title: Optical properties and dye-sensitized solar cell applications of ZnO nanostructures prepared by microwave combustion synthesis.
abstract: In the present study, ZnO nanoparticles (ZNPs) and nanoflakes (ZNFs) were prepared by conventional combustion method and microwave combustion method, respectively. The structural phase and morphology were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The crystallite size was calculated using Scherrer formula, and it lies in the range of 20-21 nm for ZNFs and 23-28 nm for ZNPs. The elemental analysis was investigated by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Also, absorbance and emission spectra were measured by using diffuse reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) studies. The band gap was measured using Kubelka-Munk model and it shows 3.47 eV for ZNFs and 3.26 eV for ZNPs. A fill factor (FF) of 0.57, short-circuit current (J(sc)) of 8.02 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) of 0.70 V and an overall light to electricity conversion efficiency (eta) of 1.62% were obtained from the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) based on ZNFs.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manikandan
authors.forename: J Judith
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vijaya
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ragupathi
authors.forename: L John
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy