Nano Science & Nano Technology: An Indian Journal

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

The Effect of ZnO and its Nanocomposite on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell


Affiliations
1 Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 11727, Cairo, Egypt
2 Chemistry Department, Ain Shaman University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
3 Semiconductors Technology Lab, Physics Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
 

The effect of CuO doping of ZnO nanoparticles on the performance of dye sensitize solar cells (DSSCs) has been investigated. Initially ZnO nanoparticles was synthesized using co-preciptation method then ZnO-CuO nanocomposite were fabricated by a novel Pechini route using different CuO molar concentration ratios applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The thermal, structural, optical and electrical characterization were done using various techniques such as (TGA/DSC), XRD, HR-TEM, FT-IR, Raman, UV-DRS, PL, I-V. The results of the XRD analysis showed that the CuO-ZnO composite has a nanometer size and the existence of new peak at 38.65O corresponds to secondary phase of CuO, which informs the doping process. UV-DRS spectra of doped samples showed red shift of reflectance band compared to pure ZnO NPs and PL spectra showed a strong emission band at 400 nm. At the optimized condition, the thin films of undoped ZnO and CuO doped ZnO were pasted on ITO glass using Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD) technique and used as working electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These working electrodes were sensitized with Eosin dye and coupled with platinum coated cathode. I-V measurements showed improved performance of ZnO-CuO nanocomposite DSSC with the efficiency of 2.9% ± 0.22% at the optimum doping (ZC1.5) were observed as compared to ZnO DSSC 1.26% ± 0.08%.

Keywords

ZnO Nanoparticles, ZnO-CuO Nanocomposite, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Efficiency.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Miao X, Pan K, Pan Q, et al. Highly crystalline graphene/carbon black composite counter electrodes with controllable content: Synthesis, characterization and application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochimica Acta. 2013;2(4):219-25.

  • Ahn SH, Chi WS, Kim DJ, et al. Honeycomb‐like organized TiO2 photoanodes with dual pores for solid‐state Dye‐sensitized solar cells J. Ad Func Mater. 2013;23(31):3901-8.

  • Mazumdar S, Bhattacharyya AJ. Dependence of electron recombination time and light to electricity conversion efficiency on shape of the nanocrystal light sensitizer. Energy Environ Sci.2013;5.

  • Chen L, Zhou Y, Tu W, et al. Enhanced photovoltaic performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell using graphene- TiO2 photoanode prepared by a novel in situ simultaneous reduction-hydrolysis technique. J Nanoscale. 2013;21(5):3481-5.

  • Kamat VP. Boosting the efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells through modulation of interfacial charge transfer. J Acc Chem Res. 2012;45(11):1906-15.

  • Yan TL, Wu LF, Peng LJ, et al. Photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells based on a ZnO/TiO2 composite film. Int J Photoenergy. 2012:613969.

  • Habibi MH, Askari E. Thermal and structural studies of zinc zirconate nanoscale composite derived from sol-gel process. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2013;111:227-33.

  • Martinson ABF, Elam JW, Hupp JT, et al. ZnO Nanotube based dye-sensitized solar cells. J Nano Lett. 2007;7(8):2183-7.

  • Habibi MH, Askari E. The effect of operational parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of C.I. reactive yellow 86 textile dye using manganese zinc oxide nanocomposite thin films. J Adv Oxid Technol. 2011;14:190.

  • Ghaedi M, Montazerozohori M, Sahraei R. Comparison of the influence of nanomaterials on response properties of copper selective electrodes. J Ind Eng Chem. 2013;19:1356.

  • Habibi MH, Sheibani R. Nanostructure silver-doped zinc oxide films coating on glass prepared by sol-gel and photochemical deposition process: Application for removal of mercaptan. J Ind Eng Chem. 2013;19:161-17.

  • Habibi MH, Askari E. Permeability, solubility, diffusivity and PALS data of cross-linkable 6FDA-based copolyimides. J Ind Eng Chem. 2014;53(6):2449-60.

  • Chen W, Zhang H, Hsing IM, et al. A new photoanode architecture of dye sensitized solar cell based on ZnO nanotetrapods with no need for calcination. J Electro chem Commum. 2009;11(5):1057-60.

  • Habibi MH, Askari E. Synthesis, structural characterization, thermal and electrochemical investigations of a square pyramid manganese (III) complex with a schiff base ligand acting as N2O2 tetradentate in equatorial and as O monodendate in axial positions: Application as a precursor for preparation of Mn-Doped ZnO nanoparticle. J Org Chem. 2013;43(4):406-11.

  • Zhang Q, Dandeneau CS, Zhou X, et al. ZnO Nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Adv Mater. 2009;21(41) 4087-108.

  • Habibi MH, Habibi AH. Sol-gel combustion synthesis and characterization of nanostructure copper chromite spinel. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2013;115(2):1329-33.

