Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T13:19:43.858Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dye-sensitized nanocrystalline CdS and ZnS solar cells with different organic dyes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Safenaz M. Reda  and
Said A. El-Sherbieny
Safenaz M. Reda*
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
Said A. El-Sherbieny
Affiliation:
National Institute of Laser, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

We have developed dye-sensitized nanocrystalline CdS and ZnS solar cells (DSSCs) based on crystal violet, methylene blue, and fluorescein photosensitizers. Nanocrystalline CdS and ZnS were synthesized by a green synthesis method using starch as the capping agent. Characterization of nanocrystalline CdS and ZnS was carried out by optical absorption and x-ray diffraction. The results indicate that CdS and ZnS prepared by this method may be used as photoelectodes in photo-electro-chemical energy conversion systems. DSSCs have been built and their photocurrent, open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and efficiency have been measured under direct sunlight illumination (1000 Wcm−2). The efficiency of the cells made from dye-CdS was much higher than that of the cells made from dye-ZnS. This can be attributed to the particle size effect. Among the prepared dye-sensitized solar cells, a DSSC based on fluorescein dye as the photosensitizer produced the highest overall light solar energy to electricity conversion efficiency.

Keywords

PhotovoltaicSol-gel
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , March 2010 , pp. 522 - 528
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Fathy, N., Ichimura, M.Photoelectrical properties of ZnS thin films deposited from aqueous solution using pulse electrochemical deposition. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 87, 747 (2005)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Grätzel, M.Dye-sensitized solar cell. J. Photochem. Photobiol. 4, 145 (2003)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Olea, A., Sebastian, P.J.(Zn,Cd) S porous layers for dye-sensitized solar cell application. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 55, 149 (1998)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Dae, W., Mehra, R.K.Cysteine-capped ZnS nanocrystallites: Preparation and characterization. J. Inorg. Biochem. 70, 125 (1998)Google Scholar
5.Battisha, I.K., Afify, H.H., Abd El-Fattah, G., Bader, K.Raman and photoluminescence studies of pure and Sn-enriched thin films of CdS prepared by spry pyrolysis. Fizika 1, 31 (2002)Google Scholar
6.Singh, V.P., Singh, R.S., Thompson, G.W., Jayaraman, V., Sanagapalli, S., Rangari, V.K.Characteristics of nanocrystalline CdS films fabricated by sonochemical, microwave and solution growth methods for solar cell applications. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 81, 293 (2004)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Sayama, K., Tsukagoshi, S., Mori, T., Hara, K., Ohga, Y., Shinpou, A., Abe, Y., Suga, S., Arakawa, H.Efficient sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 films with cyanine and merocyanine organic dyes. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 80, 47 (2003)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Wei, Q., Kang, S.Z., Mu, J.Green synthesis of starch capped CdS nanoparticles. Colloids Surf., A 247, 125 (2004)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Wijayantha, K.G.U., Peter, L.M., Otley, L.C.Fabrication of CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells via a pressing route. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 83, 363 (2004)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Cortes, A., Gómez, H., Marotti, R.E., Riveros, G., Dalchiele, E.A.Grain size dependence of band gap in chemical bath deposited CdS thin films. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 82, 21 (2004)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Yang, P., Lü, M., Xü, D., Yuan, D., Song, C., Zhou, G.The effect of Co+2 and Co+3 on photoluminescence characteristics of ZnS nanocrystallines. J. Phys. Chem. Solids 62, 1181 (2001)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Kumar, S., Chandra, R.Temperature dependent studies of CdS nanoparticles in viscous matrix. Opt. Mater. 27, 1346 (2005)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Mandal, S.K., Chaudhuri, S., Pal, A.K.Optical properties of nanocrystalline ZnS films prepared by high pressure magnetron sputtering. Thin Solid Films 350, 209 (1999)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Dimitrijevic, N.M., Takahashi, K., Jonah, C.D.Visible absorption spectra of crystal violet in supercritical ethane-methanol solution. J. Supercrit. Fluids 24, 153 (2002)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Hara, K., Tachibana, Y., Ohga, Y., Shinpo, A., Suga, S., Sayama, K., Sugihara, H., Arakawa, H.Dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells based on novel coumarin dyes. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 77, 89 (2003)CrossRefGoogle Scholar