Hydrothermal Preparation and Characterization of ZnO with Various Morphologies for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract:

Zinc oxide (ZnO) with various morphologies consisting of nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 20 nm have been successfully prepared by hydrothermal method from zinc nitrate (Zn (NO₃)₂)/carbamide (CO(NH₂)₂) solution. The morphologies and phase structures of the as-prepared ZnO samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD). Results show that the morphologies of the as-prepared ZnO are successively present in broom-like, cabbage-like, chinese cabbage-like, honeycomb-like with the increase of the CO(NH₂)₂ concentration from 0.1 M to 1 M. The photovoltaic performances of dye-sensitized solar cells, based on ZnO with various morphologies as the photoelectrodes, are unobvious. With the morphologies of ZnO evolving, the short circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) increases from 2.35 to 3.72 mA/cm², the fill factor (FF) increases from 0.400 to 0.570, and the corresponding conversion efficiency (η) varies from 0.520 % to 1.200 %. The low η may be due to the formation of the Zn²⁺/dye polymers.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 750-752)
• Pages: 873-876
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.750-752.873
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Zonghu Xiao, Wei Zhong, Shun Jian Xu, Yong Ping Luo
• Keywords: Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Photoelectrode, Photovoltaic Properties, Various Morphologies, Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

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