Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Physics

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A Comparative Study on Optoelectronic Properties of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells using TiO2-ZnO Photo anodes


Affiliations
1 Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Kota, Kota 324 005, Rajasthan, India
2 Department of Pure and Applied Physics, University of Kota, Kota 324 005, Rajasthan, India
3 Department of Chemistry, Shri Saibaba College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Shirdi 423 109, India
4 Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CxI), Technical University of Liberec (TUL), Studentská 1402/2, 1 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic

In present study, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are fabricated using bare TiO2, ZnO and TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite via doctor’s blade method with N719 sensitizer and platinum-free carbon deposited counter electrode. The ensued TiO2-ZnO (1:1) composite films of photoanodes are characterized with UV-Vis Spectroscopy to investigate the band gaps of bare TiO2, ZnO and their composite, in the range of 3.21- 3.31 eV. SEM studies are performed to analyze the surface morphology wherein the TiO2-ZnO composite photoelectrode, displayed additional prominent porosities than the bare TiO2/ZnO. The photo conversion efficiency of the cells based on TiO2, ZnO and their composite were observed as 1.08%, 0.98%, and 1.49%, respectively, which is higher for composite due to low series resistance, high optical absorption, high recombination resistance and longer lifetime as evaluated by impedance analysis. This strategy of using TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite photoanode could pave the way for performance improvement in a cost-effective manner for DSSCs.

Keywords

Dye-sensitized solar cell; DSSC; TiO2-ZnO composite; Impedance analysis
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  • A Comparative Study on Optoelectronic Properties of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells using TiO2-ZnO Photo anodes

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Authors

Kanchan Ranwa
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Kota, Kota 324 005, Rajasthan, India
Hukma Ram Khakhal
Department of Pure and Applied Physics, University of Kota, Kota 324 005, Rajasthan, India
Shreyas Pansambal
Department of Chemistry, Shri Saibaba College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Shirdi 423 109, India
Rajender S Varma
Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CxI), Technical University of Liberec (TUL), Studentská 1402/2, 1 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic
Shweta Vyas
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Kota, Kota 324 005, Rajasthan, India

Abstract


In present study, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are fabricated using bare TiO2, ZnO and TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite via doctor’s blade method with N719 sensitizer and platinum-free carbon deposited counter electrode. The ensued TiO2-ZnO (1:1) composite films of photoanodes are characterized with UV-Vis Spectroscopy to investigate the band gaps of bare TiO2, ZnO and their composite, in the range of 3.21- 3.31 eV. SEM studies are performed to analyze the surface morphology wherein the TiO2-ZnO composite photoelectrode, displayed additional prominent porosities than the bare TiO2/ZnO. The photo conversion efficiency of the cells based on TiO2, ZnO and their composite were observed as 1.08%, 0.98%, and 1.49%, respectively, which is higher for composite due to low series resistance, high optical absorption, high recombination resistance and longer lifetime as evaluated by impedance analysis. This strategy of using TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite photoanode could pave the way for performance improvement in a cost-effective manner for DSSCs.

Keywords


Dye-sensitized solar cell; DSSC; TiO2-ZnO composite; Impedance analysis