Preparation of ZnO nanoparticles and nanosheets and their application to dye-sensitized solar cells

ZnO nanoparticles which have diameter of 15 nm were prepared by hydrothermal method. ZnO nanosheets were obtained by rehydrothermal treatment of ZnO nanoparticles. The phase and morphology were investigated by using transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Also, absorbance spectra were measured by using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. A fill factor of 0.55, short-circuit current of 2.059 mA/cm(2), open-circuit voltage of 0.593 V and an overall light to electricity conversion efficiency of 1.55% for the solar cell based on ZnO nanosheets were obtained. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.