Facile synthesis of highly branched jacks-like ZnO nanorods and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells

Journal Article · Thu Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2011.04.027· OSTI ID:22212225

Sudhagar, P. ^[1]; Kumar, R. Saravana ^[2]; Jung, June Hyuk; Cho, Woohyung ^[1]; Sathyamoorthy, R. ^[2]; Won, Jongok ^[3]

---

1. Center for Next Generation Dye-sensitized Solar Cells, WCU Program Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Seongdong-gu, Seoul- 133 791 (Korea, Republic of)
2. R and D Department of Physics, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore 641 029, Tamilnadu (India)
3. Department of Chemistry, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-747 (Korea, Republic of)

Graphical abstract: -- Abstract: Highly branched, jacks-like ZnO nanorods architecture were explored as a photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells, and their photovoltaic performance was compared with that of branch-free ZnO nanorods photoanodes. The highly branched network and large pores of the jacks-like ZnO nanorods electrodes enhances the charge transport, and electrolyte penetration. Thus, the jacks-like ZnO nanorods DSSCs render a higher conversion efficiency of {eta} = 1.82% (V{sub oc} = 0.59 V, J{sub sc} = 5.52 mA cm{sup -2}) than that of the branch-free ZnO nanorods electrodes ({eta} = 1.08%, V{sub oc} = 0.49 V, J{sub sc} = 4.02 mA cm{sup -2}). The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency measurements reveal that the jacks-like ZnO nanorods DSSCs exhibit higher internal quantum efficiency ({approx}59.1%) than do the branch-free ZnO nanorods DSSC ({approx}52.5%). The charge transfer resistances at the ZnO/dye/electrolyte interfaces investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the jacks-like ZnO nanorods DSSC had high charge transfer resistance and a slightly longer electron lifetime, thus improving the solar-cell performance.

• OSTI ID: 22212225
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Journal Name: Materials Research Bulletin Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 46; ISSN MRBUAC; ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CHARGE TRANSPORT
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
NANOSTRUCTURES
PHOTOANODES
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
SOLAR CELLS
SPECTROSCOPY
SYNTHESIS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZINC OXIDES