Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Metal Oxides and their Composites for Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

The world s dependence on the curtailed natural resources that are utilized to power industrial society is declining as the demand increases that may result in a potential energy crisis. Renewable energies are sources of pure, inexhaustible, and progressively competitive energy. They are different from fossil fuels chiefly in their abundance, variety, and capability to utilize everywhere on the globe. Most importantly, their use will not lead to greenhouse gases or polluting emanates which have adverse effects on the climate. Renewable energy sources and technologies can bestow solutions to the enduring energy crisis being faced by developing countries. The most abundantly available renewable energy is solar energy, and it can be utilized to overcome energy shortage in India. Green Energy production plays a significant role in the overall sustainable growth of the country. Renewable energy sources have accounted for over half of the total electricity in the last decade. The most efficient method to obtain electricity is by the conversion of quantum energy utilizing the solar cell. There are a set of three generations of solar cells namely the first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), and third-generation (3G). Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) belong to 3G solar cells which are an efficient substitute to conventional silicon-based solar cells due to their low manufacturing cost and ease of fabrication. A DSC is made up of a photoanode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte sandwiched between two electrodes. Usually, wide bandgap nanocrystalline semiconductors of TiO2 are incorporated as the photoanodes on which light sensitizing dyes are adsorbed. The nanocrystalline material used in developing the photoanode of DSC plays a vital part in the efficient functioning of DSC as it performs the function of adsorbing the dye which in turn absorbs energy from solar radiation to produce electricity. newline