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Effect of growth time on morphology and photovoltaic properties of ZnO nanowire array films

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Abstract

Single-crystalline ZnO nanowire arrays with different aspect ratios and nanowire densities were prepared by the hydrothermal growing method using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a surfactant. PEI can only hinder the lateral growth of the ZnO nanowires, which is observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis. Dye-sensitized solar cells were assembled by the ZnO nanowire arrays with different thicknesses, which can be controlled by the growing time and characterized using photocurrent-voltage measurements. Their photocurrent densities and energy allover conversion efficiencies increased with increasing ZnO nanowire lengths. Short-circuit current density of 4.31 mA·cm−2 and allover energy conversion efficiency of 0.87% were achieved with 12.9-μm-long ZnO nanowire arrays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Information Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200072, China

    Weiguang Yang & Weimin Shi

  2. Nano-Science and Nano-Technology Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Yali Wang & Qiang Zhen

Authors
  1. Weiguang Yang
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  2. Yali Wang
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  3. Qiang Zhen
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  4. Weimin Shi
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Correspondence to Yali Wang.

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Yang, W., Wang, Y., Zhen, Q. et al. Effect of growth time on morphology and photovoltaic properties of ZnO nanowire array films. Rare Metals 30, 676–680 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-011-0448-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-011-0448-5

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