Low-temperature-fabricated ZnO, AZO, and SnO₂ nanoparticle-based dye-sensitized solar cells

The authors investigated the microstructural and the electrical properties of ZnO, AZO, and SnO₂ based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated using a low-temperature-processed (200 °C) dye-sensitized ZnO, AZO, and SnO₂ nanoparticle thin film and a Pt catalyst deposited on ITO/glass by RF magnetron sputtering. A hydropolymer containing PEG (poly ethylene glycol) and PEO (poly ethylene oxide) is used to make uniformly-distributed ZnO, AZO, and SnO₂ nanoparticle layer which forms a nano porous ZnO, AZO, and SnO₂ network after heat treatment. The layer is then dye sensitized and sandwiched between two electrodes in an electrolyte to make a DSSC device. The highest measured parameters, the short-circuit current density (J_sc), the open circuit potential (V_oc), the fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (η), of the DSSC fabricated wander optimized conditions were observed to be 5.10 mA/cm², 0.61 V, 0.46, and 1.43%, respectively.