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Carbon nanotubes influenced indium oxide as photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell

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Abstract

This study considers the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in indium oxide (In2O3) for dye-sensitized solar cells. The thin films were prepared by sol-gel method annealed at 550 °C using 0.3 wt.% of CNTs. The result showed the thin films are of body-centered cubic phase. The crystallite sizes of In2O3, In2O3-MWCNTs and In2O3-SWCNTs were measured with 63, 43 and 30 nm, respectively. Although the morphology analysis showed very rough surface area for In2O3-MWCNTs, In2O3-SWCNTs exhibited greater photovoltaic performance. The In2O3-SWCNTs-based DSSC exhibited good photovoltaic performance with power conversion efficiency, photocurrent density, open circuit voltage, and fill factor of 1.02 %, 5.01 mA/cm2, 0.43 V and 0.32, respectively. This is due to the large surface area and pore volume in In2O3-SWCNTs assisting efficient dye-loading that promotes higher efficiency. The obtained results revealed the influence of the addition of CNTs in In2O3-based DSSC.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Photonic Technology Laboratory, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. The conference submission was supported by UNITEN UNIIG under Grant [RJO10289176/B/1/2017/9]; and UNITEN UNIIG under Grant [J510050795].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Savisha Mahalingam & Abreeza Manap

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Huda Abdullah

Authors
  1. Savisha Mahalingam
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  2. Huda Abdullah
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  3. Abreeza Manap
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Correspondence to Savisha Mahalingam.

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Savisha Mahalingam is currently a Post-doctoral Researcher in Institute of Sustainbale Energy in Universiti Tenaga Nasional. She has a Ph.D. in Electrical, Electronics and Systems Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her interests include advanced materials and technology, renewable energy resources, solar photovoltaic technologies, thermal spray and thermal barrier coating.

Huda Abdullah is currently an Associate Professor of Electrical, Electronics and Systems Engineering in Universiti Ke-bangsaan Malaysia. She is specializing in nanotechnology, magnetism, theoretical mathematics in materials and sensors. She has been chosen to receive the Top Research Scientists Malaysia Awards by Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

Abreeza Manap is currently a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and Head of Unit-Quality in Innovation & Research Management Center, Univer-siti Tenaga Nasional. She has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Tohoku University in Japan. Her work focuses on reliability engineering on strength for high temperature materials, surface engineering and coating engineering.

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Mahalingam, S., Abdullah, H. & Manap, A. Carbon nanotubes influenced indium oxide as photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell. J Mech Sci Technol 34, 1887–1891 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-0410-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-0410-2

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