Growth of Multipod ZnO Architectures Made by Accumulation of Hexagonal Nanorods for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) Application

Well-crystalline multipod ZnO architectures made by accumulation of hexagonal nanorods were synthesized, characterized and used as efficient anode material for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The multipod ZnO architectures were synthesized by simple and facile hydrothermal process and characterized by several techniques to examine the structural, morphological, optical and photovoltaic properties. The morphological characterizations revealed that the synthesized multipod ZnO architectures were made of several hexagonal shaped ZnO nanorods which are originated from a single centre. The structural and compositional properties revealed that the nanorods are pure ZnO and possessing well crystallinity and wurtzite hexagonal phase. The assynthesized multipods ZnO architectures were utilized as potential anode materials for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The dye sensitized solar cells fabricated with multipods ZnO architectures photoanode attained a reasonable solar to electricity energy conversion efficiency of -1.9% with a photocurrent density i.e., short circuit current (J(sc)) of 4.59 mA/cm2.