Dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO nanorod arrays

A series of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using ZnO nanorod arrays as the anode electrode. The ZnO nanorod arrays were grown on the fluorine doped tin dioxide (FTO) substrates by a hydrothermal method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that the ZnO nanorod arrays grew on FTO substrates with an average diameter of ∼40 nm and an average length of ∼1 μm. After sensitized by Z-907 dye via impregnation in solution, ZnO nanorod arrays changed the color from white to pink. This indicated that the dye had been successfully attached to ZnO nanorods. The high-aspect-ratio (∼25) ZnO nanorod arrays are expected to improve charge transport through the formation of continuous channels along the nanorods. We fabricated photovoltaic cells based on these ZnO nanorod arrays and found the deposition time and effective area were two important factors affecting short circuit current densities and cell efficiencies. The device performance (Voc = 0.48 V, Jsc = 5.39 mA/cm², η = 0.73 %) showed a great potential for solar energy conversion.