title: Fabrication, characterization of two nano-composite CuO-ZnO working electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cell.
abstract: Two kind of CuO-ZnO nanocomposite working electrodes were synthesized by sol-gel technology and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their characteristics were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS). CuO-ZnO nanocomposite thin films were prepared doctor blade technique on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and used as working electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Their photovoltaic behavior were compared with standard using D35 dye and an electrolyte containing [Co(bpy)3](PF6)2, [Co(pby)3](PF6)3, LiClO4, and 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP). The ranges of short-circuit current (JSC) from 0.18 to 0.21 (mA/cm(2)), open-circuit voltage (VOC) from 0.24 to 0.55V, and fill factor from 0.34 to 0.39 were obtained for the DSSCs made using the working electrodes. The efficiency of the working electrodes after the addition of TBL was more than doubled. The light scattering and carrier transport properties of these composites promote the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
authors: Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Islamic Republic of Iran. Electronic address: habibi@chem.ui.ac.ir.
authors: Mohammad Hossein
authors: MH
authors: Habibi
authors: Bahareh
authors: B
authors: Karimi
authors: Mahmoud
authors: M
authors: Zendehdel
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Habibi
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D011725:Pyridines; D003300:Copper; C582866:4-tert-butylpyridine; D015034:Zinc Oxide; C030973:cupric oxide
keywords: Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC); Nano-crystalline ZnO–CuO; Photo-electrode; Working electrode