Dependence of the photoelectrochemical performance of sensitised ZnO on the crystalline orientation in electrodeposited ZnO thin films

Abstract

The influence of the crystal orientation in porous crystalline films of ZnO electrodeposited on the photoelectrochemical characteristics of the films is studied. For differently oriented ZnO thin films following removal of the respective structure-directing agent (SDA) and adsorption of a sensitiser, time-resolved photocurrent measurements, intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS), intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) and current–voltage curves were measured in acetonitrile-based electrolytes containing I₃⁻/I⁻ as the redox electrolyte. The crystal orientation has a significant influence on the charge transport across such films and hence is reflected in the observed electrode kinetics. Films originally grown in the presence of, e.g., Coumarin 343 as a SDA, showed a significantly faster response to illumination. Increased electron diffusion coefficients and diffusion lengths were calculated from the results of IMPS and IMVS, caused by a faster electron movement in the films. Implications of these findings on further improvements of sensitised ZnO films prepared by electrochemical deposition are discussed.