Work

Photoconversion Behavior of a ZnO/Graphite Solar Cell

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This work assembled dye solar cells by replacing platinum with graphite on indium tin oxide (ITO). First, the device was tested only on the ITO; afterward, graphite was placed on the ITO and evaluated as a counter electrode in the cell. The results showed that the presence of graphite increased the incident photocurrent conversion (IPCE) of the cell. The electrode used was a combination of zinc oxide with 4% bismuth, and characterization of the film had high reflectance in the visible region, a thickness of around 1.47 μm, and a crystallite size of around 38.5 nm. The addition of graphite as a counter electrode increased the cell efficiency by 10 times, driven by an increase in current density from 0.02 to 1.2 mA/cm and in IPCE from 0.04 to 2.26%.

Source: ACS Omega

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6c06228

Authors: Vanja Fontenele Nunes, Francisco Marcone Lima, Francisco Nivaldo Aguiar Freire, Carla Freitas de Andrade, Antonio Sérgio Bezerra Sombra

Institutions: Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Language: English

Topic: TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,935