Issue 22, 2024

Optimized Cu-doping in ZnO electro-spun nanofibers for enhanced photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells and photocatalytic dye degradation

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) compete with conventional solar cells regarding their low-temperature processing and suitable power conversion efficiency. In PSCs, the electron transport layer (ETL) plays a vital role in charge extraction and avoiding recombination; however, poor charge transport of ETL leads to high internal resistance and associated low fill factors. To successfully resolve this challenge, copper-doped zinc oxide nanofibers as an electron transport layer are prepared with various doping levels of 1, 2, and 3 wt% using the electrospinning sol–gel method. The 3 wt% doping of Cu revealed the optimum performance as an ETL, as it offers an electrically efficient transporting structure. SEM images revealed a randomly oriented distribution of nanofibers with different sizes having mesoporous uniformity. Optical properties of doped nanofibers examined using UV-visible analysis showed an extended light absorption due to heteroatom-doping. Adding Cu into the ZnO leads to enhanced charge mobility across the electron transport material. According to Hall measurements, dopant concentration favors the conductivity and other features essentially required for charge extraction and transport. The solar cell efficiency of ZnO doped with 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% Cu is 4.94%, 5.97%, 6.89%, and 9.79%, respectively. The antibacterial and photocatalytic activities of the prepared doped and undoped ZnO are also investigated. The better light absorption of Cu–ZnO showed a pronounced improvement in the photocatalytic activity of textile electrodes loaded with doped ZnO. The dye degradation rate reaches 95% in 180 min under visible light. In addition, these textile electrodes showed strong antibacterial activity due to the production of reactive oxygen species under light absorption.

Graphical abstract: Optimized Cu-doping in ZnO electro-spun nanofibers for enhanced photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells and photocatalytic dye degradation

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Feb 2024
Accepted
06 May 2024
First published
13 May 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2024,14, 15391-15407

Optimized Cu-doping in ZnO electro-spun nanofibers for enhanced photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells and photocatalytic dye degradation

K. H. Lee, R. Farheen, Z. Arshad, M. Ali, H. Hassan, M. Alshareef, A.Dahshan and U. Khalid, RSC Adv., 2024, 14, 15391 DOI: 10.1039/D4RA01544D

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