Sheaf-like-ZnO@Ag nanocomposite materials modified photoanode for low-cost metal-free organic dye-sensitized solid-state solar cells

Abstract

Sheaf-like-ZnO-Ag nanocomposite material (sheaf-like-(ZnO@Ag)NCM) was prepared and used as photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cell. Eosin-Y adsorbed photoanode was employed, and the overall efficiency (η) was found to be 1.39% under standard AM 1.5G simulated solar irradiation (100 mWcm−2) which is ∼2-fold higher than that of ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRs), owing to the presence of an effective interfacial charge transfer processes through the Ag from the excited state of eosin-Y to ZnO. The obtained efficiency is also compared to the sensitized with N719, whose efficiency (1.8%) is ∼30% higher than that of the cells sensitized with eosin-Y.