Dye-sensitized solar cells based on tin dioxide nanoparticles prepared by a facile hydrothermal method

Pure SnO2 nanoparticles with tetragonal structure were successfully synthesized by using a hydrothermal method and then were employed as a photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A Schiff base ligand was applied to prepare uniform SnO2 nanoparticles. The morphology and crystalline size of nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, Electron Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The optical band gap of the SnO2 nanoparticles was estimated to be 3.8 eV. The photovoltaic properties of SnO2 electrodes have been investigated and it is shown that using uniform SnO2 nanoparticles as an active electrode is more beneficial than agglomerated nanoparticles.