Department of Physics

Prof PS Mbule

College of Science, Engineering and Technology
School of Science
Department: Physics
Associate Professor
Tel: 011 670 9319
E-mail: mbuleps1@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • PhD (Physics) – University of the Free State
  • MSc (Physics) – University of the Free State
  • BSc (Chemistry and Physics) – University of the Free State

NRF Rating

Y2

Currently teaching

  • Solid State Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics 

Fields of academic interests

Dr PS Mbule

Experimentalist: Solid State, Condensed Matter 

My research interest is on nanomaterials for renewable energy and I specialize in the synthesis and characterization of these materials for the application in organic solar cells, Dye sensitized solar cells and perovskite solar cells. My projects involve fabrication of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) thin films via wet chemistry and surface technologies involving a variety of physical vapor deposition methods.

Field of Specialisation

  • Solid State Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Journal articles

  • W. Moloto, P.J. Mafa, P.S. Mbule, E. Nxumalo and B. Ntsendwana, (2021). Photoinduced Electrochemical Effect of Porous BiPOM on TiO2 Photoanode Performance for DyeSensitized Solar Cells Application, Materials Today Communications, 103001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.103001
  • W. Moloto, P.S. Mbule, E. Nxumalo and B. Ntsendwana, (2021). Stabilizing effects of zinc(II)- benzene-1,3,5 tricarboxylate metal organic frameworks on the performance of TiO2 photoanodes for use in dye-sensitized solar cells, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 407, 113063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.113063 2
  • P.S. Mbule, D.V. Mlotswa, B.K. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, (2021). Photoluminescence and Thermoluminescence analysis of Zn2SiO4:Dy3+ nanophosphor, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2021.118060
  • G.L. Kabongo, P.S. Mbule, G.H. Mhlongo, B.M. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, (2020). Time-resolved fluorescence decay and Gaussian analysis of P3HT-derived Ho3+- and Tm3+-doped ZnO nanostructures, Bulletin of Materials Science 43(1), 1-8.
  • S. Sarma, P.S. Mbule and S.C. Ray, (2019). Layer-by-layer MoS2:GO composite thin films for optoelectronics device applications, Applied Surface Physics 479, 1118-1123.
  • T.E. Talane, P.S. Mbule, L.L. Noto, K. Shingange, G.H. Mhlongo, B.M. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, (2018). Sol-gel preparation and characterization of Er3+ doped TiO2 luminescent nanoparticles, Materials Research Bulletin 108, 234 – 241.
  • B. Ghosh, S. Sarma, P.S. Mbule and S.C. Ray, (2018). Tuning of magnetic behaviour in nitrogenated graphene oxide functionalized with iron oxide, Diamond and Related Materials 89, 35 – 42.
  • P.S. Mbule, D. Wang, R. Grieseler, P. Schaaf, B. Muhsin, H. Hoppe, B.M. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, (2018). Aluminum-doped ZnO thin films deposited on flat and nanostructured glass substrates: Quality and performance for applications in organic solar cells, Solar Energy 172(2), 219-224.
  • B. Ghosh, S.C. Ray, S. Pattanaik, S. Sarma, D.K. Mishra, P.S. Mbule and W. F. Pong, (2018). Tuning of Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of Xenon ion Implanted Zinc Oxide, Journal of Applied Physics D: Applied Physics 51, 095304-1 - 095304-10.
  • B. Ghosh, S.C. Ray, P.S. Mbule, S. Sarma, D.K. Mishra, Y.F. Wang, W.F. Pong and A.M Strydom, (2018). Defect induced room temperature ferromagnetism in single crystal, poly-crystal, and nanorod ZnO: A comparative study, Journal of Applied Physics 123, 161507-1-161507-9.
  • P.S. Mbule, B.M. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, (2017). Mn2+,Eu3+,Dy3+ doped and co-doped Zn2SiO4 nanophosphors: Study of the structure, photoluminescence and surface properties, Journal of Luminescence 192, 853–859.
  • G.L. Kabongo, G.H. Mhlongo, B.M. Mothudi, K.T. Hillie, P.S. Mbule and M.S. Dhlamini, (2017). Structural, photoluminescence and XPS properties of Tm3+ ions in ZnO nanostructures, Journal of Luminescence 187, 141-153.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

  • Y2 NRF rating (2020 – 2025)

Projects

  • Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) for application in organic/perovskite solar cells
  • Application of Mesoporous TiO2 in Thin Film Perovskite Solar Cells
  • Hybrid heterostructures based on Poly(3-Hexylthiophene-2,5-Diyl) (P3HT) solar cells
  • Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) of metal doped oxides
  • The structural, electronic, and charge carrier transport properties of metals doped-ZnO thin films
  • Surface technologies, thin film technology, Sputtering and PVD deposition
  • Flexible Transparent Electrodes (FTEs) for Emerging Thin Film Photovoltaics