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Preparation and characterization of hematite nanoparticles-decorated zinc oxide particles (ZnO/Fe2O3) as photoelectrodes for solar cell applications

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Abstract

Because of the socio-environmental and economic impacts of the use of fossil fuels, the demand for the diversification of the energy matrix has increased. Energy devices utilizing renewable energy such as solar cells stand out as a possible solution to this problem. Therefore, in order to realize the practical applications of solar cells, it is imperative to develop novel structural materials and to optimize the properties of the existing ones. In this study, we prepared a photoelectrode using hematite-decorated zinc oxide particles (ZnO/Fe2O3). The field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller results confirmed that Fe2O3 coated the surface of the ZnO particles and improved their photoelectrochemical properties. The composite was found to be a promising photoelectrode for solar cells.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed in part by the São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP (2013/07296-2), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual Paulista – Unesp, P.O. Box 473, Bauru, SP, 17033-360, Brazil

    Letícia G. da Trindade

  2. Institute of Marine Sciences, UNIFESP, Santos, SP, 11070-102, Brazil

    Gabriel Yuji Hata & Tatiana Martelli Mazzo

  3. LIEC – CDMF - Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, P.O. Box 676, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Josiane Carneiro Souza, Mario R. S. Soares, Edson Roberto Leite, Ernesto C. Pereira & Elson Longo

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  1. Letícia G. da Trindade
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  2. Gabriel Yuji Hata
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Correspondence to Tatiana Martelli Mazzo.

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da Trindade, L.G., Hata, G.Y., Souza, J.C. et al. Preparation and characterization of hematite nanoparticles-decorated zinc oxide particles (ZnO/Fe2O3) as photoelectrodes for solar cell applications. J Mater Sci 55, 2923–2936 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04135-x

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