title: Improved dye-sensitized solar cell with a ZnO nanotree photoanode by hydrothermal method.
abstract: This study investigated the influence of ZnO nanostructures on dye adsorption to increase the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of solar cells. ZnO nanostructures were grown in both tree-like and nanorod (NR) arrays on an AZO/FTO film structure by using a hydrothermal method. The results were observed in detail using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-visible spectrophotometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and solar simulation. The selective growth of tree-like ZnO was found to exhibit higher dye adsorption loading and conversion efficiency than ZnO NRs. The multiple 'branches' of 'tree-like nanostructures' increases the surface area for higher light harvesting and dye loading while reducing charge recombination. These improvements result in a 15% enhancement in power conversion. The objective of this study is to facilitate the development of a ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shou-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan ; Department of Photonics Engineering, Yuan-Ze University, 135 Yuan-Tung Road, Chung-Li 32003, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Photonics Engineering, Yuan-Ze University, 135 Yuan-Tung Road, Chung-Li 32003, Taiwan ; Advanced Optoelectronic Technology Center, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fang-I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Lai
keywords: Dye-sensitized solar cell; Nanorods; Tree-like; Zinc oxide