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 ° C. In the characterization the solar cell used X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).