Member Profile
Membership type: full
Pontsho Mbule
Country of origin: South Africa Currently in: South Africa, Johannesburg General field of specialization: Physics-
Degrees
2013 Doctorate Physics -
Current Research Activities
Physics
Dr Mbule is a hardworking, self-motivated researcher in the field of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology. In this regard, she has given a number of talks at the national and international conferences. Her research is based on the study of the synthesis and characterization of different nano-composites and fabrication of organic solar cells, which resonates with modern age research in science and addresses to seek avenues for significant energy efficiencies and renewable energy innovation. She is currently involved in the project on development of different metal oxides nano-composites for organic solar cells application at the Department of Physics of the University of South Africa.
Publications resulting from Research:
PS Mbule, GH Mhlongo, HC Swart. OM Ntwaeaborwa, Sensitizing effect of ZnO quantum dots Red-emitting Pr3+-doped SiO2 Phosphor, Physica B: 407 (2012) 1607-1610
PS Mbule, GH Mhlongo, HC Swart, OM Ntwaeaborwa, Low temperature synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and nanorods via wet chemistry route, proceedings of the South African Institute of Physics Conference, 12-15 July 2011, pp 174 – 178, ISBN 978-1-86888-688-3,
PS Mbule, T.-H. Kim, B.-S. Kim, H.C. Swart, O.M. Ntwaeaborwa, Degradation of organic solar cells with solution processed ZnO, Journal of Physics Conference series (SAIP conference proceedings)
PS Mbule, T.-H. Kim, B.-S. Kim, H.C. Swart, O.M. Ntwaeaborwa, Effects of particle morphology of ZnO buffer layer on the performance of organic solar cell devices, solar energy materials and solar cells, 112 (2013) 6-12
PS Mbule, T.-H. Kim, B.-S. Kim, H.C. Swart, O.M. Ntwaeaborwa, Effects of ZnO buffer layer and depth profiling analysis of bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells. ISBN 978-1-4822-0581-7 (NanoTech Conference and Expo 2013 Proceedings)
PS Mbule, HC Swart and OM Ntwaeaborwa, Effects of thermal treatment and depth profiling analysis of solution processed bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 436 (2014) 9-15
PS Mbule, HC Swart, OM Ntwaeaborwa, MS Dhlamini and BM Mothudi, P3HT:PCBM Based Solar Cells: A short review focusing on ZnO Nanoparticles Buffer Layer, Post-fabrication Annealing and an Inverted Geometry, Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, B5 (1-2) (2015) 12-35
P.S. Mbule, O.M. Ntwaeaborwa, B.M. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, Structural and Optical characterization of nanoparticulate manganese doped zinc silicate phosphors prepared by sol-gel and combustion methods , Journal of luminescence, 179 (2016) 74-82
G. L. Kabongo, G. H. Mhlongo, P.S. Mbule, B. M. Mothudi, K. T. Hillie, M. S. Dhlamini, Photoluminescence Quenching and Enhanced Optical Conductivity of P3HT-Derived Ho3+-Doped ZnO Nanostructures, Nanoscale research letters, 11 (2016) 418
GL Kabongo, GH Mhlongo, BM Mothudi, KT Hillie, PS Mbule, MS Dhlamini, Structural, photoluminescence and XPS properties of Tm 3+ ions in ZnO nanostructures, Journal of Luminescence, 187 (2017) 141-153
P.S. Mbule, B.M. Mothudi and M.S. Dhlamini, Mn2+,Eu3+,Dy3+ doped and co-doped Zn2SiO4 nanophosphors: Study of the structure, photoluminescence and surface properties, Journal of Luminescence 192 (2017) 853–859
AM. Strydom, B Ghosh, SC. Ray, PS Mbule ,S Sarma, DK Mishra,Y.F. Wang, W.F. Pong ,Defect induced room temperature ferromagnetism in single crystal, poly-crystal, and nanorod ZnO: A comparative study, JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 123 (2018) 161507-1-161507-9
B. Ghosh, Sekhar C. Ray, S Pattanaik, S Sarma, DK. Mishra, PS Mbule and WF Pong, Tuning of Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of Xenon ion Implanted Zinc Oxide, Jounal of applied Physics D: Applied Physics, 51(2018)095304-1 -095304-10
PS Mbule, D Wang, R Grieseler, P Schaaf, B Muhsin, H Hoppe, BM Mothudi, MS Dhlamini, Solar energy, 1172(2), (2018) 219-224
TE Talane, PS Mbule, LL Noto, K Shingange, GH Mhlongo, BM Mothudi, MS Dhlamini, Sol-gel preparation and characterization of Er3+ doped TiO2 luminescent nanoparticles, Materials Research Bulletin,108 (2018) 234-241
S. Sarma, P.S Mbule and C.S Ray, Layer-by-layer MoS2:GO composite thin films for optoelectronics device applications, 479 (2019) 1118-1123
BOOK CHAPTER
L.L. Noto, F.V. Molefe, P.S. Mbule, G. Kabongo, M. Khenfouch, B.M. Mothudi, M.S. Dhlamini
ISSN/ISBN Number: 978-1-910086-19-3
Title of book: Science and applications of Tailored Nanostructures
Status: Published/produced
