Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices
It is currently of huge importance to find alternatives to fossil fuels to produce clean energy and to ensure the energy demands of modern society. In the present work, two types of hybrid solar cell devices were developed and characterized. The photoactive layers of the hybrid heterojunctions compr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Photonics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/8/3/75 |
| _version_ | 1797541582409302016 |
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| author | Duarte Carreira Paulo A. Ribeiro Maria Raposo Susana Sério |
| author_facet | Duarte Carreira Paulo A. Ribeiro Maria Raposo Susana Sério |
| author_sort | Duarte Carreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is currently of huge importance to find alternatives to fossil fuels to produce clean energy and to ensure the energy demands of modern society. In the present work, two types of hybrid solar cell devices were developed and characterized. The photoactive layers of the hybrid heterojunctions comprise poly (allylamine chloride) (PAH) and graphene oxide (GO) and TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO films, which were deposited using the layer-by-layer technique and DC-reactive magnetron sputtering, respectively, onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced a homogeneous inorganic layer, the surface morphology of which was dependent on the number of organic bilayers. The electrical characterization pointed out that FTO/(PAH/GO)<sub>50</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>/Al, FTO/(PAH/GO)<sub>30</sub>/ZnO/Al, and FTO/(PAH/GO)<sub>50</sub>/ZnO/Al architectures were the only ones to exhibit a diode behavior, and the last one experienced a decrease in current in a low-humidity environment. The (PAH/GO)<sub>20</sub> impedance spectroscopy study further revealed the typical impedance of a parallel RC circuit for a dry environment, whereas in a humid environment, it approached the impedance of a series of three parallel RC circuits, indicating that water and oxygen contribute to other conduction processes. Finally, the achieved devices should be encapsulated to work successfully as solar cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:17:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01d0f7b9e0804384b658d96899b9dcb0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-6732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:17:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Photonics |
| spelling | doaj.art-01d0f7b9e0804384b658d96899b9dcb02023-11-21T10:14:22ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322021-03-01837510.3390/photonics8030075Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells DevicesDuarte Carreira0Paulo A. Ribeiro1Maria Raposo2Susana Sério3Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalCEFITEC, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalCEFITEC, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalCEFITEC, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalIt is currently of huge importance to find alternatives to fossil fuels to produce clean energy and to ensure the energy demands of modern society. In the present work, two types of hybrid solar cell devices were developed and characterized. The photoactive layers of the hybrid heterojunctions comprise poly (allylamine chloride) (PAH) and graphene oxide (GO) and TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO films, which were deposited using the layer-by-layer technique and DC-reactive magnetron sputtering, respectively, onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced a homogeneous inorganic layer, the surface morphology of which was dependent on the number of organic bilayers. The electrical characterization pointed out that FTO/(PAH/GO)<sub>50</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>/Al, FTO/(PAH/GO)<sub>30</sub>/ZnO/Al, and FTO/(PAH/GO)<sub>50</sub>/ZnO/Al architectures were the only ones to exhibit a diode behavior, and the last one experienced a decrease in current in a low-humidity environment. The (PAH/GO)<sub>20</sub> impedance spectroscopy study further revealed the typical impedance of a parallel RC circuit for a dry environment, whereas in a humid environment, it approached the impedance of a series of three parallel RC circuits, indicating that water and oxygen contribute to other conduction processes. Finally, the achieved devices should be encapsulated to work successfully as solar cells.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/8/3/75hybrid solar cellsgraphene oxidezinc oxideDC-magnetron sputteringlayer-by-layer |
| spellingShingle | Duarte Carreira Paulo A. Ribeiro Maria Raposo Susana Sério Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices Photonics hybrid solar cells graphene oxide zinc oxide DC-magnetron sputtering layer-by-layer |
| title | Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices |
| title_full | Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices |
| title_fullStr | Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices |
| title_short | Engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> or ZnO—Graphene Oxide Nanoheterojunctions for Hybrid Solar Cells Devices |
| title_sort | engineering of tio sub 2 sub or zno graphene oxide nanoheterojunctions for hybrid solar cells devices |
| topic | hybrid solar cells graphene oxide zinc oxide DC-magnetron sputtering layer-by-layer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/8/3/75 |
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