Photovoltaic Properties of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Composed of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Nanostructures

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cell as part of third generation photovoltaic is one of most primitive candidate of photovoltaic applications due to low cost and suitable commercial properties. In this appraisal, the thin films of bared Titania, bare zinc oxide and their different compositions are prepared by sol-gel synthesis. Different techniques are used to characterize the prepared samples. To study the optical properties of samples, UV-Visible technique was used, the UV-Vis results shows the band gap as well as the absorption. The maximum absorption found in case of nanocomposite having ratio as 75% TiO2/25% ZnO. The band gap for bare TiO2 and bare ZnO is 3.2eV and 3.5eV respectively while for other composition with 25%TiO2/75 ZnO, 50% TiO2/50% ZnO and 75% TiO2/25% ZnO the band gap values are 3.33eV, 3.12eV, 2.98eV respectively. The difference in values may attributed to change of composition, calcined temperature difference. FTIR technique used to take information about bond vibrations. The peaks in FTIR results shows that intensity increases. In case of 75% TiO2/25% ZnO than other nanocomposites. Raman analysis is used to study the different vibration modes. The peaks at 1450. The AFM is used to determine surface topography of prepared samples/thin films. The clouds/flakes were found while in case of 75% TiO2/25% ZnO thin film the clear particles have been seen. The average particle size is about 120nm. The SEM is used to study surface morphology and particle size. The ZnO nanostructures (nano-blocks shaped) are formed as result of bare zinc while in bare Titania the nanostructures are formed. The clusters are formed in all nanocomposite but for sample containing 75% Titania the clusters are monodispersed and is most suitable for photovoltaic applications.