ZNO NANO- AND MESO-STRUCTURES FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In this project, a facile, green and cost-effective process was developed to prepare the layered basic zinc acetate (LBZA) nanosheets by using surfactant Pluronic F127 (EO106PO70EO106) as the directing agent in aqueous solution, where the thermodynamic factors are controlled. The porous ZnO nanosheets were then subjected to pyrolytic treatment at 300 oC. To improve the photovoltaic behavior of these ZnO nanosheets structures, when used as photoanode in DSSCs, two strategies are taken: understanding on the dye adsorption kinetics and enhancement of light-harvesting capability by the localized surface plasmonic resonance. A further strategy is developed to synthesize ZnO mesocrystals, which possess sing-crystal like structure and a level of porosity, whereby a non-classical growth mechanism and photovoltaic behavior of ZnO mesocrystals are established.