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Effect of Dip-Coating Cycles on the Structural and Performance of ZnO Thin Film-based DSSC

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Abstract

Deposition of thin film with good thickness uniformity and quality for fabrication of thin film-based dye-sensitized solar cells is a critical factor that determines the reliability and consistency of its photovoltaic performance. In this work, dip-coating method was used for the deposition of ZnO thin films on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrates. The structural, electrical and optical properties of these ZnO thin films were characterized by XRD, FESEM, four-point probe, UV–Vis spectroscope and room temperature PL spectroscope. The study showed that the thickness of ZnO thin film could be adjusted by the number of dipping cycles. By increasing the dip-coating cycles, the thickness, crystal quality and absorbance of visible light of ZnO thin films increased whereas the sheet resistance of ZnO thin films decreased. As a consequence, the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs improved with maximum conversion efficiency of 0.68% at 3 cycles of dip coating. Nevertheless, formation of macro-defects such as pores and cracks in thick ZnO thin films became the dominant factor that deteriorated their conversion efficiency down to 0.19% (at 11 cycles).

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express appreciation for the financial support of AUN/SEED-Net (Grant Number: 304.PBAHAN.6050390/J135), as well as support from the Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering department at the Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT), Prof Akihiro Wakahara of the Toyohashi University of Technology(TUT) for the photoluminescence measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia

    May Zin Toe, Swee-Yong Pung & Khatijah Aisha Binti Yaacob

  2. Department of Physics, University of Yangon, Kamayut, 11041, Yangon, Yangon Region, Myanmar

    Soe Soe Han

  3. Department of Physics, University of East Yangon, 11292, Thanlyin, Yangon Division, Myanmar

    May Zin Toe

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  1. May Zin Toe
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Correspondence to Swee-Yong Pung.

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Toe, M.Z., Pung, SY., Yaacob, K.A.B. et al. Effect of Dip-Coating Cycles on the Structural and Performance of ZnO Thin Film-based DSSC. Arab J Sci Eng 46, 6741–6751 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05418-9

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