  • Senthil TS, Muthukumarasamy N, Misook K. ZnO Nanorods based dye sensitized solar cells sensitized using natural dyes extracted from beetischolar_main, rose and strawberry. J Bull Korean Chem Soc. 2014;35(4):1056.

  • Al-Kahlout A. Thermal treatment optimization of ZnO nanoparticles-photoelectrodes for high photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Assoc Arab Univ Basic Appl Sci. 2015;17:66-72.

  • Tang Z, Wong GKL, Yu P, et al. Room-temperature ultraviolet laser emission from self-assembled ZnO microcrystallite thin films. J Appl Phys Lett. 1998;72(25):3270-72.

  • Zhong S. Ren X, Huang Y, et al. Numerical studies on flow and thermal fields in MOCVD reactor, J Chi Sci Bul. 2010;55(6):560-6.

  • Nawar AM, Abdel AN, Said NF, et al. Improving the optical and electrical properties of Zinc Oxide thin film by Cupric Oxide dopant. J App Phys. 2014;6(4)17-22.

  • Das B, Das T, Parashar K, et al. Structural, electrical and FT-IR studies of nano Zn1-xCaxO by solid state reaction method. Appl Sci Adv Mat Int. 2014;116.

  • Shalan AE, Osama I, Rashad MM, et al. An investigation on the properties of SnO2 nanoparticles synthesized using two different methods. J Mat Sci: Mat Elec. 2014;25(1)303-10.

  • Mead DG, Wilkinson GR. The temperature dependence of the Raman effect in some wurtzite type crystals. J Ram Spec. 1977;6(3)123-29.

  • Ekambaram S. Combustion synthesis and characterization of new class of ZnO-based ceramic pigments. J Alloys Comp. 2005;390(1): L4-L6.

  • Duan LB, Rao GH, Wang YC, et al. Magnetization and Raman scattering studies of (Co, Mn) codoped ZnO nanoparticles. J App Phys. 2008;104(1):013909.

  • 27 Liu M, Yang J, Feng S, et al. Composite photoanodes of Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles modified SnO2 hierarchical microspheres for dye-sensitized solar cells. Mater Lett. 2012;76:215-18.

  • Prashant SK, Dutta RK, Pandey AC. Effect of nickel doping concentration on structural and magnetic properties of ultrafine diluted magnetic semiconductor ZnO nanoparticles. J Mag Mag Mat. 2009;321(20)3457-61.

  • Roman V, Iatsunsky I, Fedorenko V, et al. Enhancement of electronic and optical properties of ZnO/Al2O3 nanolaminate coated electrospun nanofiber. J Phys Chem. 2016;120(9):5124-32.

  • Karam C, Guerra NC, R. Habchi Z, et al. Urchin-inspired ZnO-TiO 2 core-shell as building blocks for dye sensitized solar cells. J Mat Des. 2017;126:314-21.


Abstract Views: 179

PDF Views: 0




  • The Effect of ZnO and its Nanocomposite on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

Abstract Views: 179  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Hanaa Selim
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 11727, Cairo, Egypt
Amr A. Nada
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 11727, Cairo, Egypt
El-Sayed Mona
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 11727, Cairo, Egypt
R. M. Hegazey
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 11727, Cairo, Egypt
Eglal R. Souaya
Chemistry Department, Ain Shaman University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
M. F. Kotkata
Semiconductors Technology Lab, Physics Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt

Abstract


The effect of CuO doping of ZnO nanoparticles on the performance of dye sensitize solar cells (DSSCs) has been investigated. Initially ZnO nanoparticles was synthesized using co-preciptation method then ZnO-CuO nanocomposite were fabricated by a novel Pechini route using different CuO molar concentration ratios applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The thermal, structural, optical and electrical characterization were done using various techniques such as (TGA/DSC), XRD, HR-TEM, FT-IR, Raman, UV-DRS, PL, I-V. The results of the XRD analysis showed that the CuO-ZnO composite has a nanometer size and the existence of new peak at 38.65O corresponds to secondary phase of CuO, which informs the doping process. UV-DRS spectra of doped samples showed red shift of reflectance band compared to pure ZnO NPs and PL spectra showed a strong emission band at 400 nm. At the optimized condition, the thin films of undoped ZnO and CuO doped ZnO were pasted on ITO glass using Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD) technique and used as working electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These working electrodes were sensitized with Eosin dye and coupled with platinum coated cathode. I-V measurements showed improved performance of ZnO-CuO nanocomposite DSSC with the efficiency of 2.9% ± 0.22% at the optimum doping (ZC1.5) were observed as compared to ZnO DSSC 1.26% ± 0.08%.

Keywords


ZnO Nanoparticles, ZnO-CuO Nanocomposite, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Efficiency.

References