Recombination Rate Of Electron Research Articles

Preparation of a Nanosheeted Uranyl-Organic Framework for Enhanced Photocatalytic Oxidation of Toluene.

Preparation of ultrathin metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets is an effective way to improve the catalytic efficiency of MOF photocatalysts owing to their superiority in reducing the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes and enhancing charge transfer. Herein, a light-sensitive two-dimensional uranyl-organic framework named HNU-68 was synthesized. Due to its interlayer stacking structure, the corresponding ultrathin nanosheets with a thickness of 4.4 nm (HNU-68-N) can be obtained through ultrasonic exfoliation. HNU-68-N exhibited an enhanced ability to selectively oxidize toluene to benzaldehyde, with the value of turnover frequency being approximately three times higher than that of the bulk HNU-68. This enhancement is attributed to the smaller size and interface resistance of the layered HNU-68-N nanosheets, which facilitate more thorough substrate contact and faster charge transfer, leading to an improvement in the photocatalytic efficiency. This work provides a potential candidate for the application of ultrathin uranyl-based nanosheets.

Electronic and optical properties of S vacancy and Br and I doped monolayer MoS2: a first-principle study

This study investigated the energy band structure (BS), electronic state density, and optical properties of monolayer molybdenum disulfide (ML-MoS2) with undoped, sulfur vacancy (VS), bromine (Br), and iodine (I) doped MoS2 systems using the first-principle approach based on density functional theory (DFT). Our results show that compared to undoped MoS2 system, Br, and I doped MoS2 systems induced lattice distortions. In addition, and the bandgap widths was reduced in VS, Br, and I doped systems, thereby effectively suppressing the compounding of electron–hole pairs. Moreover, the recombination rate of electron–hole pairs was reduced, which in turn increased the mobility of electrons transferred from the valence band (VB) to the conduction band (CB). Moreover, the VS and Br doped systems exhibited superior optical properties compared to undoped MoS2 system. Notably, the VS system exhibited the best optical properties, thereby demonstrating the strongest polarization capability. Our findings pave the way for realizing electronic devices and photocatalytic materials on MoS2 nanostructures.

Modulating oxygen vacancy of ZnO for visible-light driven photocatalytic H2 evolution via facile gas treatment approach

Photocatalytic hydrogen production through water splitting is one of the most promising approaches for sustainable and renewable energy source. In recent years, research on defect rich metal oxide semiconductors has increased tremendously. N-type semiconductor ZnO exhibits a wide direct band gap of 3.3eV, limiting the optical absorption at UV range, hindering the photocatalytic performance of pristine ZnO. Furthermore, short charge carriers life time can also decrease the efficiency for hydrogen evolution. In this report, crystal defect engineering via oxygen vacancy tailoring was conducted, narrowing the bandgap of ZnO, while creating interstitial defects that reduces the recombination rate of electrons and holes. ZnO was synthesized via hydrothermal method using zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide as precursors before subjecting for conditional annealing for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min for 200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C. A series of characterization techniques were used to authenticate the effects of oxygen vacancy in ZnO. Experimental studies revealed that ZnO annealed at 400 °C for 120 min exhibit the highest amount of hydrogen produced through photochemical reactions. Therefore, the degree of oxygen vacancies in ZnO semiconductor can be regulated through diligent control of annealing parameters. Specifically, finding the optimum annealing temperature and duration were the focus in this study that relates to its photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate.

Dynamic role of dopant and graphene on BiVO4 photoanode for enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production

The development of an efficient and stable electrode remains an attractive challenge for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to generate cheaper and green hydrogen (H2). Herein, we have fabricated a novel multicomponent molybdenum (Mo) doped bismuth vanadate/graphene (Mo-doped BiVO4@graphene) photoanode by simple spin coating technique followed by an annealing process. Precise control over Mo and graphene doping concentration (GR3/BVO:Mo-0.5) was attained, enabling excellent photocurrent density (4-fold increase as compared to BVO) with an enhanced rate of H2 production. This is attributed to the synergistic effect between molybdenum and graphene enhancing charge carrier density and suppressing the recombination rate of photo-generated electrons and holes. Our DFT studies indicate a reduction in the band gap value after doping pure BVO with Mo. In addition, we observed that the potential determining step of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the electrochemical adsorption of hydroxyl radical (H2O(l) + * → HO* + H+(aq) + e−), which is reduced by ∼0.8 eV after doping with Mo. This study reports on the unique design of a Mo-doped BiVO4@graphene hybrid electrode, which can be used as a superior electrode for green hydrogen generation under sunlight.

