Cathodic Electrodeposition of Nanocrystalline ZnO Films for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

Solar cells based on dye-sensitized nanostructured metal oxides are promising for low-cost solar energy conversion and are intensively investigated nowadays. In this paper, the possibilities to use nanocrystalline ZnO electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells are investigated. ZnO films have been grown on fluorine-doped SnO 2 coated glass by cathodic electrodeposition from a simple aqueous zinc nitrate solution containing organic additives. Under optimal deposition conditions, nanoporous ZnO films with grain sizes between 20 and 40 nm are obtained. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope are used to characterize the films. Nanoporous ZnO electrodes, dye-sensitized with a ruthenium bipyridyl complex, are used as photoanodes in solar cells. The solar cell performance is studied and the cell exhibits a short circuit photocurrent, an open-circuit photovoltage and the photoelectron conversion efficiency of 1.379 mA/cm 2 , 0.612 V and 1.47%, respectively.