Photoelectrochemical Characteristic of ZnO Dye-sensitized Solar Cell with Platinum Nanoparticle as a Counterelectrode

Photoelectrochemical characteristic of ZnO dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with platinum nanoparticle as a counterelectrode was studied. The structure of the DSSC was FTO/ZnO/dye/electrolyte/Pt nanoparticle counter- electrode. For types of dye, Eosin-Y, Rhodamine B and Crystal Violet were examined as sensitizers for ZnO DSSC. The photoelectrochemical characteris- tics were measured under illumination of simulated sunlight came from a solar simulator with the radiant power of 100 mW/cm2 using xenon lamp as a light source with AM-1.5 filter. The photocurrent density versus photovoltage char - acteristics was measured with dc voltage and current source which interfaced and controlled by personal computer. It was found that ZnO DSSC with Eosin-Y exhibited the best photoelectrochemical characteristics with an energy conver- sion efficiency ( η) of 0.42% compared with those of Rhodamine B and Crystal Violet that exhibited an energy conversion efficiency of 0.18% and 0.08%, respectively. Moreover, two solvents of acetone and ethanol were used as a solvent for the dyes. It was found that acetone gave the better photoconversion performance.