ZnO-CuO Based Inorganic Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells: Influence of Thickness of the Spin-Coated Bulk-Heterojunction Film

Abstract

Facile synthesis of completely inorganic Zinc oxide-Copper oxide (ZnO-CuO) based bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJSCs) along with the impact of the film thickness on the different properties like morphological, structural, chemical, optical and electrical have been reported in this work. A simple spin-coating technique was used to fabricate the BHJSC. The elemental presence of ZnO and CuO with wurtzite and cubic phase was confirmed by EDX and XRD analysis correspondingly. The surface quality, optical transmittance and the resistivity of spin-coated BHJ films decrease with increasing the the film thickness revealed by morphological, optical and electrical study respectively. The photovoltaic parameters of FTO/ZnO-CuO/Al heterostructure SC like efficiency η, current density Jsc and fill factor also decreased conspicuously, whereas the open circuit voltage was found to increase conversly. Moreover, experimental outcomes indicate, the thickness of the film has inescapable impact on inorganic BHJSCs performances and must take in consideration during cell fabrication.

Different Composition Ratio of ZnO/CuO Nanocomposite Thin Film using Sol-gel Spin Coating Technique

“…Sol -gel methodology has proven to be a useful approach to prepare nanocomposite thin films as many experimental results shows this method is successful and suitable to be implemented [16][17][18]. Sol-gel methods can be performed under ambient conditions; therefore, it is frequently utilized to synthesize organic or inorganic hybrid nanocomposites.…”

“…Sol-gel methods can be performed under ambient conditions; therefore, it is frequently utilized to synthesize organic or inorganic hybrid nanocomposites. Sol-gel method can be said as important process as this method has the ability to produce thin film with high quality [18], [19]. This method also produced thin film for many potential applications and this technology offers a possibility for high quality homogenous thin films for a large area as it has an excellent control of stoichiometry, composition modification and this method is a cost-effective process that required inexpensive equipment [18].…”

“…Sol-gel method can be said as important process as this method has the ability to produce thin film with high quality [18], [19]. This method also produced thin film for many potential applications and this technology offers a possibility for high quality homogenous thin films for a large area as it has an excellent control of stoichiometry, composition modification and this method is a cost-effective process that required inexpensive equipment [18]. Most of the technical paper regarding to ZnO/CuO nanocomposite give different reading for the physical properties of the nanocomposite.…”