Harnessing sunlight and catechol sensing with ZnO nanoparticles: predominance over nanorods and ZnO-CeO₂ composite

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Ionics

Abstract

Nano ZnO particles along with nano ZnO rods and composite ZnO-CeO2 (molar ratio 0.8:0.2) were synthesized employing combustion technique and hydrothermal technique, respectively, which was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet (UV) spectral analysis. The prepared materials were layered onto the photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells, and their photovoltaic performance was comparatively evaluated under a solar simulant device of 100 mWcm−2 irradiance. The J-V characteristics studies reveal that the DSC framed employing nano ZnO particles indicated a superior photovoltaic characteristic than ZnO nanorods along with the composite, achieving power conversion effectiveness of 1.81%, 1.13%, and 0.76%, respectively. The declined band gap and impurities leading to agglomeration indicated by UV and SEM analysis, respectively, are the chief causes of reduced power conversion effectiveness in nanorods and composites as contrasted with nanoparticles. ZnO nanoparticles, owing to a greater surface area when compared to nano ZnO rods and ZnO-CeO2 composite, were used as a modifier on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode. When drop casted, they demonstrated a good cyclic voltammetric sensing response towards catechol.

First Page

9905

Last Page

9918

DOI

10.1007/s11581-025-06512-w

Publication Date

9-1-2025

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