Structure and photovoltaic properties of ZnO nanowire for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Aligned ZnO nanowires with different lengths (1 to approximately 4 μm) have been deposited on indium titanium oxide-coated glass substrates by using the solution phase deposition method for application as a work electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). From the results, the increases in length of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires can increase adsorption of the N3 dye through ZnO nanowires to improve the short-circuit photocurrent (Jsc) and open-circuit voltage (Voc), respectively. However, the Jsc and Voc values of DSSC with ZnO nanowires length of 4.0 μm (4.8 mA/cm2 and 0.58 V) are smaller than those of DSSC with ZnO nanowires length of 3.0 μm (5.6 mA/cm2 and 0.62 V). It could be due to the increased length of ZnO nanowires also resulted in a decrease in the transmittance of ZnO nanowires thus reducing the incident light intensity on the N3 dye. Optimum power conversion efficiency (η) of 1.49% was obtained in a DSSC with the ZnO nanowires length of 3 μm.

Effect of solvents on ZnO nanostructures synthesized by solvothermal method assisted by microwave radiation: a photocatalytic study

“…ZnO is a wide direct bandgap semiconductor (3.37 eV at room temperature), with a large free exciton binding energy of 60 meV, leading to efficient exciton emission at room temperature [1,2]. Its applications include thin film and single crystal transistors [3,4], UV/ozone detectors [5,6], light emitting diodes (LEDs) [7,8], phosphorescent glasses [9], piezoelectric devices [10,11], dye solar cells [12,13], photocatalytic agent [14], anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents [15,16] with different morphologies, like electrodeposition [17,18], electrospinning [19], precipitation [20,21], laser assisted flow deposition (LAFD) [22] and solvothermal and hydrothermal synthesis, whether by conventional heating [23,24] or microwave radiation [25][26][27]. Different synthesis conditions and methods can ensure different ZnO morphologies like wires, pencil-and needle-like rods, flowers, tetrapods, tubes, among other types of particles [28][29][30][31].…”

Salen Zn complexes along with ZnO nanowires for dye sensitized solar cells

“…ZnO NWs have a much better crystalline quality than TiO 2 nanoparticles, which increases electron diffusion from the point of electron ejection into the circuit because electrons do not suffer any grain-boundary scattering. In the meantime, the multi-scattering effect between the vertically aligned ZnO NWs [27] could enhance the optical path of the incident light and boost the photon absorption [28]. More added advantages introduced by ZnO NWs include a direct pathway for accelerating electron transport, simultaneously extending the lifetime of electron, suppressing the recombination of electrons and holes, and improving electron collection efficiency which directly lead to the enhancement in external quantum efficiency of solar cells [29].…”

Preparation of Aligned ZnO Nanorod Arrays on Sn-Doped ZnO Thin Films by Sonicated Sol-Gel Immersion Fabricated for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

“…Meanwhile, the transparency of sample R is ∼51%, which can be due to surface roughness and verticality of the ZnO nanorod. High surface determining the photon energy absorbed from sunlight and transformed as electric current [31][32][33].…”