Synthesis and characterization of TiO2–ZnO core–shell nanograss hetero-structure and its application in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 4936 - 4943
• Main Authors: Samsuri, S. A. M., Rahman, M. Y. A., Umar, A. A., Salleh, M. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Pyrophanite; Liquid Phase Deposition; High Absorption Peak; High Power Conversion Efficiency; TiO2
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-015-3005-4

TiO 2 –ZnO core–shell nanograss (NG) hetero-structure comprising of small nanobranches with sharp edge multiple arms was synthesized via two-step synthesis techniques. Liquid phase deposition and dip-coating technique were employed to prepare the TiO 2 core and ZnO shell, respectively. The effect of the annealing temperature on the properties of TiO 2 –ZnO core–shell and the performance of the DSSC has been investigated. The FESEM characterization reveals that at the temperature above 450 °C, NG started to transform into nanoparticle and the particles size increases with temperature. Annealing temperature of 350 °C shows the perfect structure of the TiO 2 –ZnO NG. The phase transformation from amorphous to wurzite in the TiO 2 –ZnO core–shell occurs at 350 °C. Above 400 °C, the crystallinity degree of the ZnO shell decreases with the temperature. The optical absorption of the sample increases with temperature up to 450 °C and decreases due to the decrease in the thickness of the sample. The device utilizing the sample annealed at 350 °C performs the best J sc and η of 1.04 mA cm −2 and 0.204 %, respectively. Annealing temperature of above 350 °C caused the decrease in η and J sc and it might due to the transformation of NG to nanoparticles and the existence of cracked-structure film.