Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of optical and photovoltaic properties of ZnO chemically synthesized by using different hydrolyzing agents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles ZS with hexagonal sheet and ZN having nanorod-like morphologies were prepared by precipitation technique using two different hydrolyzing agents viz. water (ZS) and ethanol (ZN). The physicochemical properties of both of the as-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were investigated by UV–vis, powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM). The as-synthesized ZnO nanoparticulates were successfully employed as photoanode material in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photoanode fabricated by using ZN in DSSC showed two times better cell efficiency with enhanced photocurrent and open circuit potential in comparison to the photoanode fabricated using ZS. The improved efficiency of ZN over ZS is due to high active surface area for greater dye loading.

The enhanced efficiency has been obtained by employing ZnO nanostructures (nanosheets and short rods) as photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. O’Regan B, Gratzel M (1991) A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353:737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang Q, Cao G (2011) Nanostructured photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Today 6:91–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Duong TT, Choi HJ, He QJ, Le AT, Yoon SG (2013) Enhancing the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells with an SnO2 blocking layer grown by nanocluster deposition. J Alloys Compd 561:206–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Xu F, Zhang X, Wu Y, Wu D, Gao Z, Jiang K (2013) Facile synthesis of TiO2 hierarchical microspheres assembled by ultrathin nanosheets for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Alloys Compd 574:227–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hagfeldt A, Grätzel M (1995) Light-induced redox reactions in nanocrystalline systems. Chem Rev 95:49–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kalyansundaramand K, Grätzel M (1998) Applications of functionalized transition metal complex in photonic and optoelectronic devices. Coord Chem Rev 177:347–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kong FT, Dai SY, Wang KJ (2007) Review of recent progress in dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv OptoElectron 1–13

  8. Gratzel M (2003) Dye-sensitized solar cells. J Photochem Photobiol C Photochem Rev 4:145–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Polo AS, Itokazu MK, Iha NYM (2004) Metal complex sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. Coord Chem Rev 248:1343–1361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G, Sun L, Kloo L, Pettersson H (2010) Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Rev 110:6595–6663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang Q, Dandeneau CS, Zhou X, Cao G (2009) ZnO nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv Mater 21:4087–4108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xu F, Sun L (2011) Solution-derived ZnO nanostructures for photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. Energy Environ Sci 4:818–841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hu X, Heng B, Chen X, Wang B, Sun D, Sun Y, Zhou W, Tang Y (2012) Ultralong porous ZnO nanobelt arrays grown directly on fluorine-doped SnO2 substrate for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 217:120–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sakai N, Miyasaka T, Murakami TN (2013) Efficiency enhancement of ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells by low-temperature TiCl4 treatment and dye optimization. J Phys Chem C 117:10949–10956

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Meng XQ, Zhao DX, Zhang JY, Shan DZ, Lu YM, Liu YC, Fan XW (2005) Growth temperature controlled shape variety of ZnO nanowires. Chem Phys Lett 407:91–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Umar A, Lee S, Lee YS, Nahm KS, Hahn YB (2005) Star-shaped ZnO nanostructures on silicon by cyclic feeding chemical vapor deposition. J Cryst Growth 277:479–484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Pan ZW, Dai ZR, Wang ZL (2001) Nanobelts of semiconducting oxides. Science 291:1947–1949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wahab R, Ansari SG, Kim YS, Seo HK, Shin HS (2007) Room temperature synthesis of needle-shaped ZnO nanorods via sonochemical method. Appl Surf Sci 253:7622–7626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wahab R, Ansari SG, Kim YS, Seo HK, Kim GS, Khang G, Shin HS (2007) Low temperature solution synthesis and characterization of ZnO nano-flowers. Mater Res Bull 42:1640–1648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wahab R, Ansari SG, Kim YS, Khang G, Shin HS (2008) Effect of hydroxylamine hydrochloride on the floral decoration of zinc oxide synthesized by solution method. Appl Surf Sci 254:2037–2042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Meulenkamp EA (1998) Synthesis and growth of ZnO nanoparticles. J Phys Chem B 102:5566–5572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Spanhel L, Anderson MA (1991) Semiconductor clusters in the sol-gel process: quantized aggregation, gelation, and crystal growth in concentrated zinc oxide colloids. J Am Chem Soc 113:2826–2833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhang J, Sun L, Yin J, Su H, Liao CS, Yan C (2002) Control of ZnO morphology via a simple solution route. Chem Mater 14:4172–4177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nyffenegger RM, Craft B, Shaaban M, Gorer S, Erley G, Penner RM (1998) A hybrid electrochemical/chemical synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and optically intrinsic thin films. Chem Mater 10:1120–1129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Brinker CJ, Scherer GW (1990) Sol–gel science: the physics and chemistry of sol–gel processing. Academic, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  26. Xu L, Hu YL, Pelligra C et al (2009) ZnO with different morphologies synthesized by solvothermal methods for enhanced photocatalytic activity. Chem Mater 21:2875–2885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Khoza PB, Moloto MJ, Sikhwivhilu LM (2011) The effect of solvents, acetone, water, and ethanol, on the morphological and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by microwave. J Nanotechnol 2012:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Koch U, Fojtik A, Weller H, Henglein A (1985) Photochemistry of semiconductor colloids, preparation of extremely small ZnO particles, fluorescence phenomena and size quantization effects. Chem Phys Lett 122:507–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Wang Q, Moser JE, Gratzel M (2005) Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem B 109:14945–14953

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lee KM, Hu CW, Chen HW, Ho KC (2008) Incorporating carbon nanotubes in a low-temperature fabrication process for dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 92:1628–1633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Yanagida S, Yu YH, Manseki K (2009) Iodine/iodide-free dye-sensitized solar cells. Acc Chem Res 42:1827–1838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Han J, Fan F, Xu C, Lin S, Wei M, Duan X, Wang ZL (2010) ZnO nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar cell and its application in self-powered devices. Nanotechnology 21:405203–405207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Bahadur L, Kushwaha S (2012) Highly efficient nanocrystalline ZnO thin films prepared by a novel method and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl Phys A 109:655–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Kumar RS, Sudhagar P, Matheswaran P, Sathyamoorthy R, Kang YS (2010) Influence of seed layer treatment on ZnO growth morphology and their device performance in dye-sensitized solar cells. Mater Sci Eng B 172:283–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Umar A (2009) Growth of comb-like ZnO nanostructures for dye sensitized solar cells applications. Nanoscale Res Lett 4:1004–1008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Cadena GJ, Comini E, Ferroni M, Vomiero A, Sberveglieri G (2010) Synthesis of different ZnO nanostructures by modified PVD process and potential use for dye-sensitized solar cells. Mater Chem Phys 124:694–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Baxter JB, Aydil SE (2006) Dye-sensitized solar cells based on semiconductor morphologies with ZnO nanowires. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 90:607–622

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology and INSA, New Delhi for providing financial support to undertake this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Materials for Electronics Technologies, Panchwati, Off Pashan Road, Pune, 411008, India

    Ratna Chauhan, Govind G. Umarji, Uttam P. Mulik & Dinesh P. Amalnerkar

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India

    Abhinav Kumar

Authors
  1. Ratna Chauhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abhinav Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Govind G. Umarji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Uttam P. Mulik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dinesh P. Amalnerkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ratna Chauhan.

Additional information

Highlights

• The high quality ZnO nanostructures synthesized using water (ZS) and ethanol (ZN) as two hydrolyzing agents of different polarity.

• The efficiency for the cell using ZN as photoanode shows two time better output in comparison to ZS.

• IPCE = 41 % has been obtained with the use of ZN as photoanode.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chauhan, R., Kumar, A., Umarji, G.G. et al. Comparison of optical and photovoltaic properties of ZnO chemically synthesized by using different hydrolyzing agents. J Solid State Electrochem 19, 161–168 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2568-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2568-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation