Fabrication of dye sensitized solar cell using chemically tuned CuO nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method

Abstract

Purpose: This work details about the isolation of CuO nanoflakes by a simple precipitationtechnique. Further it is coated over ITO substrate using spin coating technique. DSS cellcapabilities were checked by placing a drop of plant dye derived from pomegranate.Design/methodology/approach: CuO nano flakes, a novel Nano sized metal oxide havebeen synthesized by sol-gel method. The synthesised flakes were characterized by usingXRD (X-ray diffraction), FESEM, UV-VIS and PL measurements techniques. XRD studiesshow that, the copper oxide formed has monoclinic structure.Findings: The grain size of the synthesized copper oxide nanoflakes were measured fromFESEM and found that the size was around 200 nm. The UV-VIS measurement show thatthe band gap of CuO nanoflakes were found to be 3.03 eV, which is in the range of a goodsemiconductor. Finally, the dye sensitized solar cell was fabricated and its power conversionefficiency η (PCE) was determined.Practical implications: The search for green sources or generators of energy is consideredas one of the priorities in today's society and occupies many policy maker’s agenda. It isbelieved that nanocrystalline photovoltaic devices are becoming viable contender for largescale future solar energy converters.