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Improved efficiency of ZnO hierarchical particle based dye sensitized solar cell by incorporating thin passivation layer in photo-anode

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Abstract

Present article describes the DSSC performances of photo-anodes prepared using hydrothermal route derived ZnO particles having dissimilar morphologies i.e. simple micro-rod and nano-tips decorated micro-rod. The surface of nano-tips decorated micro-rod is uneven and patterned which facilitate more dye adsorption and better scattering of the incident light resulting superior photo-conversion efficiency (PCE) (η ~ 1.09%) than micro-rod ZnO (η ~ 0.86%). To further improve the efficiency of nano-tips decorated micro-rod ZnO based DSSC, thin passivation layer of ZnO is introduced in the corresponding photo-anode and a higher PCE (η ~ 1.29%) is achieved. The compact thin passivation layer here expedites the transportation of photo-excited electrons, restricts the undesired recombination reactions and prevents the direct contact of electrolyte with conducting substrates. Attempt is made to understand the effect of passivation layer on the transportation kinetics of photo-excited electrons by analyzing the electrochemical impedance spectra of the developed cells.

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Acknowledgements

The author K.M. is thankful to DST, Govt. of India for providing him Inspire Faculty fellowship (Ref. DST/IFA12-CH-43) and associated research grant for this work. P.D. is thankful to DST, Govt. of India for supporting her fellowship. There is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Materials Processing, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, 713209, India

    Priyanka Das, Biswanath Mondal & Kalisadhan Mukherjee

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, 713209, India

    Priyanka Das, Biswanath Mondal & Kalisadhan Mukherjee

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  1. Priyanka Das
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Correspondence to Kalisadhan Mukherjee.

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Das, P., Mondal, B. & Mukherjee, K. Improved efficiency of ZnO hierarchical particle based dye sensitized solar cell by incorporating thin passivation layer in photo-anode. Appl. Phys. A 124, 80 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-017-1486-0

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