Photochemical synthesized NiO nanoparticles based dye-sensitized solar cells: A comparative study on the counter electrodes and dye-sensitized concentrations

Abstract

In this project, we report on the prepare of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) via a photolysis method using UV lamb followed by calcination at 400 C for 3 h. the synthesized Nano-powder were investigated field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM image confirmed the crystal structure of the synthesized NiO nanoparticles with an average particle size of 23 nm, and the XRD analysis revealed the absence of impurity peaks. The optical properties were analyzed using photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and the bandgap was determined to be 3.4 eV. The semiconductor property, which can be exploited for solar cell applications, is responsible for the broad bandgap. To make dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), we used photo-chemically synthesized NiO NPs as a photo-anode. Two counter electrode were used in this study: Graphene oxide Nano-Sheets and Graphene oxide\silver nanocomposite. cibacron brilliant red B is one of the dyes that are used in the textile factory of Wasit Governorate, and the rest of it is often discarded as waste water Which we used in our study as a photosensitizer. The open-circuit voltage (Voc), short t current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and efficiency (h) were determined from the J-V curves, where efficiency was between 0.231 to 1.47 %, at 100 mW/cm2. Finally, it can be confirmed that the presence of nickel oxide nanoparticles with a cibacron brilliant red B dye can improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.