Facile Fabrication of ZnO Nanofibers Based Photoanode for Cost Effective Metal–Free Organic Dye–Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

A facile substrate grown method was employed to fabricate zinc oxide nanofibers (ZnO Nfs) modified photoanode on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The modified ZnO Nfs photoanode was used to fabricate dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), sensitized with a cheap metal free organic dye, eosin yellow (eosin-Y). The efficiency of solar to electrical energy conversion was achieved as 1.51% with simulated AM 1.5 G solar irradiation of 100 mW cm−2 . The better efficiency is ascribed to the effective diffusion of electrons within the one dimensional (1D) ZnO Nfs and the efficient interfacial contact between the electrolyte and the ZnO photoanode through pinholes and pores present in the twisted nanofibers. These facilitated the improved interfacial charge transfer. The result demonstrates the promising route of substrate grown ZnO nanofibers for the application of photoanode material in DSSCs.