Loading...

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles coating layers on top of ZnO nanowires for morphological, optical, and photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells

Saleem, M ; Sharif University of Technology | 2019

906 Viewed
  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.3390/mi10120819
  3. Publisher: MDPI AG , 2019
  4. Abstract:
  5. This paper reports on the synthesis of ZnO nanowires (NWs), as well asthe compound nanostructures of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs+NPs) with different coating layers of NPs on the top of NWs and their integration in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In compound nanostructures, NWs offer direct electrical pathways for fast electron transfer, and the NPs of ZnOdispread and fill the interstices between the NWs of ZnO, offering a huge surface area for enough dye anchoring and promoting light harvesting. A significant photocurrent density of 2.64mA/cm2 and energy conversion efficiency of 1.43% was obtained with NWs-based DSSCs. The total solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of the NWs+a single layer of NPs was found to be 2.28%, with a short-circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 3.02 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.74 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.76, which is 60% higher than that of NWs cells and over 165% higher than NWs+a triple layer of NPs-based DSSCs. The improved performance was obtained due to the increased specific surface area for higher dye anchoring and light harvesting of compound nanostructures with NWs+a single layer of NPs. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
  6. Keywords:
  7. Coating layers of NPs ; Coatings ; Conversion efficiency ; II-VI semiconductors ; Nanoparticles ; Nanowires ; Open circuit voltage ; Photovoltaic effects ; Solar power generation ; Synthesis (chemical) ; Zinc oxide ; ZnO nanoparticles ; Coating layer ; DSSCs ; Electric energy conversion efficiency ; Fast electron transfer ; Photocurrent density ; Photovoltaic property ; Short-circuit photocurrent densities ; Zno nanowires (NWs) ; Dye-sensitized solar cells
  8. Source: Micromachines ; Volume 10, Issue 12 , 2019 ; 2072666X (ISSN)
  9. URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/12/819