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Role of surfactant in optimization of 3D ZnO floret as photoanode for dye sensitized solar cell

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Abstract

We demonstrate structural, optical and morphological characteristics of surfactant stabilized ZnO floret array by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Photoluminescence spectrometer, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Effects of using weak and strong bases as hexamethylenetetraamine and ammonium hydroxide which work as surfactant have been investigated. High crystallinity has been indicated by XRD patterns. The HRTEM and FESEM reveal that synthesized samples are composed of nanopetal assembled in a shape of floret array. The proposed growth mechanism of 3D ZnO floret arrays exhibits that tremendous amount of ZnO kernel clumps with each other and appears as a broad root for the growing of floret array-like structure. ZnO floret array as photoanode material was used in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). This distinctive morphology significantly increases the photovoltaic parameters of DSSC. The optimized efficiency for ZnO floret array as photoanode was found to be 6.6%.

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Acknowledgements

Work supported by Department of Science and Technology, India, under Women Scientist Scheme -A, Grant No. SR/WOS-A/ET-117/2017(G).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Science, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, 136119, India

    Sonia Siwatch, Virender Kundu & Suresh Kumar

  2. Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, Haryana, 136119, India

    Ashok Kumar

Authors
  1. Sonia Siwatch
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  2. Virender Kundu
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  3. Ashok Kumar
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  4. Suresh Kumar
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Correspondence to Sonia Siwatch.

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Additional information

Research main features: (1) Surfactant HMTA and NH4OH work as a growth directing agent in synthesizing two types of 3D ZnO floret arrays via wet chemical route. (2) The proposed growth mechanism of 3D ZnO floret arrays exhibits that tremendous amount of ZnO kernel clumps with each other and appears as a broad root for the growing of floret array like structure. (3) Synthesized highly crystalline 3D ZnO floret arrays were used as photoanode in DSSC. (4) The optimized efficiency for ZnO floret array as photoanode was found to be 6.6%.

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Siwatch, S., Kundu, V., Kumar, A. et al. Role of surfactant in optimization of 3D ZnO floret as photoanode for dye sensitized solar cell. Appl Nanosci 10, 1035–1044 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-019-01216-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-019-01216-w

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