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Coral‐shaped ZnO nanostructures for dye‐sensitized solar cell photoanodes
Author(s) -
Lamberti Andrea,
Gazia Rossana,
Sacco Adriano,
Bianco Stefano,
Quaglio Marzia,
Chiodoni Angelica,
Tresso Elena,
Pirri Candido Fabrizio
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.2251
Subject(s) - materials science , dye sensitized solar cell , tin oxide , energy conversion efficiency , solar cell , chemical engineering , dielectric spectroscopy , nanostructure , wurtzite crystal structure , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , doping , electrode , zinc , chemistry , engineering , electrolyte , electrochemistry , metallurgy
A highly efficient ZnO photoanode for dye‐sensitized solar cells was successfully grown by a simple, low cost, and scalable method. A nanostructured coral‐shaped Zn layer was deposited by sputtering onto fluorine‐doped tin oxide/glass slices at room temperature and then thermally oxidized in ambient atmosphere. Stoichiometry, crystalline phase, quality, and morphology of the film were investigated, evidencing the formation of a highly porous branched nanostructure, with a pure wurtzite crystalline structure. ZnO‐based dye‐sensitized solar cells were fabricated with customized microfluidic architecture. Dye loading on the oxide surface was analyzed with ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, and the dependence of the cell efficiency on sensitizer incubation time and film thickness was studied by current‐voltage electrical characterization, incident photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiency, and impedance spectroscopy measurements, showing the promising properties of this material for the fabrication of dye‐sensitized solar cell photoanodes with a solar conversion efficiency up to 4.58%. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.