The Department of Chemistry at the College of Science, University of Mosul, discussed a PhD dissertation on Monday, 18 May 2026, entitled:

“The Use of Alternating Polymers in the Fabrication of Photovoltaic Devices”

submitted by doctoral candidate Saba Hazim Sadiq Hassan Al-Abbasi.

The Dean of the College of Science, Professor Dr. Hiyam Adel Ibrahim, attended part of the defense, along with the Assistant Deans for Scientific and Administrative Affairs and the Head of the Department of Chemistry.

The study explored the potential of harvesting light using organic solar systems as a promising approach for clean electricity generation. Given that organic solar cells are still under development due to their relatively low efficiency and stability compared to silicon-based cells, the research focused on synthesizing alternating polymers with different energy gaps capable of harvesting light at frequencies beyond the visible range.

The researcher prepared ten alternating polymers whose main chains contained heterocyclic rings such as oxadiazole, thiadiazole, and triazole, along with azo and azomethine groups to tune the energy gap. The polymers were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, while their thermal properties were investigated using DTA, TGA, and DSC techniques.

The polymers were further doped with varying ratios of iodine (I₂) and sodium iodide (NaI) to obtain n-type and p-type semiconductors. The energy gaps of both pristine and doped samples were calculated based on UV absorption measurements.

Based on the highest electrical conductivity values, seven types of organic solar cells with mono-, bi-, and trilayer structures were fabricated. The results showed varying efficiencies across ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions under different radiation intensities. The highest efficiency was recorded for cell S2, reaching 42.2% in the infrared region and 40.0% in the ultraviolet region, while efficiencies in the visible region were around 8.0% for the remaining cells.

The examination committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Mohammed Hamza Al-Maamouri, and included:

• Professor Dr. Ragheed Yousif Ghazal
• Assistant Professor Dr. Lubna Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Salim
• Assistant Professor Dr. Abdulkhaliq Ayoub Suleiman
• Assistant Lecturer Idris Aidan Ghadir Suleiman

The dissertation was supervised by and included:

• Professor Dr. Assad Faisal Khattab Al-Zaydi
• Professor Dr. Laith Mohammed Al-Ta’an

The Dean of the College, Professor Dr. Hiyam Adel Ibrahim, presented a Letter of Appreciation to Professor Dr. Mohammed Hamza Al-Maamouri in recognition of his travel effort and valuable remarks that significantly enriched the dissertation.

In conclusion, the College extends its best wishes to its students and faculty members for continued academic and scientific excellence.

Media and Government Communication Division

Monday, 18 May 2026