Highly efficient, optically semi-transparent, ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells with Indoline D-358 as the dye

Highly compact, transparent, ZnO films have been prepared, on fluorine-doped tin(IV) oxide (FTO) glass plates, from 30 nm colloidal ZnO solution, with the help of novel atomized-spray pyrolysis (ASP) deposition technique. These films were used to construct dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with Indoline D-358 as the dye. The DSC shows an optical transmittance of approximately 40% in the visible range. The cells show impressive solar cell parameters of 635 mV open circuit photovoltage (Voc), 15.0 mA cm−2 of short-circuit current density (Jsc) and 0.62 fill factor (FF), with an overall efficiency (η) of 5.9% under air mass (AM) 1.5 illumination.

► Transparent ZnO thin films have been prepared for the first time.
► Novel atomized spray pyrolysis technique enabled the preparation of these films.
► Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated show highest efficiency (5.9%).
► There are no H or J dye-aggregate.