A comparative study on the dye sensitized solar cell performance of solution processed ZnO

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 102; pp. 143 - 151
• Main Authors: Jana, Arpita, Das, Partha Pratim, Agarkar, Shruti A., Sujatha Devi, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2014; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical synthesis; Comparative studies; DSSC; Energy; Energy conservation; Exact sciences and technology; Microstructure; Natural energy; Photoanode; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Surface area; Zinc oxides; ZnO; ZnO; Photoanode; Surface area; DSSC; Performance evaluation; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Conversion rate; Aspect ratio; Energetic efficiency; Energy conversion; Zinc oxide; Photoanodes; Comparative study; Growth from solution
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2014.01.011

Here, we report the effect of the aspect ratio and surface area of solution processed zinc oxide (ZnO) on the performance of ZnO based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The dye sensitized solar cells constructed using the prepared ZnO nanostructures and N719 dye molecules, exhibited efficiencies that varied as a function of surface area of the samples, with ZnO prisms exhibiting a maximum efficiency of around 1.38±0.01%.
•Dye sensitized solar cells with ZnO exhibited an efficiency of 1.38%.•Hexagonal prism shaped samples exhibited an efficiency of 1.38% and a fill factor of 37%.•Effect of surface area and aspect ratio of ZnO on solar cell performance.•Solution processed ZnO nanostructures and their DSSC performance.
We have monitored the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) using solution processed ZnO having different shapes and aspect ratios. The aspect ratio and surface area of the ZnO structures have been regulated by carefully controlling the precursor concentration and reaction conditions. The shape of the synthesized structures has been varied from larger rods to smaller rods to hexagonal prisms. The synthesized hexagonal prism shaped ZnO with an aspect ratio of around one exhibited the highest surface area of 42m2/g. The ZnO rods with higher aspect ratios of 5 and 16 exhibited lower surface areas of 22 and 2m2/g, respectively. The dye sensitized solar cells constructed using the as-prepared ZnO structures and N719 dye molecules, exhibited efficiencies that varied as a function of surface area of the samples, with ZnO hexagonal prism exhibiting a maximum efficiency of around 1.38±0.01%. The results indicated a direct correlation between the surface area of the ZnO structures and the energy conversion efficiency.