State-of-the-art with the prospects of cobalt-based metal-organic frameworks for solar cell applications

Abstract

The characteristics of metal–organic framework (MOF) composites make them the most significant materials for energy conversion applications. MOFs are hybrid molecular frameworks synthesized using metal ions like Copper, Cobalt, Zinc, Nickel, etc and organic ligands such as BTC, NDC, etc. To meet and fulfill futuristic energy demands and needs, it is feasible to expand cost-effective energy conversion solar cell devices using MOF materials, therefore in the present work, the Cobalt-based MOFs (Co-MOF) are synthesized by coordinating Cobalt nitrate and 1,3,5 Benzene tricarboxylic acid (BTC or Trimesic acid) ligand using the Solvothermal method. To study the physiochemical properties of synthesized Co-BTC MOFs, these have gone through a variety of characterization processes where the structural exploration unveils that the intensity of the dominant peak obtained at 18.7° gradually decreases with a decrease in the concentration of trimesic acid ligand. First and second weight losses, corresponding to release of the solvent molecules and breakdown of the frameworks, respectively, were detected by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. In the FTIR spectra, metal-oxide, modified benzene, carboxylic, and hydroxyl groups with different modes of vibrations are observed. Analysis of surface morphology demonstrated creation of rod-like geometry to the synthesized materials, whereas elemental studies inveterate effective formation of the Co-BTC MOFs. Additionally, the optimized Co-BTC MOF is applied as a potential interfacial layer in solar cells and the outcome implies that the device designed with 10 Co-BTC LBL cycle evolutions provided relatively desirable solar cell performance parameters. The present findings recommended that material progression is necessary to develop cost-effective and high-performance MOF-based solar cell devices.