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation of styrene by g-C3N4 quantum dots/P25 nanocomposites

The enhancement of the visible light response of P25 is of significant importance for the photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots (CNQD) are nano-sized counterparts of g-C3N4, exhibiting excellent optical properties. Using a simplified hydrothermal one-step approach, CNQD-loaded P25 (CNQD/P25) was obtained in this work. Under visible light, CNQD/P25 achieved styrene degradation rate of 95 % within 240 minutes, surpassing the 60 % degradation rate of pure P25 under identical conditions. This indicates that the presence of CNQDs greatly enhances the photocatalytic performance of P25 in the visible light region. Further investigations revealed that CNQD/P25 exhibited noticeable enhancement in the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum, demonstrating increased visible light absorption. CNQD/P25 demonstrated higher photocurrent response, lower photoresistance, and weaker fluorescence response compared to P25 at similar conditions. Therefore, the presence of CNQDs can enhance visible light absorption of P25, increases the number of photo-generated electrons, optimizes charge separation efficiency, and simultaneously reduces the recombination rate of electrons and holes.

Novel superhydrophobic sponge with flower-like architecture for oily emulsion separation and organic pollutants photodegradation

Design functionalized absorbent materials that fulfillment complex requirements in sophisticated water-treatment fields remains challenging. In this paper, a novel superhydrophobic/superoleophilic sponge with flower-like channel structures and a photodegradation functionality was fabricated via in-situ chelation of zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano-Ag particles. After low surface energy modification with POTS, the as-prepared sponge displayed remarkable superwettability, with a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.8° ± 1.3°. This endowed it with the ultrafast, selective absorption of diverse oils that are 33.9–135.2 times of their own weight. The prepared sponge’s emulsified oil separation efficiency can reach 99.87%, owing to its superhydrophobic/superoleophilic properties and the electrostatic attraction demulsification, guiding effect of ZnO layer crystal plane. Furthermore, the construction of Schottky barrier at the ZnO@Ag interface reduced the recombination rate of photoexcited electrons and electron-holes. Thereby, the prepared sponge’s photodegradation efficiency reached up to 97.07% after 4 h sunlight irradiation. Notably, the stress attenuation of the prepared sponge was only 14.6% after 100 absorption cycles, indicating its excellent mechanical stability. Moreover, the prepared sponge showed excellent environmental tolerance under severe conditions with its WCA stably exceeding 150.0°. Thus, this durable superwetting sponge can be effectively used for oil/water emulsion separation and organic pollutant degradation.

Carbon quantum dots/ Cu2O S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

In this work, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with yellow fluorescence were firstly prepared by hydrothermal method using corn stover as raw material. Then, the CQDs/Cu2O S-scheme heterojunction was obtained by combining the prepared CQDs with dodecahedral Cu2O. The catalytic performance of the prepared catalyst under visible light was studied by using tetracycline (TC) as the degradation target. The results showed that the conductivity and the active sites in Cu2O were enhanced by loading CQDs, and the 3 wt% CQDs/Cu2O heterojunction showed the highest photocatalytic performance and the most excellent stability with 92.49% of TC degradation within 100 min. It is found that the recombination rate of electron and hole was reduced by the CQDs/Cu2O heterojunction with improved separation efficiency of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs and enhanced photo-degradation efficiency.

Energy band engineering over phosphorus-doped CdS/graphdiyne S-scheme heterojunction for enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production

The high recombination rate of photoelectron-hole pairs and the limited REDOX capacity of a single photocatalyst restrict the broader application of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation. This necessitates the design of an efficient multicomponent photocatalyst. In this work, phosphate-doped cadmium sulfide (CP) was designed by energy band engineering to have a wider band gap and reduce the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes. Graphdiyne, prepared through a straightforward ball milling method, exhibits high conductivity and specific surface area. It pairs well with CP morphologically, effectively reducing CP aggregation and exposing more active sites. Compared with the original CdS (CS), the changes in the conduction and valence band positions of CP can form S-scheme heterojunction with graphdiyne, which effectively improves the interfacial charge migration effect, improves the photogenerated carrier separation efficiency, and maintains a high reduction capacity. Additionally, the mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was verified by in-situ XPS. This work provides a feasible scheme for the design and construction of graphdiyne in heterojunction photocatalyst.

