Estimation of Photovoltaic Properties of ZnO nanoparticles and CeO2- ZnO composite and Electrochemical Determination of Adrenaline Employing Voltammetry Studies

Abstract

ZnO nano particles and cerium oxide-ZnO composite were synthesized using gel combustion approach. The synthesized ZnO nano particles and CeO2-ZnO composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC's) were fabricated by coating the photoanodes with the synthesized nanomaterials employing doctor blade technique. The performance of DSSC fabricated using ZnO nanoparticles was compared with the one which was prepared using CeO2-ZnO composite. The nanomaterials of ZnO and CeO2-ZnO were subjected to cyclic voltammetry tests for the electrochemical determination of adrenaline(AD).The DSSC fabricated with ZnO nanoparticles exhibited higher power conversion efficiency when compared to the DSSC fabricated using CeO2 -ZnO composite but the cerium oxide-ZnO composite showed better sensor properties compared to ZnO nanoparticles for the electrochemical determination of Adrenaline (AD).