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Influence of Synthesis-Dependent Structural Morphology on Performance of Natural Dye-Sensitized ZnO Solar Cells

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Abstract

ZnO nanostructures were synthesized by solvothermal (STT), solution combustion (SCT), and template synthesis (TS) techniques, showing the formation of rod-like, dot-like, and wire-like morphology. Pure-phase wurtzite structure was observed for STT and SCT samples, and mixed-phase wurtzite structure for the TS sample. Strong excitonic peaks appeared for STT and TS samples, whereas the excitonic peak tended to shift for the SCT sample. Dye-sensitized solar cell device structures using natural anthocyanin dye were fabricated and their I–V characteristics studied. The ZnO nanowire-based device showed the maximum open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Isc) in comparison with the rod-like and flake-like ZnO nanostructures. The photoconversion efficiency (PCE) was found to be 3.2%, 4.4%, and 5.4% for the rod-, dot-, and wire-like morphology, respectively. The enhancement in the PCE can be attributed to increased charge collection at the interface of the ZnO photoanode and electrolyte layer.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (2018R1D1A1B07051095, 2018R1D1A1B07050237, and 2016R1A6A1A03012877).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala, 144603, India

    Harpreetpal Singh, Vijay Kumar & Dev Raj

  2. Quantum Functional Semiconductor Research Center, Nano Information Technology Academy, Dongguk University, Seoul, 100715, South Korea

    Sunil Kumar, T. W. Kang & H. C. Jeon

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  1. Harpreetpal Singh
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  2. Vijay Kumar
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  3. Dev Raj
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  4. Sunil Kumar
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  6. H. C. Jeon
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Correspondence to H. C. Jeon.

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Singh, H., Kumar, V., Raj, D. et al. Influence of Synthesis-Dependent Structural Morphology on Performance of Natural Dye-Sensitized ZnO Solar Cells. JOM 71, 1477–1484 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-019-03372-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-019-03372-4

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