Photocatalytic activity of the biogenic mediated green synthesized CuO nanoparticles confined into MgAl LDH matrix

The global concern over water pollution caused by organic pollutants such as methylene blue (MB) and other dyes has reached a critical level. Herein, the Allium cepa L. peel extract was utilized to fabricate copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. The CuO was combined with MgAl-layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDHs) via a co-precipitation method with varying weight ratios of the CuO/LDHs. The composite catalysts were characterized and tested for the degradation of MB dye. The CuO/MgAl-LDH (1:2) showed the highest photocatalytic performance and achieved 99.20% MB degradation. However, only 90.03, 85.30, 71.87, and 35.53% MB dye was degraded with CuO/MgAl-LDHs (1:1), CuO/MgAl-LDHs (2:1), CuO, and MgAl-LDHs catalysts, respectively. Furthermore, a pseudo-first-order rate constant of the CuO/MgAl-LDHs (1:2) was 0.03141 min−1 while the rate constants for CuO and MgAl-LDHs were 0.0156 and 0.0052 min−1, respectively. The results demonstrated that the composite catalysts exhibited an improved catalytic performance than the pristine CuO and MgAl-LDHs. The higher photocatalytic performances of composite catalysts may be due to the uniform distribution of CuO nanoparticles into the LDH matrix, the higher surface area, and the lower electron and hole recombination rates. Therefore, the CuO/MgAl-LDHs composite catalyst can be one of the candidates used in environmental remediation.

Synthesis of selenium and fluorine co-doped graphitic carbon nitride for photodegradation of toxic organic pollutants and hydrogen peroxide photoproduction

Science is developing every day to race against the factual growth of industrial pollution in order to redeem the environment. In this study, modification of graphitic carbon nitride via selenium and fluoride doping was successfully conducted. Specifically, the process of co-calcination was conscripted using organic precursors, whilst the foreign elements were obtained from ammonium fluoride and selenium dioxide. The morphological assessment revealed the treated-graphitic carbon nitride possessed a flaky sheet form with high porosity and great crystalline uniformity. Photochemical investigation showed the co-doping of selenium and fluorine elevated the optical properties, including the decrement of bandgap and diminishing the recombination rate of electrons and holes. With interesting improvement in photocatalytic activity, the material was applied in persistent organic compound degradation and hydrogen peroxide production. The treatment improved the degradation percentage, in which the methylene blue removal achieved 99.96 % while the tetracycline removal reached 86.38 %. Moreover, high compatibility and great reusability over 4 cycles were also recorded. When applying the material for the generation of hydrogen peroxide, the co-doped material performance was observed to reach 3307 μM/g.h. The results concluded the advancement in material modification with great application in various aspects.

Titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) decorated molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) nanoflower composite enhanced photo-electrocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution

Two-dimensional titanium carbides (Ti3C2Tx) are part of the novel family of transition metal carbides/nitrides known as MXenes, which exhibit a broad range of photo-electrocatalytic applications. In this study, we present a facile hydrothermal synthesis method for Ti3C2Tx decorated on molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) nanoflower composites, serving as an enhanced catalyst for hydrogen (H2) evolution. Ti3C2Tx, acting as a 2D conductive substrate, facilitates electron transfer, preventing MoSe2 agglomeration, while MoSe2 offers abundant active sites. The characterizations of surface analysis, optical properties, morphological nanostructure, and elemental composition performance of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, MoSe2 nanoflowers, and Ti3C2Tx/MoSe2 nanoflower composites was conducted using FTIR, XRD, UV–Visible spectroscopy, SEM, EDS Mapping, TEM, and XPS techniques. The catalyst with optimal performance, the Ti3C2Tx/MoSe2 nanoflower composite demonstrates excellent functional properties in the H2 evolution, showing a lower overpotential of 135 mV and smaller Tafel slope of 72 mV/dec at 10 mA/cm2 compared to Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and MoSe2 nanoflowers. The Ti3C2Tx/MoSe2 nanoflower composite forms heterojunctions to inhibit the rapid recombination rate of photo-induced electrons and holes. In comparison to MoSe2 nanoflowers and Ti3C2Tx catalysts (where Tx = F, and O surface terminations), the optimized Ti3C2Tx/MoSe2 nanoflower composite exhibits significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in H2 production, with a H2 production rate of 2146 μmolg−1h−1 superior than the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets (1367 μmolg−1h−1) and MoSe2 nanoflowers (986 μmolg−1h−1), respectively. Through this design, effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers is achieved, improving the activity of photocatalytic H2 production and demonstrating the promise of the cocatalyst strategy for photocatalysis.

