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Some characteristics of solar cells with ZnO/ZnFe2O4/CdS/ZnS working anode

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Abstract

In this work, solar cells with configuration FTO/ZnO/ZnFe2O4/CdS/ZnS/gel polymer electrolyte (GPE)/Pt/FTO have been fabricated. ZnFe2O4 was spin-coated on ZnO using 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 M ZnFe2O4 in 2-methoxyethanol (C3H8O2) solution. Zinc ferrite is known to be stable and environmentally friendly. The phase structure and surface morphology of ZnFe2O4 have been identified by XRD and FESEM, respectively. Using the Williamson Hall equation, the crystallite size is 26, 28, 30, 57 and 63 nm for ZnFe2O4 derived from 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 M solutions, respectively. The lattice strain is 0.19. 0.21, 0.23, 1.00 and 1.10% respectively. From UV–Vis spectroscopy the band gap is observed to decrease with ZnFe2O4-2-methoxyethanol (C3H8O2) concentrations. The cell fabricated with the 0.5 M ZnFe2O4 in 2-methoxyethanol (C3H8O2) solution, exhibits a fill factor (FF) of 28%, current density at zero voltage of 0.9 mA cm2 and electromotive force of 150 mV.

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Acknowledgements

The Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education is thanked for the project grant FG029-17AFR. Also, N. Masmali would like to thank Jazan University, Saudi Arabia for financial aid to carry out the work.

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  1. Centre for Ionics University Malaya, Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    N. A. Masmali, Z. Osman & A. K. Arof

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, PO BOX 114, Jazan, Saudi Arabia

    N. A. Masmali

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  1. N. A. Masmali
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Masmali, N.A., Osman, Z. & Arof, A.K. Some characteristics of solar cells with ZnO/ZnFe2O4/CdS/ZnS working anode. Opt Quant Electron 53, 272 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-021-02922-y

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