Prunus domestica dye extraction for fabrication of zinc oxide based dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Aluminium doped Zinc Oxide (AZO) seed layers were deposited on Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) substrates using a spin coating technique. These were then immersed in growth solutions of zinc nitrate, hexamethylenetetramine and distilled water to develop nanoplates of Zinc Oxide (ZnO). The nanostructures of ZnO grown on FTO were studied using x-ray diffraction techniques. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were fabricated using two prepared electrodes, one of dye-loaded zinc oxide and another that was platinum coated. The electrolyte used was potassium iodide iodine solution. The performance of the assembled DSCCs was tested by drawing an IV curve. The results showed that the short circuit current and open circuit voltages were about 10 microamperes and 270 millivolts respectively. BIBECHANA 13 (2016) 23-28

Keywords

• Zinc Oxide
• seed layers
• spin coating
• hydrothermal
• solar cells