Preparation of ZnO films with different morphologies and their applications in dye sensitized photo-voltaic cells

Abstract

ZnO films with different morphologies were synthesized electrochemically. The characteristics of ZnO films were studied. Addition of selected precursors into the electrolyte changes the morphology of ZnO films and yields hybrid organic-ZnO films. Highly porous ZnO films were obtained by extracting eosin Y from hybrid ZnO|eosinY films. Different organic dyes were used to sensitize ZnO films by means of utilization as light harvesting electrodes in dye sensitized photovoltaic cells. Photo-effects of sensitized ZnO electrodes were studied in I - |I 3 - redox-electrolyte. Among tested dyes an indoline dye D149 produced better performance. Keywords: EosinY; Hybrid ZnO films; D149 dye DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljp.v12i0.4095 Sri Lankan Journal of Physics, Vol. 12 (2011) 15-24