Zinc Oxide Quantum Dots as Photoanode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

Quantum dots dye-sensitized solar cells (QDSSC) has emerged as a highly promising photovoltaic technology for next-generation solar cells due to the distinct optoelectronics features of quantum dots (QDs) light-harvesting materials such as high absorption coefficient, multiple exciton generation possibility and easily tunable absorption range that can deliver both low production costs. TiO2 is currently the conventional electron transport material (ETM) used in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) but incur high cost and high-temperature processing. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is identified as a low-cost material with higher electron mobility than TiO2 for efficient electron extraction. Furthermore, solution-process able ZnO quantum dots (QDs) allow manipulation of quantum confinement, light scattering and energy band alignment to improve charge extraction. ZnO QDs were synthesised using a self-assembly method of zinc acetate dihydrate solution with potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution and deposited on the Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass substrate by using spin coater (200-1500 rpm) for 20 seconds. Afterward, annealed for 5 hours in the furnace at temperatures of 450 degrees C. In the characterization the solar cell used X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).