Nanorods and nanolipsticks structured ZnO photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nanostructured ZnO photoelectrodes were synthesized on SnO2:F (FTO) glass substrate coated with sol–gel based ZnO seed layer via hydrothermal route at various deposition times: 30, 60, 90 and 180 min. Ruthenium based dye and carbon counter electrode were used for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Interestingly, nanolipsticks structures were found with low deposition times, where two dissimilar nanorods (∼111 and 165 nm) attached together. The number of nanolipsticks structures decreased and nanorods increased with increase of deposition time. The DSCs based on ZnO nanorods for 180 min, shows the maximum efficiency, 1.04% at 100 mW/cm2 light intensity.