Photocatalytic degradation of benzotriazole through synergy of electron donor–acceptor units and Au clusters in covalent organic frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted great attention in photocatalysis, but the high recombination rate of photo-induced electron − hole pairs limits their photocatalytic performance. We report a synergy strategy based on the donor − acceptor (D-A) effect and Au clusters to enable the effective transfer and separation of photogenerated electrons to rationally fabricate visible light driven photocatalyst (MT-COF-Au) for the degradation of benzotriazole (BTA). MT-COF-Au displayed superior photocatalytic activity. The degradation efficiency of BTA was 93 % within 110 min, which was significantly improved 6.7 times than COF. For BTA degradation, O2− played a prominent role based on reactive species trapping experiments. The products of the last stage of the reaction were ketone, imidazole, acetamide, and nitrogen, which were formed via ring opening and isomerization reactions. MT-COF-Au could be reused for at least 5 cycles without significantly deteriorating its catalytic activity. Experiments and theory calculations confirmed the electron transfer mode and photocatalytic mechanism. This work provides new prospects for the design and synthesis of high-efficiency photocatalyst photocatalysts.

Effect of UV-O3 treatment on the performance of UV detector based on zinc oxide/molybdenum disulfide nanosheet heterostructures

UV photodetectors based on ZnO nanostructures, using a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) configuration, are popular due to their simple fabrication. However, they experience high dark currents and slow photoresponse speeds. This is due to a high recombination rate for photogenerated electrons and holes as well as low charge carrier mobility attributable to ZnO's inherent defects. In this study, MoS2 nanosheets was employed to cover the surface of ZnO nanorods, creating a unique architecture that focuses the impact of MoS2 solely on light absorption and charge transfer on the ZnO surface. Subsequently, a 15-min UV-O3 exposure is applied to the ZnO/MoS2 structure. The ZnO/MoS2UVo heterostructure exhibits remarkable results, including a six-fold increase in sensitivity compared to pure ZnO, Additionally, the Detectivity increases by 265 %, while the Responsivity and Quantum Efficiency rise by up to 102 %. These enhancements are attributed to the reduction of dark current coming from the reduction of oxygen vacancies as sulfur edge atoms from MoS2 fill these vacancies. Furthermore, additional dark current reduction post UV-O3 treatment is due to both the reduced ZnO oxygen vacancies and the formation of a thin MoO3 passivation layer on the ZnO NR surface. Despite these achievements, the study acknowledges the presence of multiple junctions between ZnO, MoS2, and MoO3, which still pose challenges for efficient charge transfer to the electrodes.

Black brookite rich in oxygen vacancies as an active photocatalyst for CO2 conversion: Experiments and first-principles calculations

Photocatalytic CO2 conversion is a clean technology to deal with CO2 emissions, and titanium oxide (TiO2) polymorphs are the most investigated photocatalysts for such an application. In this study, black TiO2 brookite is produced by a high-pressure torsion (HPT) method and employed as an active photocatalyst for CO2 conversion. Black brookite with a large concentration of lattice defects (vacancies, dislocations and grain boundaries) showed enhanced light absorbance, narrowed optical bandgap and diminished recombination rate of electrons and holes. The photocatalytic activity of the black oxide for CO2 conversion was higher compared to commercial brookite and benchmark P25 catalyst powders. First-principles calculations suggested that the presence of oxygen vacancies in black brookite is effective not only for reducing optical bandgap but also for providing active sites for the adsorption of CO2 on the surface of TiO2.

