Morphology dependent change in photovoltage generation using dye-Cu doped ZnO nanoparticle mixed system

•Generation of photovoltage of ∼784 mV by using Cu doped ZnO nanoflakes in PEC cell.•High storage duration of ∼60 h observed using planar lipid membrane.•Energy conversion efficiency of 3.82% obtained.

The present report deals with the studies on hybrid photoelectrochemical cell containing a commonly used dye, phenosafranine and Cu doped ZnO nanoparticles/nanoflakes for conversion of solar energy to electrical energy. The cell consisting nanoflakes yielded voltage of high magnitude (∼784 mV), good storage duration (∼60 h) and better energy conversion efficiency (3.82%) compared to other similar cells. The particle size and morphology of the nanomaterials were determined with X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies. Absorption spectra of the dye-nanomaterial mixed system indicated that the absorbance of dye molecules increased with addition of nanomaterials due to adsorption of dye molecules on the surface of nanomaterials, which facilitated incident photon absorption. Presence of planar lipid membrane hindered the back recombination of photoexcited charges causing radical increase in voltage generation, efficiency and storage duration.