Titanium Dioxide-Coated Zinc Oxide Nanorods as an Efficient Photoelectrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Well-arrayed zinc oxide nanorods applied as photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells were synthesized on an aluminum-doped zinc oxide substrate by the multi-annealing method. In order to improve the chemical stability and surface-to-volume ratio of photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, the synthesized zinc oxide nanorods were coated with pure anatase phase titanium dioxide film using a novel mist chemical vapor deposition method. The effects of the titanium dioxide film on the morphological, structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties of zinc oxide–titanium dioxide core–shell nanorods were investigated. It was found that the diameter and surface-to-volume ratio of zinc oxide nanorods were significantly increased by coating them with titanium dioxide thin film. The power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells was improved from 1.31% to 2.68% by coating titanium dioxide film onto the surface of zinc oxide nanorods.

Hydrothermal Growth of ZnO Nanorods for Use in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…The enhancement in the short-circuit current density as observed has been attributed to the fact that the passivation of titania over the surface of ZNR formed a shield between ZNR and the carboxylic moiety of the N719 dye and thus reduced the dissolution of ZnO. 15,42 A phenomenal change in the photoconversion efficiency was observed in cells with TiO 2 as the passivating layer when compared with cells without the TiO 2 passivating layer (Figure 8d). The maximum photoconversion efficiency of 3.28% was achieved by the cell fabricated with the 9-ZNR/T-based photoanode, which is significantly higher than the 1.62% of the cell with only ZNR in the photoanode.…”

A review on zinc oxide composites for energy storage applications: solar cells, batteries, and supercapacitors

“…ZnO can be combined with different lithium storage compounds to provide great and steady capacities. Supercapacitors are extensively applied due to their great power density, rapid charging, elevated lifetime, convenient temperature properties, saving energy, and environmental friendliness [1,7,[17][18][19].…”

“…The first dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) based on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) was fabricated in 1991 by Grätzel et al [78]. DSSC has arisen as a favorable photovoltaic device because of the good PCE, cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, more than 10% efficiency of energy conversion, and proper long-lasting stability [18]. A DSSC typically contains three side-by-side thin layers of a mesoporous TiO 2 film, a dye sensitive to sunlight coated on TiO 2 film (e.g., ruthenium bipyridyl derivative), and an organic liquid electrolyte, necessarily having triiodide and iodide ions acting as the redox couple.…”

Theoretical Investigation of the Prospect to Tailor ZnO Electronic Properties with VP Thin Films

“…Zinc oxide has been of particular interest to the researchers during the last several decades due to its chemical stability and non-toxicity along with the low cost. This material is promising for a number of potential applications such as photoelectric elements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], lightemitting diodes (LEDs) [8][9][10][11][12], gas sensors [13][14][15], biosensors [16], photodetectors [17,18] and photocatalytic devices [19,20].…”