Cd-CeO2@C: Synthesis via consumption of Cd2+ and organic pollutants and removal of organic pollutants

In this study, a Cd-CeO2@C photocatalyst was produced via the calcination of a precursor (Cd-Ce(OH)4@AR14) obtained by co-precipitation of Ce(NO3)3·6H2O, Cd(NO3)2·4H2O and acid red 14 (AR14). The structure, composition, morphology, and optical properties of the synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrum (FT-IR), Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic activity of the synthetized materials was evaluated by performing the degradation of AR14. The results showed that the band gap of CeO2 could be effectively reduced by Cd-doping, and that carbon bonds could decrease the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes, resulting in enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized materials compared with that of pure CeO2. Hydroxyl groups play an important role in the photocatalysis because the adsorption of AR14 over Cd-CeO2@C is greatly affected by the content of hydroxyl groups. Moreover, effect of oxygen vacancies on the photocatalytic efficiency was investigated and the results showed that oxygen vacancies could improve the photocatalytic efficiency of the resulted samples.

High carrier mobility ZrSSe/SnX (X=S, Se, S2, Se2) vdW heterostructures for photocatalytic overall water splitting: A first-principles study

Recently, the assembly of novel two-dimensional materials via van der Waals (vdW) interactions to form heterostructures is considered an effective strategy for producing materials with enhanced photocatalytic activities. This study systematically explored the optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties and carrier mobilities of novel ZrSSe/SnX (X = S, Se, S2, Se2) vdW heterostructures using density functional theory. The formation energies, elastic constants, phonon dispersions, and results of ab-initio molecular dynamic simulations indicate structural, mechanical, dynamic, and thermal stability. The electronic band structure and optical properties are calculated using hybrid functional HSE06 for accurate calculations. The results of calculations using the bandgap center technique based on density functional theory show that ZrSSe/SnSe, ZrSSe/SnS2, and ZrSSe/SnSe2 heterostructures possess suitable band edges for photocatalytic overall water splitting. The optical absorption spectrum covers a broad range from 104 in the visible region and increases to 105 in the UV region. Furthermore, the ZrSSe/SnX (X = S, Se, S2, Se2) heterostructures have high carrier mobilities of the order of 105. High mobilities help carriers to move quickly and reduce the recombination rate of holes and electrons. The findings indicate that ZrSSe/SnX (X = S, Se, S2, Se2) heterostructures are potentially efficient visible-light photocatalysts for overall water splitting.

Type-I CdSe@CdS@ZnS Heterostructured Nanocrystals with Long Fluorescence Lifetime.

Conventional single-component quantum dots (QDs) suffer from low recombination rates of photogenerated electrons and holes, which hinders their ability to meet the requirements for LED and laser applications. Therefore, it is urgent to design multicomponent heterojunction nanocrystals with these properties. Herein, we used CdSe quantum dot nanocrystals as a typical model, which were synthesized by means of a colloidal chemistry method at high temperatures. Then, CdS with a wide band gap was used to encapsulate the CdSe QDs, forming a CdSe@CdS core@shell heterojunction. Finally, the CdSe@CdS core@shell was modified through the growth of the ZnS shell to obtain CdSe@CdS@ZnS heterojunction nanocrystal hybrids. The morphologies, phases, structures and performance characteristics of CdSe@CdS@ZnS were evaluated using various analytical techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved transient photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results show that the energy band structure is transformed from type II to type I after the ZnS growth. The photoluminescence lifetime increases from 41.4 ns to 88.8 ns and the photoluminescence quantum efficiency reaches 17.05% compared with that of pristine CdSe QDs. This paper provides a fundamental study and a new route for studying light-emitting devices and biological imaging based on multicomponent QDs.