Year: 2017
Editor Professor Paolo Di Sia
Publisher One Central Press (OCP)
Chapter pages: 214 - 238
BOOK CHAPTER
Luyanda L. Noto, Hendrik C. Swart, Bakang M. Mothudi, Pontsho S. Mb ule and Mokhotjwa S. Dhlamini
ISSN/ISBN Number: 978-953-51-2763-5
Title of book: Luminescence - An Outlook on the Phenomena and their Applications
Title of chapter: The Dynamics of Luminescence
Status: Published/produced
Year: 2016
Editor : Jagannathan Thirumalai
Publisher: INTECH
Chapter pages: 13 - 32
Current profession
Current professional activities type:ResearchTeachingDr Pontsho Mbule is a permanent member of the staff in the Department of Physics at University of South Africa. She holds a position of Senior Lecturer, where among her Key Performance Indicators are: Conducting Research, Supervision of postgraduate students, Teaching and doing Community engagement.
Workshop and Conference Attended
2018 University of South Africa, Florida Campus, South Africa Scanning Electron Microscopy Course2018 University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Campus, South Africa Mentorship Programme2017 University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Campus, South Africa Strengthening Postgraduate Supervision Course2016 Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme2015 Starnberg, Germany Fluorofest Workshop by HORIBA Scientific2012 Rhodes University, South Africa International Symposium on Luminescence2017 SAASTA, Pretoria, South Africa SYMPOSIUM ON NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY IN SOUTH AFRICA2018 Durban, South Africa 3RD BRICS Young Scientist ForumAffiliations
South African Institute of PhysicsThe Microscopy Society of Southern Africa (MSSA)The International Solar Energy Society (ISES)Presentation given
2018Present and future energy imperatives of the South African economyDurban, South AfricaEvent: 3RD BRICS Young Scientist Forum2017Investigation of luminescent properties of up- and down-converting rare earth-based nanoparticle phosphorsSAASTA, Pretoria, South AfricaEvent: SYMPOSIUM ON NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY IN SOUTH AFRICA2018Writing a research paperPolokwane, South AfricaEvent: 7th annual student research and innovation showcase2014Study of defects levels induced by Tm3+ ions content in ZnO nanostructures for UV/blue emitting phosphorsDublin, IrelandEvent: NANOSMAT 9th International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials2012Effects of ZnO nanoparticles/nanoflakes buffer layer on the performance of organic solar cellsHong Kong, ChinaEvent: 16th International Workshop on Inorganic and Organic electroluminescence2010Ex-situ synthesis and optical Properties of ZnO-PbS nanocompositesDurban,South AfricaEvent: 55th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics2009Time of Flight (TOF) method in small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experimentJINR, Dubna RussiaEvent: 2009 practice for South African students at the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research -
TWAS Awards
Feb 2016FellowshipUnder this programme, researchers are assisted in making a ‘Cooperation Visit’ to an institute in Germany. Such visits will have a duration of no more than three (3) months and must be undertaken within 12 months of the award. The aim of the visit is to discuss research collaboration with German scientists with the ultimate goal of developing longer-term collaboration, perhaps through other DFG programmes. TWAS covers visa, health insurance and travel expenses, while DFG will provide subsistence costs for the stay in Germany. The administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by UNESCO in accordance with an agreement between UNESCO and the Italian Government for TWAS.Other Awards
Nov 2015TWAS-DFG Cooperation visit programme for scientists from sub-Saharan Africa including South AfricaUnder this programme, researchers are assisted in making a ‘Cooperation Visit’ to an institute in Germany. Such visits will have a duration of no more than three (3) months and must be undertaken within 12 months of the award. The aim of the visit is to discuss research collaboration with German scientists with the ultimate goal of developing longer-term collaboration, perhaps through other DFG programmes.Dec 2015UK-South Africa Researcher Grant from NRFDec 2017DST-NRF Research Development Grants for New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) ScholarsJun 2010Outstanding PhD paper presentation at South African Conference on Photonic MaterialsJul 2015Outstanding paper presentation in the photovoltaic (PV) session presented at the 3rd South African Solar Energy ConferenceDec 2019South African National Research Foundation Y2 Rating.
