Facile Fabrication of ZnO Nanofibers Based Photoanode for Cost Effective Metal–Free Organic Dye–Sensitized Solar Cells
P. Rameshkumar1, A. Pandikumar2
1P. Rameshkumara, Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil (Tamil Nadu), India.
2A. Pandikumarb, Functional Materials Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi (Tamil Nadu), India.
Manuscript received on 02 December 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 14 December 2019 | Manuscript Published on 30 December 2019 | PP: 209-212 | Volume-9 Issue-2S2 December 2019 | Retrieval Number: B11831292S219/2019©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijitee.B1183.1292S219
Open Access | Editorial and Publishing Policies | Cite | Mendeley | Indexing and Abstracting
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: A facile substrate grown method was employed to fabricate zinc oxide nanofibers (ZnO Nfs) modified photoanode on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The modified ZnO Nfs photoanode was used to fabricate dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), sensitized with a cheap metal free organic dye, eosin yellow (eosin-Y). The efficiency of solar to electrical energy conversion was achieved as 1.51% with simulated AM 1.5 G solar irradiation of 100 mW cm−2 . The better efficiency is ascribed to the effective diffusion of electrons within the one dimensional (1D) ZnO Nfs and the efficient interfacial contact between the electrolyte and the ZnO photoanode through pinholes and pores present in the twisted nanofibers. These facilitated the improved interfacial charge transfer. The result demonstrates the promising route of substrate grown ZnO nanofibers for the application of photoanode material in DSSCs.
Keywords: ZnO Nanofibers; Eosin Yellow; ZnO Nanostructures; Dye-sensitized Solar Cells; Photoelectrochemical Cells.
Scope of the Article: Metallurgy