Efficient Energy Harvesting in SnO₂-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Utilizing Nano-Amassed Mesoporous Zinc Oxide Hollow Microspheres as Synergy Boosters

Abstract

Finding the material characteristics satisfying most of the photovoltaic conditions is difficult. In contrast, utilization of foreign materials that can contribute to light harvesting and charge transfers in the devices is now desirable/thought-provoking. Herein, a binary hybrid photoanode utilizing nano-amassed micron-sized mesoporous zinc oxide hollow spheres (meso-ZnO HS) in conjunction with SnO 2 nanoparticles (NPs), i.e., SnO 2 NP_ZnO HS (for an optimized weight ratio (8:2)), displayed a nearly ∼4-fold increase in the efficiency (η) compared to that of bare SnO 2 nanoparticle device. Enhanced device efficacy in the composite photoanode-based device can be accredited to the dual function of nano-amassed meso-ZnO HS. Nano-amassed micron-sized ZnO HS embedded in the photoanode can increase the light-harnessing capability without sacrificing the surface area as well as optical confinement of light by multiple reflections within its cavity and enhanced light-scattering effects. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed an extended lifetime of electron (τ e ) and a higher value of R ct2 at the working electrode/dye/redox mediator interface, indicating a minimum photoinduced electron interception. The open-circuit voltage decay reveals a slower recombination kinetics of photogenerated electrons, supporting our claim that the nano-ammased meso-ZnO HS can serve as an energy barrier to the photoinjected electrons to retard the back-transfer to the electrolyte. Moreover, the improvement in the fill factors of the composite-based devices is endorsed to the facile penetration of the electrolyte through the pores of nano-amassed meso-ZnO HS, which increases the regeneration probability of oxidized dyes.

First-Principles Exploration into the Physical and Chemical Properties of Certain Newly Identified SnO2 Polymorphs

“…SnO 2 has received a lot of attention as a potential substitute for conventional titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) because of its wide band gap, electron mobility, and excellent optical and chemical stability. 1 Apart from this, SnO 2 is a non-toxic, inexpensive, and high surface-to-volume ratio material. 2 Currently, SnO 2 is recognized for its properties as a most popular gas sensor 3 − 5 and, most recently, in catalysis as a thin-film transistor, 6 as well as a potential candidate for electrode materials for batteries.…”

Recent insights into SnO2-based engineered nanoparticles for sustainable H2generation and remediation of pesticides

“…Due to environmental compatibility and versatile functionality, it has a plethora of applications such as gas sensors, water splitting reactions to generate energy, electrocatalysts, anodes in Li-ion batteries and storage, electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, and organic pollutant degradation. 32,[94][95][96][97][98] In comparison, nanocrystalline SnO 2 exhibits excellent physical, chemical, optical, magnetic, and conducting properties. Hence, researchers are making considerable efforts to develop SnO 2 with variations in the Fig.…”

“…Modified SnO 2 is better than pure SnO 2 in terms of reduced charge recombination rates, improved light-harvesting efficiency, increased rate of electron transfer, and more defects and OVs, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic behavior. 95,[106][107][108] Introducing defects results in enhanced optical, electrical, and catalytic characteristics such as light absorption in the visible region and higher photoluminescence. 109 Predominantly, the defects in metal oxides are lattice point defects.…”

Sub-diffractional cavity modes of terahertz hyperbolic phonon polaritons in tin oxide

“…The inversion of signs of the real parts of the permittivity components in different RBs inside the mid- and far-IR ranges configures a hyperbolic dispersion for SnO 2 . Moreover, polar nanometer-sized crystals of SnO 2 ribbons or nanobelts (SnO 2 -NBs) 21 – 23 have been reported as key elements in gas sensors 24 , solar cells 25 , lithiation electrodes 26 – 28 , photonic devices 29 , flexible and transparent electrodes 30 , water treatment catalysts 31 , electrochemically active layers in hydrogen peroxide production 32 , and photocatalysis 33 . This is mainly due to their unique optical 21 , 24 and electronic 34 , 35 properties and large surface to volume ratio.…”