Engineering of magnetically separable ZnFe2O4@ TiO2 nanofibers for dye-sensitized solar cells and removal of pollutant from water

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 723; pp. 477 - 483
• Main Authors: Al-Meer, Saeed, Ghouri, Zafar Khan, Elsaid, Khaled, Easa, Ahmed, Al-Qahtani, Muneera Th, Shaheer Akhtar, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.11.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Chemical compounds; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrospinning; Energy conversion efficiency; Fibers; Field emission microscopy; Fourier transforms; Gravimetric analysis; Hydrothermal method; Infrared analysis; Low cost; Magnetic properties; Nanofibers; Photoanode; Photocatalyst; Photovoltaic cells; Short circuits; Solar cells; Spectrum analysis; Thermal analysis; Thermogravimetric analysis; Titanium dioxide; Titanium oxides; Transmission electron microscopy; Zinc ferrite; Zinc ferrites; Solar cells; Electrospinning; Zinc ferrite; Hydrothermal method; Photoanode; Photocatalyst
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.06.211

In this study, magnetic Zinc Ferrite (ZnFe2O4)@TiO2 nanofibers were prepared by low cost and nontoxic route; hydrothermal technique followed by electrospinning process. The prepared magnetic ZnFe2O4@TiO2 nanofibers were morphologically and structurally analyzed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The prepared magnetic ZnFe2O4@TiO2 nanofibers were utilized as photoanode for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and presented applicable performance with 4.2% overall conversion efficiency with high short circuit current density (JSC) of 10.16 mA/cm2. The maximum ∼42% incident photo-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value was also recorded at 530 nm. In addition, ZnFe2O4@TiO2 nanofibers were not only possessed the good conversion efficiency, but also shown excellent photocatalytic efficiency with magnetic properties towards the dye remediation. Prepared ZnFe2O4@TiO2 nanofibers can be considered as a promising material for energy conversion and environmental applications. •Magnetic Zinc Ferrite (ZnFe2O4)@TiO2 nanofibers are prepared by hydrothermal technique followed by electrospinning process.•It is applied as photoanode for DSSCs and as photocatalyst for dye degradation.•ZnFe2O4@TiO2 nanofibers based photoanode shows applicable overall conversion efficiency of 4.2%.•ZnFe2O4@TiO2 nanofibers presents the excellent photocatalytic efficiency towards the dye remediation.