Photoelectrochemical Studies of Chemically (Sol-Gel) Synthesized Tin Oxide Nanocrystallites

摘要

The tin chloride mediated tin oxide (SnO_2) nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple sol-gel chemical method and further envisaged in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Three steps; synthesis of nanoparticles, formation of paste using suitable surfactants and film development using doctor-blade method onto glass and indium-tin-oxide (ITO) substrates (annealed at 500 ℃ for 1 h) were preferred before making the SnO_2 electrode for DSSCs application. Influence of ITO substrate on the structural elucidation, morphological evaluation, grain size and Raman shift properties of SnO_2 nanoparticles was eliminated by forming a film onto ITO-free glass substrate. Enhanced light absorbance at 500 nm due to the N719 dye molecules adsorption compared to pristine SnO_2 electrode has demonstrated 1.7% solar-to-electrical conversion efficiency.