Photovoltaic performance of ZnO nanorod and ZnO: CdO nanocomposite layers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Abstract

Triphenylene diamine sensitizer comprising donor, electron conducting, and anchoring group is synthesized for a potential application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Absorption spectrum, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of triphenylene diamine have been investigated. Two different electrodes are used for dye-sensitized solar cells. The performances of ZnO nanorod electrodes are compared to ZnO: CdO nanocomposite electrode. Also, the theoretical calculations for HOMO and LUMO orbitals are used to estimate the photovoltaic properties of organic sensitizer in the design stage. ZnO: CdO nanocomposite electrode-based dye-sensitized solar cell sensitized with organic sensitizer exhibits higher efficiencies than ZnO nanorod electrode. For a typical device, a solar energy conversion efficiency (η) of 0.80 based on ZnO: CdO nanocomposite is achieved under simulated AM 1.5 solar irradiation (100 mW cm-2) with a short circuit photocurrent density (J s c) of 3.10 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage (V o c) of 480 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.57. These results suggest that the ZnO: CdO nanocomposite system is a good selection and a promising candidate for electrode system in dye-sensitized solar cells. © 2013 Sule Erten-Ela.