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n-type Ga2O3–ZnO heaped nanorods: apropos of coupling green route with micro-wave abetted synthesis for advanced energy systems

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Abstract

This work is the first corroboration of the synthesis, characterization, and advanced energy applications of the novel n-type Ga2O3–ZnO heaped nanorods (HNRs) via modified green route coupled microwave abetted synthesis. Upon nano-composite formation of this eco-friendly and sustainable material, there was a subsequent band gap tuning from 4.83 to 3.31 eV. Synthesized nanorods were characterized with the mixed monoclinic and hexagonal phase possessing average crystallite size of 52.51 nm. Ga2O3–ZnO HNRs sequined nickel foam electrode was assessed for energy generation in terms of the oxygen and hydrogen production. Green HNRs have greater propitiousness toward hydrogen generation with the lower overpotential and Tafel slope value of 127 mV and 117.9 mV dec−1. With the durability for 1500 min in electrolyte environment, the fabricated electrode excelled in reaching a charge storage capacity of 514 mAH g−1. In terms of the photoelectrical operation, Ga2O3–ZnO HNRs surpassed the pristine nanomaterials by effectively passivating the perovskite solar cells. Solar cell device comprised of the green HNRs as passivation agents achieved an efficiency of 16.19% and 1.04 V of the open circuit voltage (Voc). Synthesized nanomaterials have expressed sustainability and efficiency for advanced energy applications in a cost effective manner.

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Acknowledgements

Authors of this work are highly grateful to the Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall, 46000, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and the Queen Mary University of London, the United Kingdom for providing the technical facilities needed for the completion of this work. Also, the authors want to acknowledge the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan. This work was funded by the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSPD2023R667), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials and Environmental Chemistry Lab, Lab-E21, Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Shaan Bibi Jaffri & Khuram Shahzad Ahmad

  2. School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Isaac Abrahams

  3. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Adel El-marghany

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  1. Shaan Bibi Jaffri
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Contributions

Credit author statement SBJ: Conceptualization, methodology, visualization, data curation, and writing—original draft; KSA: Conceptualization, methodology, supervision, and writing—review & editing; IA: Conceptualization, methodology, supervision, data curation, resources, and writing—review & editing; AE: Data curation, resources, and writing—review & editing.

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Correspondence to Khuram Shahzad Ahmad.

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Jaffri, S.B., Ahmad, K.S., Abrahams, I. et al. n-type Ga2O3–ZnO heaped nanorods: apropos of coupling green route with micro-wave abetted synthesis for advanced energy systems. J Appl Electrochem 54, 1321–1332 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-023-02040-5

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