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ZnO Nanosheets Derived from Surfactant‐Directed Process: Growth Mechanism, and Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Li Hui,
Zhang Yu,
Wang John
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.05030.x
Subject(s) - aqueous solution , nanocrystalline material , dye sensitized solar cell , chemical engineering , pulmonary surfactant , materials science , zinc , hydrolysis , hydrogen bond , octahedron , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , molecule , metallurgy , ion , electrode , engineering , electrolyte
Layered basic zinc acetate ( LBZA ), has been successfully synthesized by employing surfactant Pluronic F127 ( EO 106 PO 70 EO 106 ) as the template in aqueous solution. In contrast to the well studied kinetic factor in aqueous solutions, a new formation mechanism of LBZA was established based on the consideration of thermodynamic factor in aqueous solution. The hydrolysis process was slowed down by the stable octahedral Zn 2+ (H 2 O) 6 coordination through hydrogen bond interaction between Zn 2+ (H 2 O) 6 and F127. The LBZA precipitates were transformed into nanocrystalline, porous ZnO nanosheets without morphological deformation upon heating at 300°C in air. When the ZnO nanosheets are employed as photoanode in dye‐sensitized solar cells ( DSSC s), a conversion efficiency of 3.2% is obtained.