Graphene derivatives as fillers for nanocomposite hole transporting layers in Perovskite Solar Cells

This thesis’ projects is focused on the optimization of carbon nanostructures, in particular of graphene derivatives, to maximize their dispersibility in a P3HT polymeric matrix. A nanostructure/polymer blend in chlorobenzene is obtained, with the intent of embedding it, through deposition, in perovskite solar cells (PSC) as hole transporting layers (HTL), hoping to enhance the stability of the device, usually extremely sensitive to oxygen and air. In the first part of this thesis some considerations on three different starting graphene materials were carried out. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis and through functionalization tests, we tried to identify the most congenial substrate for the establishment of consistent interactions with P3HT. This material was the one used in the second part of the thesis. Subsequently, after the identification of the most promising material, we tested five derivatives functionalized with five different functional groups. The final objective is the assessment of the role that they could play in the optimization of the interaction of the nanostructure with the P3HT polymeric matrix. The nanocomposites will be sent to Aldo Di Carlo research group, at Università di Roma Tor Vergata, to be subjected to further tests after being deposited as HTL in PSC, with the intent of identifying the possible benefits on the device’s performance related to the use of these nanohybrid systems.