Growth of aligned ZnO nanorods array on ITO for dye sensitized solar cell

Aligned ZnO films of nanorods arrays were grown on Indium doped Tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate for the Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) applications. Two-step approach was employed for the deposition, which offers advantages such as excellent surface adhesion, large area deposition, high reproducibility and yield. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows a preferred c-axis (002) oriented growth. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images reveals uniformly distributed hexagonal ZnO nanorods with average diameter varying from 80 to 250 nm. Average growth rate of the films was estimated using Surface Profilometer which was found to be ∼1 μm/h. Optical characterizations were carried out using Photo-spectrometer and Raman spectroscopy. The DSSCs using these ZnO films of nanorods array as photo-electrodes show conversion efficiency ranging from 0.24 to −0.71 %, the maximum efficiency was obtained for films deposited for time duration 8 h.

► Open aqueous solution deposition technique. ► Growth rate of about 1 μm/h is achieved. ► ZnO films of nano-rods shows height dependent solar cell efficiency.