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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/106916
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Synthesis of ultra-long hierarchical ZnO whiskers in a hydrothermal system for dye-sensitised solar cells |
Author: | Gao, G. Yu, L. Vinu, A. Shapter, J. Batmunkh, M. Shearer, C. Yin, T. Huang, P. Cui, D. |
Citation: | RSC Advances: an international journal to further the chemical sciences, 2016; 6(111):109406-109413 |
Publisher: | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Issue Date: | 2016 |
ISSN: | 2046-2069 2046-2069 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Guo Gao, Leping Yu, Ajayan Vinu, Joseph G. Shapter, Munkhbayar Batmunkh, Cameron J. Shearer, Ting Yin, Peng Huang and Daxiang Cui |
Abstract: | One-dimensional (1-D) ZnO structures are of great interest for many applications but the direct hydrothermal synthesis of ultra-long ZnO whiskers (>100 μm) remains a great challenge. Herein, we demonstrate the first synthesis of three kinds of ultra-long hierarchical ZnO whiskers, which are defined as ZnO-2 (>100 μm in length), ZnO-3 (>200 μm in length with relatively smooth surface) and ZnO-4 (>200 μm in length with relatively rough surface), via a one-pot hydrothermal process. The maximum length of hierarchical ZnO-4 whiskers can reach up to about 270 μm. The formation of oval-shaped quasi-hollow structural precursors plays a key role for the correct attachment of Zn²⁺-terminated and O²⁻-terminated active surfaces, producing well-ordered Zn²⁺⋯O²⋯Zn²⁺ bonds, and finally promoting the formation of ultra-long ZnO whiskers with hierarchical structures. When the synthesized ultra-long hierarchical ZnO-4 whiskers are mixed with commercial TiO₂for dye-sensitised solar cells (DSCs), the current density increases significantly from 13.68 mA cm⁻² (commercial TiO₂) to 16.81 mA cm⁻²(TiO₂–ZnO hybrid materials). The hybrid materials show a conversion efficiency of 7.95% which is higher as compared to that of commercial TiO₂ (5.87%). This interesting performance of a hybrid material sheds light on the possibility of preparing ultra-long hierarchical ZnO whiskers (>100 μm) with tunable lengths through hydrothermal approaches and their application in DSCs. |
Description: | Accepted 7th November 2016 |
Rights: | This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016 |
DOI: | 10.1039/c6ra24316a |
Grant ID: | No. 81671737 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130101714 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6ra24316a |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 8 Chemical Engineering publications |
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