, elemental, morphological and structural properties using photo-electrochemical cell measurements, optical ab¬sorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy respectively. The study reveals that, post deposition surface treatments with BM and NP etchings enhance the material qualities of polycrystalline CdTe layers to be used for fabrication of PV devices.
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    Selenium content in meals consumed for lunch by Sri Lankans and the effect of cooking on selenium content
    (Ceylon Journal of Science, 2018) Kiridena, K.M.S.D.; De Silva, D.S.M.; Wimalasena, S.
    The selenium (Se) content in meals consumed by Sri Lankans for lunch, composed of fixed and random menus, was determined using Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The samples were obtained from five districts in Sri Lanka. The Se content (ig/kg) in meals of fixed and random menus was in the range of 48-70 and 53-60 respectively. These values are comparable to the daily requirement of Se (55 !Az/kg) prescribed by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. There is no significant difference in Se content in meals consumed by people in the districts of Kandy, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Rathnapura, and Colombo, as well as among individual households in each district. The effects of different cooking methods on the Se content indicate that the level of Se (µg/kg) in fried chicken (30.45 - 52.49) is less than that in a chicken curry (61.38 - 84.25). The percentage loss of Se during cooking for chicken, dahl (Lens culinaris) and (lotukola (Centella asiatica) were 89.6%, 84.1%, and 79.9% respectively. The present study revealed that Se content in Sri Lankan menus provides the required Se for people. However, the different methods of cooking indicate that there is a loss of Se during cooking.
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    THE EFFECT OF CONCENTRATION AND PH OF CdC12 SOLUTION USED IN CdC12 TREATMENT ON THE PROPERTIES OF CdS THIN FILMS
    (Solar Asia 2018 Int. Conf. National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka., 2018) Atapattu, I I.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.; Pathiratne, K.A.S.; Dharmadasa, I.M.
    Among the post deposition treatments available for development of CdS/CdTe solar cells, CdCl2 treatment has been identified as one of the key processing steps that can be effectively used for improving power conversion efficiency of the CdS/CdTe solar cell. This method was identified in late 1970s and currently is used for the CdS layers as well. The present study focuses on the effect of the concentration and pH of the CdCl2 solution used for the CdCl2 treatment on the quality of CdS layers based on their electrical, optical and morphological properties. In this study, CdS layers were potentiostatically electrodeposited on glass/FTO substrates at cathodic deposition potential of 660 mV verses a saturated calomel electrode at pH of 1.80 for 30 minutes in electrolytic baths containing 0.10 mol/L CdCl2 and 0.01 mol/L Na2S2O3. The temperature and the stirring rate of electrolytic baths were maintained constant at 55 °C and 60 rpm respectively. After the depositions, the samples were rinsed in de-ionized water and dried under a high purity N2 gas flow and conveyed for the CdCl2 treatment. Nine sets of samples with two replicates in each were treated separately with aqueous CdCl2 solutions having concentrations of 1.0, 0.5 and 0.1 mol/L and for each concentration three different pH values; as-prepared (5.60, 6.30 and 7.10 respectively), 2.00 and 6.50 were used. To perform the treatment, CdCl2 solutions were sprayed for 1 minute on the CdS layer until the layers were fully covered by the solution, allowed to dry and the samples were transferred for the process of annealing at 400 °C for 15 minutes in air. Subsequently, samples were rinsed in de-ionized water and dried under a high purity N2 gas flow. The electrical, optical and morphological properties of the CdS layers were then studied using photo-electrochemical cell measurements, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy respectively. As results revealed, the CdCl2 solution with the concentration of 1.0 mol/L and the pH of 2.00 is suitable for achieving good material properties in the CdS layers.
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    EFFECT OF THE TYPE OF CONDUCTING GLASS SUBSTRATE ON ELECTRODEPOSITED CdS AND CdTe THIN FILMS
    (Solar Asia 2018 Int. Conf. National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 2018) De Alwis, A.C.S.; Atapattu, H.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.
    Thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells produced by the technique of electrodeposition (ED) on conducting glass substrates have become one of the leading applications of photovoltaics due to its high energy conversion efficiency via absorption of solar energy in a wider range within the solar spectrum. In previous studies, it has been established that the quality of CdS and CdTe thin films depends upon several growth parameters namely; the deposition potential, precursor concentrations & their ratios, pH of the electrolyte, deposition temperature and the rate of stirring of the electrolyte during the process of ED. In addition, the effect of conducting glass substrate on properties of the deposited material has been identified as a decisive consequence in achieving photoactive materials. Hence, the present study was carried out to determine the effect of the type of glass substrates on electrodeposited CdS and CdTe thin films. In this study, glass substrates coated with different transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layers namely; fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and indium tin oxide (ITO) were considered and for each type of TCO layer two different sheet resistances (FTO: 7 vs. 13 Ω/sq and ITO: 7 vs. 15 Ω/sq) were taken into account. CdS thin layers were electrodeposited on these four types of glass substrates using an electrolyte consisted of CdCl2 (0.1 mol/L) and Na2S2O3 (0.01 mol/L) as Cd and S precursors respectively at pH of 1.7 and temperature of 55 °C for 30 minutes under cathodic deposition potential (CDP) of 650 mV vs. a saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Out of twelve replicates of CdS depositions on each type of glass substrate, six replicates from each type (glass/TCO/CdS) were conveyed for electrodeposition of CdTe thin films in an electrolyte consisted of CdSO4 (1.0 mol/L) and TeO2 (1.0 mmol/L) as Cd and Te precursors respectively at pH of 2.2 and temperature of 65 °C for 3 hours under CDP of 660 mV vs. SCE. The resulting CdS and CdTe thin films were heat treated at 400 °C for 10 minutes after each deposition and subsequent studies namely; UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, photo-electrochemical cell analysis, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy were carried out to determine the optical, electrical, morphological and structural properties respectively of glass/TCO/CdS and glass/TCO/CdS/CdTe samples produced. As results revealed, the CdS and CdTe layers deposited on glass/FTO (7 Ω/sq) substrates have exhibited better optoelectronic qualities and the study further confirmed the dependence of material quality on type of the conducting glass substrate. Hence, the individual growth parameters optimization for each type of TCO glass substrate is an essential step in electrodeposition of good quality CdS and CdTe thin films for solar cell fabrications.
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    Influence of the type of conducting glass substrate on the properties of electrodeposited CdS and CdTe thin films
    (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics (2018) 29:12419-12428 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-9358-8, 2018) De Alwisl, A.C.S.; Atapattu, H.Y.R.; De Silva, D.S.M.
    Owing to the greater efficiency in energy conversion by absorbing energy in a wider range of the solar spectrum, thin film CdSICdTe solar cells have been popularized as a prominent application of photovoltaics and the technique of electrodeposi-tion (ED) is an ideal method available for producing both CdS and CdTe materials upon its outrivaled simplicity, low cost, scalability and manufacturability. Typically the quality of these deposited thin films depends on several growth parameters and amid them, the type of conducting glass substrate plays a crucial role. This study is focused on the influence of conduct-ing glass substrate on the properties of electrodeposited CdS and CdTe thin films. Two types of glass substrates coated with different transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layers namely; fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and indium tin oxide (ITO) having different sheet resistances (FTO: 7 and 13 Disq and ITO: 7 and 15 Disq) were considered. CdS and CdTe materials were electrodeposited respectively on each of these types of TCO layers using a three electrode electrolytic system under a consistent set of growth parameters which has been pre-optimized with respect to FTO having sheet resistance of 7 afsq. The deposited CdS and CdTe thin layers were subsequently heat treated and characterized to understand their optical, electri-cal, morphological and structural properties. Accordingly, CdS and CdTe semiconductor materials deposited on glass+10 (7 .0./sq) substrates have exhibited better optoelectronic qualities and hence, endorse the requirement of individual growth parameter optimization for each type of TCO glass substrate for the production of good quality CdS and CdTe thin films in photovoltaic device fabrications.