Influence of B-atom in g-C3N4 matrix to enhance the photocatalytic dinitrogen to ammonia conversion

Boron-doped metal-free catalysts (B-g-C3N4) were successfully synthesized via the facile thermal polymerization method. In B-doped g-C3N4 synthesis, boric acid was varied viz; 1%, 3%, 6%, and 9% as compared to 2 g of melamine. 6% B-doped g-C3N4 was found to be the optimized catalyst showcasing enhanced performance for photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). XRD and FT-IR results revealed that B doping did not change the basic chemical structure of g-C3N4. The presence of boron in the synthesized materials was confirmed via EDS, Elemental mapping, and XPS analysis. Boron doping also increased the carrier lifetime of g-C3N4 confirmed by time-resolved photoluminescence analysis. 6% B-g C3N4 showed the best photo-catalytic ammonia production among all the synthesized catalysts. It could produce ammonia up to 345.35 μmol.L−1.h−1 as compared to pure g-C3N4 (112.06 μmol. L −1.h −1). There was no loss of N2 reduction activities after 5 cycles of catalyst reuse. Mott-Schottky, photocurrent, and EIS were used to determine the flat band potential, electron recombination rate, and charge transfer resistance. Post N2 reduction, XRD, and XPS analysis of pure g-C3N4 and 6% B-g-C3N4 were almost identical revealing high stability of the doped g-C3N4. The doped boron enhances the optical and electrical properties and enhances photocatalytic activity for the production of NH3.

Comparative studies of “3d” transition metals (Co, Mn, Ni) doped ZnO nanoparticles for visible light degradation of methylene blue

The development of efficient visible-light photocatalysts is highly desired for a clean and sustainable environment. Herein, we report the fabrication and functionalization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures for the degradation of organic pollutants, one of the key components of environmental pollution. Pure and “3d” transition metal ions doped ZnO (Zn1−xMxO, where M = Mn, Ni, Co with varying doping concentration x = 1 % and 7 %) were synthesized by co-precipitation method and their structural, electronic, morphological, and optical properties were investigated in detail. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of pure and Zn1−xMxO nanostructures confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite phase (p63mc) with an average crystallite size of around 22–27 nm. The energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence of metal dopants in ZnO. The morphology of synthesized nanostructures was found to be spherical. The band gap of ZnO was considerably narrowed from 3.15 to 1.8 eV through doping, indicating extension towards visible light absorption. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of doped ZnO revealed a low recombination rate of electrons (e-) and holes (h+) and various possible defect states within the bandgap. Furthermore, electron spin resonance showed the presence of Mn2+ centers. Optimized metal-doped zinc oxide revealed higher photocatalytic activity, during degradation of methylene blue model dye under visible light.

Comparative Study of TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 Photoanodes for Nitro-Substituted Naphthoquinone Photosensitizer-Based Solar Cells.

This research focuses on the first demonstration of NO2Lw (2-hydroxy-3-nitronaphthalene-1,4-dione) as a photosensitizer and TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 as photoanode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The metal-free organic photosensitizer (i.e., nitro-group-substituted naphthoquinone, NO2Lw) was synthesized for this purpose. As a photoanode material, metal oxides, such as TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5, were selected. The synthesized NO2Lw contains an electron-withdrawing group (-NO2) and anchoring groups (-OH) that exhibit absorption in the visible range. The UV-visible absorbance spectrum of NO2Lw demonstrates the absorption ascribed to ultraviolet and visible region charge transfer. The NO2Lw interacts with the TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanode, as shown by bathochromic shifts in wavelengths in the photosensitizer-loaded TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanodes. FT-IR analysis also studied the bonding interaction between NO2Lw and TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanode material. The TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 photoanodes loaded with NO2Lw exhibit a shift in the wavenumber of the functional groups, indicating that these groups were involved in loading the NO2Lw photosensitizer. The amount of photosensitizer loading was calculated, showing that TiO2 has higher loading than ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes; this factor may constitute an increased JSC value of the TiO2 photoanode. The device performance is compared using photocurrent-voltage (J-V) curves; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement examines the device's charge transport. The TiO2 photoanode showed higher performance than the ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes in terms of photoelectrochemical properties. When compared to ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes-based DSSCs, the TiO2 photoanode Bode plot shows a signature frequency peak corresponding to electron recombination rate toward the low-frequency region, showing that TiO2 has a greater electron lifetime than ZnO and Nb2O5 photoanodes based DSSCs.