Synthesis and Structure–Property Correlation in Shape‐Controlled ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Chemical Vapor Synthesis and their Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Bacsa, Revathi; Dexpert‐Ghys, Jeannette; Verelst, Marc; Falqui, Andrea; Machado, Bruno F.; Bacsa, Wolfgang; Chen, Peter; Zakeeruddin, Shaik M.; Gräetzel, Michael; Serp, Philippe

doi:10.1002/adfm.200801049

Cited by 68 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 76 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The tetrapods prepared with the addition of water have longer arms and a lower average diameter (8-20 nm) as compared to tetrapods prepared without water addition [34]. The reaction of Zn metal with water produces hydrogen gas that could favour the production of the suboxide of zinc, which has been reported as the most probable intermediate state in the formation of ZnO tetrapods [35,36].…”

Section: Atmosphere-controlled Oxidationmentioning

confidence: 99%

ZnO Tetrapods: Synthesis and Applications in Solar Cells

Yan

Uddin

Wang

2015

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapods have received much interest due to their unique morphology, that is, four arms connected to one centre. Tetrapod networks possess the excellent electronic properties of the ZnO semiconductor, which is attractive for photoelectrode materials in energyconversion devices because of their advantages in electron extraction and transportation. In this review, we have discussed recent advancements in the field of ZnO tetrapod synthesis, including vapour transport synthesis and the wet chemical method, together with their advantages and disadvantages in terms of morphology control and yield regulation. The developments and improvements in the applications of ZnO nanotetrapods in photovoltaics, including dye-sensitized solar cells and polymer solar cells, are also described. Our aim is to give readers a comprehensive and critical overview of this unique morphology of ZnO, including synthesis control and growth mechanism, and to understand the role of this particular morphology in the development of solar cells. The future research directions in ZnO tetrapods-based solar cell are also discussed.

show abstract

Section: Atmosphere-controlled Oxidationmentioning

confidence: 99%

ZnO Tetrapods: Synthesis and Applications in Solar Cells

Yan

Uddin

Wang

2015

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The characteristic UV (384 nm, 3.23 eV) and visible (471 nm, 2.63 eV) peaks are observed due to high exciton energy and direct band gap of ZnO. The UV emission in ZnO has been well documented and discussed by many researchers in the literature [23,24]. It is attributed to near band edge transition processes arising from energy loss due to a strong electron-phonon interaction at room temperature [25].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by polymer assisted deposition method

Pawar

Shaikh

Shewale

et al. 2011

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The main function of this layer, aside from the light absorption, lies in the light scattering in the near-infrared region. Its light scattering capability is derived from the sub-micron level pores formed of the nanotetrapods [29]. The inimitable branching structure of our nanotetrapods has imparted this light scattering a certain extent of toughness to endure curvature bending on flexible substrates, a distinct advantage over other kinds of light-scattering materials such as large TiO 2 particle assemblies and SiO 2 sphere photonic-crystals previously applied to DSSCs [62].…”

Section: Zno Nanotetrapod Based Flexible Dsscsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was the first time that DSSC based on pure ZnO nanotetrapod photoanode was demonstrated with a reasonable efficiency; simply by physically contacting the nanotetrapods, the branched nanotetrapods network could effectively transport photoinduced electrons. Later on, Chiu et al [28] and Bacsa et al [29] also reported studies on ZnO nanotetrapods based DSSCs with their photoanodes all calcined at high temperatures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO nanotetrapods

Chen

Yang

2011

Front. Optoelectron. China

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper, we reviewed recent systematic studies of using ZnO nanotetrapods for photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in our group. First, the efficiency of power conversion was obtained by more than 3.27% by changes of conditions of dye loading and film thickness of ZnO nanotetrapod. Short-circuit photocurrent densities (J sc ) increased with the film thickness, J sc would not be saturation even the film thickness was greater than 35 μm. The photoanode architecture had been charactered by good crystallinity, network forming ability, and limited electron-hopping interjunctions. Next, DSSCs with high efficiency was devised by infiltrating SnO 2 nanoparticles into the ZnO nanotetrapods photoanodes. Due to material advantages of both constituents described as above, the composite photoanodes exhibited extremely large roughness factors (RFs), good charge collection, and tunable light scattering properties. By varying the composition of the composite photoanodes, we had achieved an efficiency of 6.31% by striking a balance between high efficiency of charge collection for SnO 2 nanoparticles rich films and high light scattering ability for ZnO nanotetrapods rich films. An ultrathin layer of ZnO was found to form spontaneously on the SnO 2 nanoparticles, which primarily was responsible for enhancing open-circuit photovoltage (V oc ). We also identified that recombination in SnO 2 /ZnO composite films was mainly determined by ZnO shell condition on SnO 2 , whereas electron transport was greatly influenced by the morphologies and sizes of ZnO crystalline additives. Finally, we applied the composite photoanodes of SnO 2 nanoparticles/ZnO nanotetrapods to flexible DSSCs by low temperature technique of "acetic acid gelation-mechanical press-ammonia activation." The efficiency has been achieved by 4.91% on ITO-coated polyethylenenaphtalate substrate. The formation of a thin ZnO shell on SnO 2 nanoparticles, after ammonia activation, was also found to be critical to boosting V oc and to improving inter-particles contacts. Mechanical press, apart from enhancing film durability, also significantly improved charge collection. ZnO nanotetrapods had been demonstrated to be a better additive than ZnO particles for the improvement of charge collection in SnO 2 /ZnO composite photoanodes regardless of whether they were calcined.

show abstract

Synthesis and Structure–Property Correlation in Shape‐Controlled ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Chemical Vapor Synthesis and their Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Cited by 68 publications

References 76 publications

ZnO Tetrapods: Synthesis and Applications in Solar Cells

ZnO Tetrapods: Synthesis and Applications in Solar Cells

Characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by polymer assisted deposition method

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO nanotetrapods

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About