Growth of aligned ZnO nanorod on undoped and Tin-doped ZnO thin films and their application in dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

In this work, the ZnO thin films were prepared by Sol gel Spin coating technique on glass and ITO substrates with undoped and doped 2 at% of Tin in ZnO film. The thin films particle size of 2 at% of Tin-Doped ZnO was smaller than undoped ZnO as shown in FESEM images. Furthermore, the electrical properties and optical properties of 2 at.% were higher than undoped ZnO films. The effect of Tin doped ZnO thin film on nanorod growth was investigated. The nanorod growth on 2 at.% Tin-doped ZnO exhibits higher surface area with much smaller nanorod as compared to undoped ZnO thin films. Both of nanorod had been applied in dye-sensitized solar cell and show better of photovoltaic properties for nanorod grown on 2 at.% as compared to nanorod grown on undoped ZnO film.