Optimization of Fabrication Parameters for High Performance Nano-powder Iron Oxide Production used as Antireflection Coating for Solar Energy Applications

摘要

Different architectures of α-Fe2O3 were synthesized by a hydrothermal technique without and with the addition of polyethylene oxide (PEO) with different molecular weights. The structural morphology and thermal behavior of the formed α-Fe2O3 nanopowder were characterized and analysed. Antireflective coatings (Nano-ARC) of α-Fe2O3 were deposited on the glass surface of the ITO substrate using the dipcoating method. The effect of heat treatment temperature on the ARC film was studied. The results showed that well-defined nanobundle-like and nanorod α-Fe2O3 architectures were produced when using PEO with a 100k MW in the hydrolysis process and heat-treating at 300 °C. The optical properties of the ARC films were also studied, and the data showed that the maximum transmittance (94.4%) was recorded for the samples prepared using PEO (100 K MW) and heat treatment at 300 °C. The ARC of α-Fe2O3 was deposited on the glass surface of the ITO substrate and utilized in nanocrystalline dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The performance efficiency of the DSSC improved from 6% to 7.6% at normal incidence radiation.