Effect of Growth Temperature on ZnO Nanorod Properties and Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

Marjoni Imamora Ali Umar

doi:10.18502/keg.v1i1.509

Abstract

Nanostructure of semiconductor materials zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely used in fabrication of solar cell devices. The performance of such devices is strongly depending on the nanostructures of the thin films used. In this paper reports the effect of growth temperature during synthesis of one-dimensional (1-D) anatase ZnO nanorod arrays through hydrothermal process facing their structure, morphology, and optical properties. The ZnO nanorod was first synthesized use the solution concentration and time fixed at 0.04M and 1 hour. The growth temperature were varied from 70, 80, 90 and 100 °C. The effect of growth temperature on the structural, morphology, and optical absorption of ZnO nanorod were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV–vis spectroscopy. The regularity, diameters, heights, and surface densities of the ZnO nanorods were increased with the growth temperature.The optimum results of FESEM characterizations showed that the grown ZnO nanorods have diameters of 64.14 ± 8.3 nm, heights of 363.72 ± 34 nm and surface densities of 182 numbers/µm2 which was obtained at temperature of 90 ˚C. The optimum ZnO nanorod film was utilized as photo anode in dye sensitized solar cells. The DSSC yielded Jsc of 0.86 mA/cm2, Voc of 0.49 V, and FF of 38 %, resulting in PCE of 0.16 %.

Highlights

Research efforts on one dimensional (1-D) zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures such as nanorod still have high interest rates since a few decades ago because it has unique properties for many applications such as sensor, solar cell, electronics devices and etc.[1]
A variety of methods have been reported for fabricating arrays of aligned ZnO nanostructure, including vapour phase transport, metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD),and hydrothermal processes
ZnO nanorod was provided through a hydrothermal process and the effect of the temperature during preparation step to their properties and dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) performance is investigated

Summary

Introduction

Research efforts on one dimensional (1-D) ZnO nanostructures such as nanorod still have high interest rates since a few decades ago because it has unique properties for many applications such as sensor, solar cell, electronics devices and etc.[1]. Oriented carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanorod shave been prepared by high-temperature vacuum deposition techniques. This method makes the structure of ZnO becomes damaged and increase the preparation cost. A variety of methods have been reported for fabricating arrays of aligned ZnO nanostructure, including vapour phase transport, metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD),and hydrothermal processes. ZnO nanorod was provided through a hydrothermal process and the effect of the temperature during preparation step to their properties and DSSC performance is investigated. This research is expected to find the lowest temperature to produce a better ZnO nanorod and applied of them on DSSC device with better performance and low cost

Experimental

Result and discussion

Findings

Conclusion