Synthesis of Tin Oxide Nanoparticles Using Microwave-Assisted Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Application
Abstract
Under various conditions, nanostructured SnO2 was synthesized utilizing a microwave-assisted method with Stannous Chloride, dihydrate, and trisodium citrate as precursors. Microwave-irradiation technique significantly shortens the reaction time as compared to conventional hydrothermal and solvothermal methods. Nanostructured SnO2 with changing morphologies was obtained by calcining the produced product at 450 °C for 1 hour. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were then used to measure the physical characteristics of the as-prepared SnO2 nanoparticle. From the calcined SnO2 powder, make a semiconducting paste and use it as a low-cost, straightforward photoanode. Dye-sensitized solar cell performance is based on SnO2 photoanodes that were investigated. The specific surface area and pore size distribution have been calculated using the BET technique. The tin oxide photoanodes with pH variation were subsequently incorporated into dye-sensitized solar cells, and their performance and carrier lifetime were analysed using a solar simulator, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. N3-sensitized SnO2 solar cell's highest power conversion efficiency achieved was 1.42% under 1 Sun irradiation (AM 1.5).