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Synthesis and study of zinc oxide nanoparticles for dye sensitized solar cell

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Physics, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 2Department of Physics, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 3Department of Physics, Patan Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 4Department of Physics, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

Res. J. Physical Sci., Volume 5, Issue (5), Pages 6-10, June,4 (2017)

Abstract

This article presents observation of structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles and its thin films. The Zinc Oxide nanoparticles were first synthesized by precipitation method from precursor solutions of zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide. Thin films of ZnO were then prepared using the paste of ZnO with acetic-acid glacial, and Triton X-100 in ethanol on FTO substrates by doctor blade method. X-ray diffraction pattern of ZnO powder annealed at (500 ± 5) oC shows the hexagonal wurtzite structure with preferred orientation along (101) planes. Average grain size of ZnO using Williamson-Hall plot was found to be of 38 nm. Scanning Electron Microscope image of thin film of ZnO depicts the rod-like structures of ZnO. The optical direct band gap of the ZnO thin film was found to be of 3.18 eV. As-prepared ZnO nano structured thin films sensitized by dye extract of Callistemon citrinus were then used as photo anodes to fabricate the dye sensitized solar cells. The performance of assembled DSSC was tested by current-voltage characteristic curves under the sunlight illumination. The fill factor of DSSC assembled from ZnO loaded with dye at (60 ±5) oC was calculated to be of 0.47.

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