Publication: Effect of surfactant on the physical properties of ZnO nanorods and the performance of ZnO photoelectrochemical cell
Date
2015
Authors
Rahman M.Y.A.
Umar A.A.
Taslim R.
Salleh M.M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Abstract
The performance of photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) strongly depends on the physical properties of photovoltaic material. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) surfactants were used to modify the morphology nanostructure of ZnO films by a simple technique, namely, ammonia-assisted controlled hydrolysis technique during their growth process. The film treated with PVP, CTAB and HMT produce the nanostructure shape of nanoflower, nanowire and nanorod (NR), respectively. These ZnO samples were utilised as photovoltaic materials in a PEC of FTO (fluorine tin oxide)/ZnO/electrolyte/platinum. It was found that the photovoltaic parameters such as short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF) are influenced by the morphology in term of shape and particle size and optical property of the ZnO NR. The PEC utilising the ZnO sample treated with HMT surfactant demonstrated the highest Jsc of 0.47 mAcm?2, Voc of 0.46�V, FF of 29.2% and ? of 0.06%, respectively, since it possesses the lowest energy gap. � 2013, � 2013 Taylor & Francis.
Description
Ammonia; Electrochemical cells; II-VI semiconductors; Morphology; Nanorods; Nanostructures; Open circuit voltage; Optical properties; Oxide minerals; Particle size; Photoelectrochemical cells; Surface active agents; Thin films; Tin oxides; Zinc oxide; Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; Controlled hydrolysis; Fill factor; Fluorine tin oxides; Growth process; Photovoltaic materials; Photovoltaic parameters; Polyvinyl pyrrolidone; Optical films; ammonia; cetrimide; methenamine; povidone; zinc oxide; zinc oxide nanoparticle; Article; cells; electric potential; field emission scanning electron microscopy; hydrolysis; optics; particle size; photoelectrochemical cell; priority journal; short circuit current; X ray diffraction