In this work the role of phase transition of PEO from crystalline to amorphous phases on DC conductivity enhancement in chitosan-based polymer electrolyte was discussed. Silver ion-conducting polymer electrolytes based on chitosan (CS) incorporated with silver nitrate (AgNt) is prepared via solution cast technique. Various amounts of polyethylene oxide (PEO) are added to the CS:AgNt system to prepare blend polymer electrolytes. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry is used to confirm that the blended samples containing AgNt salt exhibit a broad absorption peak. From optical micrograph images it is apparent that small white specs appear on the surface of the samples. The SEM results clearly show the aggregated silver nanoparticles. The enlargement of the crystalline area was observed from the morphological emergence and impedance plots. The phase separation in SEM images was observed at high PEO concentration. The XRD consequences support the morphological manifestation. In this study a new approach is offered to explore the microstructures existing in the blend electrolytes. The width of the semicircle linked to crystalline phase in impedance spectra was found to be increased with the increase of PEO concentration. A slow increase of DC conductivity was observed at low temperatures while above 333 K an immediate change in DC conductivity was obtained. The rapid rise of DC conductivity at high temperatures is correlated with the DSC results and impedance studies at high temperatures.

Zinc oxide thin films of different thicknesses ranging from 100 to 300 nm were prepared on polyethylene terephthalate substrates with thermal evaporation in a vacuum of approximately3×10-5Torr. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the proper phase formation of the material. From atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, it was found that the root mean square roughness of the film surface increased as the film thickness increased. The optical properties of ZnO on PET substrates were determined through the optical transmission method using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The optical band gap values of ZnO thin films slightly decreased as the film thickness increased.

CIGS nanoparticles ink with composition of Cu (Ga_0.3 In_0.7) Se₂ was prepared by using dissolved copper, indium, gallium acetylacetonate, and Se powder in oleylamine using hot injection methods. The structural properties of the CIGS films deposited on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate were studied using an X-ray diffraction technique. The as-deposited CIGS films were found to be a chalcopyrite-type structure with crystallite grain size of about 43.8 nm. An optical study shows that the band-gap energy of the CIGS film is 1.25 eV. The flexible CIGS solar cell on a PET substrate with the best conversion efficiency of 4.21% is demonstrated.